ChiSox spend in bid to contend
Five issues facing the White Sox:
Time to contend?
After the White Sox’s 10-win improvement from 2018 to 2019, their rebuild is at the point where the team is ready to spend money to improve the roster. That became evident with the signing of free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal to a four-year, $73 million contract (the biggest deal in franchise history) and in the team bringing back first baseman José Abreu on a three-year, $50 million contract.
The White Sox tried to land free agent starting RHP Zack Wheeler, who rejected a higher five-year offer to sign a $119 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Young rotation gets
The White Sox added former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and veteran Gio Gonzalez to help bolster a rotation that returns young right-handers Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease and Reynaldo López. Righthander Michael Kopech and left-hander Carlos Rodón are still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Kopech made his debut in instructional league ball in October. According to FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, Kopech showed upper 90s velocity. Baseball Prospectus’ Steve Givarz reported that Kopech threw nearly 30 pitches and hit 100 mph multiple times. The White Sox are expected to be careful with Kopech as he works his way back to his first regular-season action since September 2018.
Left-handed pop in help: right:
The White Sox, heavy on right-handed hitters, need improved hitting from the left side of the plate. During the winter meetings, the team acquired left-handed-hitting right fielder Nomar Mazara from the Texas Rangers for minor league outfielder Steele Walker.
Mazara, 24, has shown some power during his first four big-league seasons, hitting 20 home runs in each of his first three years. He drove in 101 runs in 2017. The 6-4 slugger batted .268 with 19 home runs, 66 RBI and a .786 OPS last year. Mazara addresses the White Sox’s need in right field. The collective .635 OPS, 18
OF Jon Jay, RHP Ivan Nova, 2B Yolmer Sanchez,
LHP Héctor Santiago
Abreu decided to forgo free agency by accepting a $17.7 million qualifying offer before he agreed to a three-year deal. Having missed out on Wheeler, the White Sox could target pitchers such as Dallas Keuchel and Hyun-Jin Ryu. At press time, the White Sox were close to a deal with veteran starter Gio Gonzalez. Nova, who tossed 187 innings over a career-high 34 starts in 2019, could return. home runs and 89 RBI for the team’s right fielders ranked among the worst in baseball.
The kids are all right:
Last season, left fielder Eloy Jiménez justified the team’s confidence in him – a six-year, $43 million contract that was the largest
With the Cleveland Indians potentially rebooting, there is an opening for the White Sox to vault into contention behind the division favorite Minnesota Twins. Chicago’s chances will depend on how much starting pitching it can add. 72-89
Third place, AL Central; missed playoffs
deal ever for a rostered player with no service time – delivering a fine rookie season with 31 home runs, 79 RBI and a .267 average.
The White Sox are banking on two prospects to come up big next season.
Outfielder Luis Robert is the White Sox’s No. 1 prospect. Second baseman Nick Madrigal, a Gold Glove-caliber defender, is the team’s No. 4 prospect. Both are expected to be in the majors during the 2020 season.
DH:
The OPS for White Sox designated hitters was the lowest in the AL in 2019. But Chicago tried to address that by signing Edwin Encarnacion to a one-year, $12 million deal. He hit 34 homers in 109 games for the Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees last season. His OPS was .875.