2020 White Sox: Gainin' On Ya

jon abbey

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Big credit to the White Sox for how they have executed this rebuild, on paper anyway. The offseason is not over but as of this second, they might be my AL Central pick. Once they call up Robert and Madrigal, they have this potential lineup.

Robert 8
Anderson 6
Abreu 3
Moncada 5
Encarnacion DH
Grandal 2
Jimenez 7
Mazara 9
Madrigal 4

Plus a real rotation after signing Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez, added to Giolito and Lopez and Cease and Kopech at some point. They could use some relievers but so could most teams.

Title from this, no Chicago connection I'm aware of but any excuse to post a track this good:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZABMi9RQncs
 

jon abbey

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Robert, Kopech, Madrigal and 2019 first rounder Andrew Vaughan are all in the current top 40 prospects on Fangraphs, 18, 20, 25 and 39 respectively.
 

Rich Garces Belly

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If they could pick up a couple of 7/8 inning relievers they could be very good. I wonder if the Sox could exchange Barnes or Workman for McCann as it could be beneficial to both teams.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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I’m a little bullish on their starting pitching acquisitions. The González deal is only a 1 year risk, but 4 years for Keuchel may be a bad investment given his age and injury history. Seemed like they desperately wanted to contend in 2020 and are throwing money around to fill holes instead of waiting a year for a better free agency class (Stroman, Tanaka, Paxton, Bauer).
 

jon abbey

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I’m a little bullish on their starting pitching acquisitions. The González deal is only a 1 year risk, but 4 years for Keuchel may be a bad investment given his age and injury history. Seemed like they desperately wanted to contend in 2020 and are throwing money around to fill holes instead of waiting a year for a better free agency class (Stroman, Tanaka, Paxton, Bauer).
So did you mean ‘bearish’ here, because that’s what the rest of your post sounds like?

I think it’s a question of trying to get back to respectability right now, and if they can do that, whoever they go after next winter will take their overtures more seriously. The Blue Jays supposedly offered Cole $300M but no one even bothered reporting that until a week after he signed with NY because he was never signing with a non-contender.
 

sean1562

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or maybe they think that their prospects will pan out and they will only really need Keuchel to eat innings towards the end of the deal. They didnt give away much for Mazara so if he doesnt improve dramatically this season, they could look for a big-time RF in FA next season
 

67YAZ

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Getting smokey on twitter around a Nolan Arenado trade to the South Side. Trying to wrap my head around it.

 

67YAZ

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I'm sure Hanh and Williams called about Arenado, that fits their m.o. Maybe someone is leaking discussions trying build some momentum.

Hypothetically, if the Rockies are sending cash and are getting Dylan Cease and more, I could see Luis Basabe (AA OF, org #10 prospect, great tools but injuries have slowed development) and one of their many high-upside rookie ball/A-ball arms.
 

jon abbey

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I think it would be bigger pieces than that, maybe Madrigal and then Moncada would go back to 2B?
 

67YAZ

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Was thinking about that, but the opt out still looms large. Maybe a lot of cash would net Madrigal or some kind of reworked contract o postpone/give up the opt out.

Edit: also, it would be odd to leak info that leads with Cease as den the centerpiece and not Madrigal. But who knows
 
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67YAZ

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In that case , yes - Moncada to 2B, Madrigal to Colorado. Would be an exciting deal for both teams.
 

67YAZ

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Still waiting on confirmation of the Arenado trade...

There is great buzz around this team. The major hurdles are that Robert & Madrigal are going to start in AAA for service time reasons and Kopech needs to reestablish himself. WhIle this team might round inform during the summer, it’s likely to be a slow start. In a weaker division, maybe it only takes a hot stretch run to nab the division?
 

67YAZ

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Keith Law is not a Madrigal fanboi. And so far, Madrigal has looked either overmatched or lost at the plate this spring. He was always going to start the season in AAA, but the question is now how long will it take for Madrigal to get back into his groove. His value as a hitter is tied to his elite contact skills, so he needs to start putting the ball in play.

Until then, UMass-Lowell’s own Danny Mendick will hold down the keystone. It’s a nice opportunity for him, if he can snatch it.
 
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67YAZ

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They have a great young core locked in for the next 5 seasons. Williams and Hahn have gotten a lot of stick for the last dozen or so years, but they have done a great job here. It will be fun to watch them build out the roster around he core, but a lot is going to hinge on improving the pitcher development program. The White Sox have done fabulous bringing the hitters along, but the pitching has been a mess. They really need Kopech to realize his potential and a bunch of other young arms to become quality contributors.