Ranking the White Sox's 6 most tradable assets
Of course, by now you realize that the Chicago White Sox are going to be sellers. They were just swept by the Minnesota Twins in the most embarrassing way possible and now it is clear how bad they truly are.
At 41-60 (19 games under .500), the White Sox are 12.0 games out of the lead in the AL Central Division. That is horrific stuff for a team that is supposed to be in its “contention window”.
Now that they are sellers, it is time to think about who is going to go. There are a few guys that might go but are not a lock. It will become more and more clear as August 1st approaches.
There are a few good trade assets on this team right now. Between starters, hitters, and bullpen arms, the White Sox can add some assets to the farm system. These are the top six tradable pieces ranked from 6 to 1:
6. Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly is someone that the Chicago White Sox might trade this year.
Joe Kelly has some value but there is a risk to trading for him. Some teams may be hesitant to take on a relief pitcher like him in the year 2023.
Kelly is a two-time World Series champion with two different teams. That type of experience can really help out a locker room so that is where the value comes in.
That and the fact that he has been a good pitcher in his career as well when he is on. With the White Sox, he has been both on and off so it is hard to tell how he’d be with someone else.
The risk is injuries. He literally just came back from the IL which is where he has spent a lot of his White Sox tenure. If he can keep his body from breaking down for the rest of the season though, a contending team might be lucky to have him.
5. Kendall Graveman
Kendall Graveman is a reliever that the Chicago White Sox may trade.
The whole world just watched Kendall Graveman have a terrible performance on Sunday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins.
His tough outing led to the White Sox getting swept by those Twins. The final game was not pretty at all for anyone but Graveman really might have lowered his trade value there.
He is still a very reliable pitcher that has had some great moments in his career, including with the White Sox. Rick Hahn and his staff have to be hoping that teams will realize that and not just look at one bad outing while playing for a horrific team.
It would be nice for Graveman to be higher on this list because teams love to overpay for bullpen help. However, he might not be at the top of most teams’ priority list anymore.
We will see if the White Sox actually move him or if they are going to keep him. If they can get anything for him though, they should get it done.
4. Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn is a starter that the Chicago White Sox may consider trading.
Just like Kendall Graveman, Lance Lynn’s most recent outing was not a good one. After a string of decent starts to raise his trade value a little bit, the Minnesota Twins knocked him around.
Lynn’s biggest problem this season has been giving up the long ball. He has been allowing home runs at a historical level when it comes to all-time White Sox records.
There are certainly teams out there that believe that they can help Lance cut down the home runs though. He has been striking out tons of hitters this season so at least his stuff is there.
He hasn’t been good enough and that is why he’s ranked fourth of the realistic trade candidates but there are positives that teams can see that may make them take that risk.
Whether it’s packaging him with someone else or just getting a B-level prospect in return for a starter with lots of experience, the Sox should do it.
3. Tim Anderson
Tim Anderson getting traded by the White Sox feels like a strange idea.
Tim Anderson is firmly the face of the franchise and has been since 2019. His poor play here in 2023 doesn’t come close to changing that.
The only thing that will change it is if he is traded. Yes, that is a legit possibility. There are tons of teams out there that would just love to add a guy like that right now.
No, he hasn’t been right for most of this year. Yes, he has been getting better and better as things go along for him this season. Teams will see that and consider him if they think he fills a need.
Anderson may play shortstop for his new team if he is traded but he also may be in line to play some second base. This could be a path for him to get back in the playoffs with a good team.
It would be shocking to see the White Sox trade him when you think about where things were two years ago but it is a conversation being had right now.
2. Lucas Giolito
The Chicago White Sox trading Lucas Giolito feels certain at this point.
The Chicago White Sox are going to make at least one big trade before the August 1st trade deadline. One person that is almost certainly going to be gone is Lucas Giolito.
Giolito has been a very good pitcher so far in his Major League career. He was a top ten starter in the American League in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2022, however, he was awful.
The good news is that he has bounced back in 2023 so other teams across the league will want to add a guy like that. The one bad year was an outlier.
Plenty of teams are going to be in the mix for Giolito. Of all the guys that have even a slight chance of being traded this year, Giolito is the second most valuable.
It may be wise for the White Sox to extend him instead but if they know that is not happening, a trade will be on the table.
1. Dylan Cease
If Dylan Cease is a trade option for the White Sox, he is their best one.
The Chicago White Sox are not likely to trade Dylan Cease. He feels like someone that they should be keeping no matter what.
However, there are going to be teams asking about him. When you have performed the way that the White Sox have so far in 2023, nobody should be truly untouchable.
Cease is also a client of Scott Boras who does not deal well with the Chicago White Sox. If an extension isn't going to get done ever, some hard decisions might need to be made.
If the right package came along for Cease, Rick Hahn would be foolish not to even consider it. Because that is possible, he has to be considered a trade asset.
If Cease is a trade asset right now, he is the best one. Luis Robert Jr. is the MVP of the team right now and although nobody should be untouchable, it would take something truly special to trade Robert Jr. That makes Cease the number one guy on a list like this.
Hopefully, regardless of what happens, the White Sox find a way to better the team as a whole.
Next. The 15 worst contracts in Chicago White Sox history. dark