Predicting the Chicago White Sox 2022-23 off-season

The Chicago White Sox are not looking to do too much this off-season. The projected payroll will be reduced to only around 180 million, leaving the team with very little wiggle room. This is disappointing for Sox fans who will feel that the team should be spending more at this point.

However, the White Sox should still be able to sign a few players on the cheap, given that they are currently below that number.

You can expect some small trades to be made as well. While my preferred direction would be for them to go all-in on a superstar, it's more likely they'll spread the money around on multiple cheap players as they've done the past two off-seasons.

Given the history of General Manager Rick Hahn and VP Kenny Williams, here are the moves I expect the Chicago White Sox to make in the 2022-23 Off-season.

These aren't moves I'd necessarily want them to make but they are what can be expected based on the team's reported budget and history of acquiring players.

The Chicago White Sox have a lot of work to do this offseason.

1. Sign Andrew McCutchen

With the departure of A.J. Pollock, the White Sox need at least 1-2 outfielders to add to the trio of Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, and rookie Oscar Colas.

McCutchen would be a cheap placeholder who can hold down the fort in right field until Colas is ready.

Free agents Cody Bellinger and Andrew Benintendi are both better options but might be too expensive for the White Sox while McCutchen will come cheap given his age. Options like Aaron Judge or a trade for Shohei Ohtani are way out of the White Sox's reach.

2. Sign Jose Quintana

There are rumors that the White Sox are looking to sign a starting pitcher this winter, even if that only means bringing back free agent Johnny Cueto.

Rather than bring back Cueto, I think the Sox will shake things up and try to bring back old friend Jose Quintana. The White Sox also have former starters Carlos Rodon and Chris Bassitt on the free-agent market as well. They are both better options but will be much more expensive.

3. Trade Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger for Nicky Lopez

After the White Sox's reckless trade of Nick Madrigal at the 2021 trade deadline, the White Sox left themselves without a second baseman for the future.

Trying to replace him with Nicky Lopez seems like a White Sox thing to do. Lopez bats left-handed plays second base is cheap (for an MLB player), and has connections both to the Chicago area and new Manager Pedro Grifol (his former bench coach in Kansas City).

While he would check all the boxes, this isn't a move I'd recommend given his poor hitting. Trying to re-acquire Madrigal if the Cubs sign a shortstop makes more sense but this is about what I'd expect the White Sox to do.