Memorial Day is a traditional milepost that is supposed to separate contenders from pretenders. It’s often seen as the time to start identifying teams that will be looking to sell talent at the mid-season trade deadline, and in that regard there’s no overlooking a White Sox team that has staggered out of the gate 22-33.
But there’s one problem. They are only one good week away from getting within striking distance in a universally weak American League Central.
Minnesota was in first place through Sunday with a 27-26 week. The five division teams, including the Twins, were 113-152. That’s .426 baseball — a pace that wound produce 69 wins per team over 162 games.
So will Jerry Reinsdorf choose to break up a team with a $181-million payroll, the second biggest in team history? He still catches grief from long-time fans for trading veteran pitchers Roberto Hernandez, Wilson Alvarez and Danny Darwin for six minor-leaguers at the deadline in 1997.
The White Sox, who had added Albert Belle to hit alongside Frank Thomas, were 52-53 at the time but only 3 1/2 games behind the Indians. Reinsdorf was more pragmatic than his fans, however, giving Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times a quote he wishes he could take back. “Anyone who thinks we can catch Cleveland is crazy,” Reinsdorf said at an owners meeting after the trade.
This year’s team is 14-12 in May but that has done little to dig itself out of the hole it dug with a 10-game losing streak late in an 8-21 April. The White Sox have underperformed in all phases, ranking 10th in the AL in scoring (and last in walks), 13th in runs allowed and 11th in Defensive Runs Saved. An experienced starting rotation has put together a 4.69 ERA while a bullpen missing closer Liam Hendriks is even worse (5.17 ERA).
The Sox appeared to have executed a highly successful — and mercifully brief — rebuild when they went to the postseason in 2020 and ’21 but went 81-81 last season before lumbering out of the gate under rookie manager Pedro Grifol this season.
During the last rebuild, the Sox received maximum value for a trio of players — pitchers Chris Sale and Jose Quintana and outfielder Adam Eaton. But it doesn’t appear the current inventory of players would attract nearly as much attention.
The Sox’s best player is 25-year-old center fielder Luis Robert, who is under the team’s control through 2027 on a contract that maxes out at $15 million a year before the $20-million option years in ’26 and ’27. He wouldn’t seem to be going anywhere.
Right-hander Lucas Giolito, who received Cy Young votes in 2019-21, is on track to be a free agent after the season. He’s pitched solidly (3-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 11 starts) and would attract significant interest leading into the trade deadline. The Sox must hope that the other possible trade targets on the pitching staff — Lance Lynn, Mike Clevinger, Kendall Graveman, Aaron Bummer and Joe Kelly — hit stride in the next month.
The Sox could face a difficult decision if any team approaches them about shortstop Tim Anderson. He was a two-way contributor who led the Sox to postseason in ’20 and ’21 but his play has fallen off the last two seasons. The White Sox exercised a $12.5-million option to keep him for this season but the decision on his $14-million option for 2024 isn’t as clear cut.
Hendriks, who was expected to be activated Monday after receiving treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, could carry a lot of trade value if he pitches anywhere like he has the last four seasons (114 saves, 359 strikeouts in 239 innings). He’s under control through ’24 so General Manager Rick Hahn should be able to tread carefully, allowing Hendriks to get his feet back under him without the stress of a trade. But Hendriks might welcome a chance to join a contender if the White Sox don’t get straightened out.
One way or another, life won’t be dull around Guaranteed Rate Field as the weak AL Central sorts itself out.
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Will Weak AL Central Stop White Sox From Being Deadline Sellers? - Forbes
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