The Chicago White Sox are going into the 2018 season as a blatant outsider. But they do so on purpose. The rebuild, which was started years ago, seems to have largely been completed. The current team still doesn’t look very impressive, but if you take a closer look, you discover great potential under the surface of the MLB squad.
The White Sox are one of the many teams that carry out an elaborate rebuild. However, they are much further than many a competitor – even if this may not yet become apparent at first glance.
The daily lineup already features a large number of young players. Only First Baseman Jose Abreu – one of the stars of this team – and newcomer Catcher Welington Castillo are already over 30 years old. Otherwise, no one will be older than 26 on Opening Day.
The focus is primarily on the former top prospect of Chicago, Yoan Moncada. The Cuban, who joined the White Sox last year, is facing his first full season and is expected to cause a sensation as lead-off hitter. After initial difficulties, he could now prove that the investment in him was worthwhile.
Not everyone, however, has a secure place. Discussions can already begin at position 5 of the batting order. Nicky Delmonico, for example, will probably be the left-handed part of a Platoon in Left Field, initially together with Ryan Cordell. It is also possible that Delmonico acts as a designated hitter due to its defensive limitations. Then again, Yolmer Sanchez, who no longer has any minor league options, would sit outside to keep Matt Davidson’s competent bat in the lineup.
Castillo, who signed for two years, should have his place for now, especially since his experience as a mentor seems predestined for the young pitcher.
Another question mark of a long-term nature is Center Fielder Adam Engel. Currently, his outstanding defense should keep him in the team. However, his subterranean striking performance urgently needs to be improved if he is to play the most dazzling outfield role in the team even in better times, which can already be seen on the horizon. In his first season in the MLB he came in at 39 OPS+. That is, his percussive performance was 69 percent worse than the MLB average. In other words: devastating!
If you look at the immediate alternatives in the White Sox team, you’ll notice that there’s not a lot of potential lying dormant here. Leury Garcia may be the only serious option from the bank. He can play almost anything in the in and outfield and is at least usable on the record. Since he no longer has any options either, he should have his place in the squad for now.
The rest of the bank acts like a series of placeholders. A Tyler Saladino is also very versatile, but in lineup you only want to have it as a defensive upgrade for later innings. Cordell, on the other hand, has yet to prove that he can be helpful as the right side of a Platoon.
Omar Narvaez, however, is a neat addition to Castillo. However, given his offensive quality, Narvaez will only be able to make occasional bets if the regular player takes a breather.
The age structure of the press is quite high, primarily due to James Shields (36) and Miguel Gonzalez (33). However, both could be free agents at the end of the year and thus be sold at low cost – Shields would still have a $2 million buyout for its $16 million option for 2019.
Meanwhile, a shoulder injury will probably cost Carlos Rodon (25) the start of the season, which is why non-roster investment Hector Santiago has a good chance of starting the season in rotation. Meanwhile, the greatest hopes in the current line-up rest on Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez.
Both came for outfielder Adam Eaton of the Washington Nationals before last season’s trade and are still waiting for their breakthrough – maybe it’s 2018.
A three-team trade with the Dodgers, Royals and White Sox brought Closer Joakim Soria and left-handed Luis Avilan to northern Chicago. Both are expected to play important roles this year. Equally important is Nate Jones, who is not yet fit again after an elbow operation last July and will probably need a little longer.
Juan Minaya is considered the pen’s workhorse and is likely to tear down most of the innings. The rest of the group, on the other hand, seems to take on the role of the placeholder. Among others for Gregory Infante, who is still questionable for the season opener with an inflammation in his shoulder.
Since the team is not really competitive yet and will probably be at the lower end of the AL Central again this year, a look at the prospects is appropriate. Through targeted trades in the last few years, paired with good drafts, a farm system has been built up that is unparalleled. No team currently provides more Top 100 prospects than the White Sox.
According to the MLB pipeline, there are seven, if you include Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America, the White Sox even have eight of these top talents in their own system.
Number one is clearly Eloy Jimenez. The Outfielder was the showpiece of the Chicago Cubs trade from starter Jose Quintana. Overall, he is the fourth best baseball prospect in the MLB pipeline. His arrival is planned for this season, but at the beginning of the year he will be working at Double-A level for the first time.
Right-hander Michael Kopech, who starts the season in Triple-A, is also highly regarded. Along with Moncada, he was the biggest name in last year’s trade with the Boston Red Sox, which transported Chris Sale to Massachusetts.
Outfielder Luis Robert comes along with high upsides. The Cuban is regarded as the centre fielder of the future on the White Sox side. However, he first has to watch with a ligament injury in his left thumb. Realistically, however, he wasn’t expected before 2020 anyway – although he already appeared in jumping training this season.
All in all, the White Sox will probably not play a major role in 2018 either. In their own division, the Cleveland Indians and currently also the Minnesota Twins are miles ahead. But the farm system suggests a sleeping giant.
The White Sox are in the all-embracing rebuild and have already completed the roughest construction work. Now it is a matter of assembling the matching parts and letting them mature.
If only half of the top talents hit in the near future, the White Sox could attack the top again in a few years. Something they haven’t done in ten years.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.