Chicago White Sox: 2022 player grade for AJ Pollock

The Chicago White Sox traded Nick Madrigal and Codi Heuer to the Chicago Cubs so that they can get Craig Kimbrel for their World Series run. Unfortunately, Kimbrel was bad, the White Sox lost to the Houston Astros in the ALDS, and the Cubs clearly won the trade.

Even if (the likely outcome) Madrigal and Heuer are just okay, the Cubs will have won the trade. it is unfortunate but the truth is the truth.

The White Sox tried to make good on it, however, when they send Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for AJ Pollock. It looked like they were getting an above average player for a closer that desperately needed to be on another team.

Again, Pollock wasn't very good. He had the worst year of his career with the White Sox after having some very good years with the Los Angeles Dodgers in previous years. Maybe the laundry you wear is actually what helps make you good.

Pollock wasn't just mediocre (and kind of bad) with his bat either. He didn't have a very good year in the outfield either. He was responsible for some big mistakes early on in the season. In fact, his game-losing error in game one of the season was a sign of what's to come for this White Sox team.

Final Grade: D

AJ Pollock didn't have the best year with the 2022 Chicago White Sox.

There is no grade that he deserves more than a D. He wasn't good enough to earn a C or better but his WAR was 0.1 so you can't give him an F either. He was basically replacement level player which isn't good enough when you have the expectations that he had.

Now, he decided to leave lots of money on the table so he doesn't have to come back in 2023. He clearly didn't have a good time which speaks volumes about how well this season went for him and the team. Now, he is free to sign wherever he wants.

Honestly, that is a move that will help the White Sox. If he opted in they would have had to pay a bad player a lot more than he was worth for another year. Now, they can use that money elsewhere.

It is unfortunate that the White Sox didn't get anything out of Madrigal but at least this entire trade is officially in the past. Pollock wasn't great but it is time to move on and find a replacement.