3 risky Chicago White Sox trade packages for Shohei Ohtani
The Chicago White Sox are a horrible baseball team. It isn't even May though so there is still time for them to turn it around but they need help.
There are lots of ways for this team to do something about it. Some are realistic and some are not so realistic based on how the team normally operates their business.
One likely unrealistic solution is the idea of Shohei Ohtani. There are reports that he may be traded if the Los Angeles Angels are out of a playoff spot in the summer.
If the White Sox somehow pulled off something like that, they would need to make a crazy trade. A deal like that might look something like this:
1. To White Sox: Shohei Ohtani - To Angels: Eloy Jimenez, Andrew Vaughn, Sean Burke, Noah Schultz
The White Sox would be giving up some value to land Shohei Ohtani.
The Chicago White Sox need to make a huge move. They haven't been good at developing a lot of young talent and most of the guys that have developed well can't stay healthy.
Eloy Jimenez is the finest example of that as he just doesn't stay on the field enough for anyone to consider him reliable.
Andrew Vaughn is good but he hasn't become the power-hitting threat that we thought he might be just yet. He still has plenty of time but if you get Shohei Ohtani for him, it's an easy decision.
Sean Burke and Noah Schultz are two very good prospects. It might be good for them to get out of this organization that is almost certainly going to mess up their development. It's a lot but it would take a haul for the Angels to do this.
2. To White Sox: Shohei Ohtani - To Angels: Gavin Sheets, Luis Robert, Lenyn Sosa, Bryan Ramos
The Chicago White Sox need to make a huge move and fast.
The Chicago White Sox have a lot of issues with their team. Adding another ace starting pitcher to go along with Dylan Cease in addition to a power-hitting MVP-caliber hitter would certainly help.
Gavin Sheets could be a young lefty power bat that the Angels like but Luis Robert would be the big pickup here for them. He hasn't reached his potential in Chicago just yet but changing up his laundry might be the perfect change of scenery for him.
Lenyn Sosa and Bryan Ramos could be very good third and fourth pieces in a trade like this. They are both capable of playing in a Major League Baseball game.
It may or may not take more but if the Angels are trading him ahead of his pending unrestricted free-agent status, they might not have tons of leverage.
3. To White Sox: Shohei Ohtani - To Angels: Colson Montgomery, Michael Kopech, Oscar Colas, Lucas Giolito, Garrett Crochet
The Chicago White Sox could really use a big-time change right now.
The Chicago White Sox may need to move five MLB-caliber players with high ceilings in order to land a stud like Shohei Ohtani if a deal like this were ever going to happen.
Colson Montgomery and Oscar Colas are the top two prospects in the organization which speaks volumes about their trajectory.
Lucas Giolito and Michael Kopech are starting pitchers that have shown flashes of being elite in addition to some struggles.
Garrett Crochet is a high-velocity pitcher that has only been an MLB reliever but is a natural starter. His career's path was affected by COVID-19's change to the 2020 season but he should end up being very good.
A move like this would be a complete blockbuster for everyone involved. The cheap White Sox are almost certainly not going to be in on Ohtani but it is fun to think about what it might take to acquire him. We'll see if he actually ends up getting moved at all.
Next. The 15 worst contracts in Chicago White Sox history. dark