The Chicago White Sox revitalized their team last season by winning the AL Central Division. Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson were phenomenal in leading the charge offensively, while Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn have been tremendous assets in their rotation. The foundation is set for the White Sox led by tenured manager Tony La Russa.

There have not been a ton of splashy moves for the White Sox in the MLB offseason, but they have added another reliable arm in the bullpen in Joe Kelly, as he would be a massive help to the backend with Liam Hendriks and Craig Kimbrel. Josh Harrison is another underrated acquisition who will likely start in second base after Cesar Hernandez signed a new deal with the Washington Nationals.

As the White Sox are one of the top contenders this season, here are some bold predictions for the squad.

Chicago White Sox: 4 bold predictions for 2022 MLB season

4. Liam Hendriks will lead the AL in saves

It will be enormously difficult for Hendriks to replicate his success last season, but he is a sensational closer who does not fade when the pressure intensifies. His fastball is one of the best in the business not just because of its speed but also its admirable control. Additionally, his slider is a fabulous counter because of its movement that catches any batter off guard.

When everyone is healthy, Hendriks has high leverage pitchers like Kimbrel and Kelly who will not force him to pitch too many innings at the beginning of the season. Hendriks looked like he lost steam in the postseason against the Houston Astros, but La Russa would know now to maneuver through the tough decisions during the crucial junctures of games. Hendriks will be excellent again and the White Sox will win the AL Central Division for two straight seasons.

3. Tim Anderson will lead the AL in batting average

One of the best leadoff hitters and table setters in the whole MLB, Anderson is one of the youngsters who value the importance of putting the ball in play and just creating contact rather than solely focusing on the home runs. Batting average has drastically dropped in this generation, but Anderson knows he will be dangerous when he is on base.

The ability of Anderson to produce constant singles or doubles for the heart of the order led by Abreu will be the recipe for success for Chicago. The power of the batting order of the White Sox is unquestioned, but the difference-maker for games in the postseason is manufacturing a slew of ways to get on base and stay ahead in low-scoring matches. Even at just 28 years of age, Anderson's maturity and leadership approach is integral to the upcoming campaign of the White Sox.

2. Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dallas Keuchel will be one of the best trios in the AL

As proven by the Atlanta Braves' 2021 World Series crown, pitching is the primary reason that propels a team to be competitive on any given night. Batters could struggle in a do-or-die game, but the opportunity for La Russa to utilize either Giolito, Lynn, or Keuchel on the mound is a luxury. They are reliable arms who could allow less than three runs in six or seven innings.

The analytics over this past decade has lessened the load on the starters, so even if La Russa decides to decrease the innings of his starters, they have spectacular relievers who would definitely protect the lead. It is not far-fetched for Lynn or Giolito to compete for a Cy Young Award this season after they finished third and 11th last year. Carlos Rodon is an enormous loss for their rotation, though, as they will need Dylan Cease to be a respectable fourth man.

1. Jose Abreu will finish top five in MVP race

As he edged out Jose Ramirez and DJ LeMahieu in 2020, Abreu wrapped up that season with the first MVP accolade of his career. His mentality and focus in constantly driving in runs have been phenomenal, as he was second in the AL last season behind Salvador Perez. At 117 RBI's last season, Abreu will raise that total to around 125 this year and possibly hit more than 30 home runs as well.

The White Sox are a franchise who would be buyers before the trade deadline, as they will bolster their depth even more, which will aid Abreu in adding to his production. Chicago must pounce on teams like the Nationals and Chicago Cubs, as they were releasing their best players last season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants benefiting from it. Even with his power, Abreu's batting average is decent at the very least, so the all-around performance will catapult him to serious MVP consideration.