3 reasons to feel underwhelmed by the return the Chicago White Sox got in 3-team deal with NL contenders
The Chicago White Sox traded Erick Fedde, Tommy Pham, and Michael Kopech in a three-team trade but got just three prospects.
The Chicago White Sox were expected to be major players at the trade deadline.
After being quiet during a busy weekend of trades, general manager Chris Getz pulled off his first major trade deadline deal.
The #WhiteSox, Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals have completed a three-team trade: pic.twitter.com/b1WCIW6DSX
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 29, 2024
There was a lot of confusion as to what the exact return was for the White Sox.
The Sox ended up getting Miguel Vargas, who ended the 2023 season as the Los Angeles Dodgers' third-ranked prospect. He fits the front office's desire to get a young bat that is near or at the major league level. Albertus and Perez are both 19 with a lot of upside and will report to Low-A Kannapolis.
Both were among LA's top 30 prospects, so it is not like the White Sox got some fringe prospects. It is more like they received high-risk, high-reward, and highly-regarded prospects.
‘To inject three offensive players into our organization was a wise move,” Getz said.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) July 29, 2024
Vargas viewed as middle of lineup hitter.
Plus, it would not be a White Sox trade without cash considerations. This organization loves cash to be included in the deal and maybe it is because they are not bringing in much cash. Maybe this was a salary dump for the lack of return on players.
However, this deal seems very underwhelming for three reasons...
The White Sox get just three prospects and maybe a fourth for three big-league players.
Fedde may not be a name-brand pitcher, but he also had the highest fWAR among pitchers available on the trade market that was certain to be moved. The hope was he would return at least two or three prospects by himself.
The Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, and Houston Astros were all rumored to be interested in Fedde. The Brewers and Guardians have better depth in the farm system among the hitters they have.
Kopech has been inconsistent, but he has been pitching much better recently that he could have fetched maybe a higher-ranked prospect on his own as well. It just feels a bit light especially when it comes to the next reason.
The St. Louis Cardinals get two solid players from the White Sox without giving up anything to the Southsiders.
It seems a bit lopsided that the Cardinals get to enjoy the most benefits from this deal while not having to send the Sox a single prospect.
There were rumors the Sox were going to get youngster Jordan Walker in a deal for Fedde. Not only do the Sox not get a young player with upside, but the Sox have to send the Cardinals cash. It is most likely to cover the bonus Tommy Pham is getting for being traded.
Still, it would have been nice for the Cardinals to see even a scratch-off prospect in this deal.
The Sox preferred to not do business with their division rivals.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the Minnesota Twins and the Guardians had an interest in Fedde, but the Sox preferred to not trade him within the division.
That should be concerning regarding Getz' ability to do a deal. The team has lost 81 games and is nowhere close to being ready to compete for a division title next season. It is not like facing Fedde next season in a Twins or Guardians' uniform would hurt the Sox' chances of winning the AL Central.
It is organizational malpractice to exclude three teams, one of which has the hitters that would be perfect to turn the Sox around, when you are this bad. The Sox have lost 80 games before they have 30. They are beyond beggars cannot be choosers.
If the Twins had the best deal, the Sox should have taken it. It is not like the Twins are having trouble beating the White Sox without Erick Fedde. The Royals and Twinkies are doing okay in that area.
Plus, the Sox had a chance to add a player that could torment a division foe for at least seven seasons while Fedde would probably be on the Guardians or Twins through next season.
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