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Not much was expected out of the Chicago White Sox entering the 2024 season. And on cue, the White Sox have proceeded to stink up the joint. They are far and away the worst team in the MLB with a record of 15-45, and it's only a matter of time before they sold off some of their remaining quality major-league pieces in an attempt to bolster their farm system that ranks in the bottom half of the MLB according to a few major media outlets.
And it looks like the time has come for the White Sox to start entertaining trade offers even for two of their best players on the big-league roster. Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr., as well as emergent southpaw starting pitcher, Garrett Crochet, could be on the move within the next two months, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
“The worst team in baseball is open for business,” Passan wrote. “Yes, the White Sox are willing to deal center fielder Luis Robert Jr., who is expected to return from a hip injury this week and is locked up through 2027. … Perhaps most notably, yes, the White Sox are willing to trade left-hander Garrett Crochet.”
No one is safe from the White Sox's fire sale, especially when the likes of Robert and Crochet are available for trade. Nonetheless, it's not like general manager Chris Getz will be trading away those two players for pennies on the dollar. In fact, per Passan, the White Sox will be looking for a huge return for Crochet, seeing that he's only 24 years of age and that he'll be under control for two more seasons after 2024.
“What they seek in return won't be low, particularly for the 24-year-old Crochet, but as the White Sox's rebuild kicks into gear, don't underestimate the willingness of new general manager Chris Getz to tear down even more than he already has,” Passan added.
The White Sox already began their teardown prior to the start of the 2024 season when they dealt away ace Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres in a trade that netted them top-100 prospect Drew Thorpe, toolsy outfielder Samuel Zavala, as well as right-handed pitchers Jairo Iriarte and Steven Wilson. Moreover, the White Sox traded Robbie Grossman to the Texas Rangers in early May.
But that may just be the beginning of a complete teardown of a White Sox team that is going nowhere fast.
Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. are the biggest names, but who else will the White Sox trade?
Understandably, Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. will draw a ton of interest on the market due to their production for their age as well as cost. However, the White Sox will be demanding a pretty penny for the two, which makes finalizing any trade that much more difficult.
Nonetheless, the White Sox should have plenty of other players who will draw a ton of attention from contending teams. Outfielder Tommy Pham, who recently found himself in an altercation at home plate, will most likely be on the move, per Passan. Pham's best years may be behind him now that he's 36 years old, but teams in need of some outfield depth could find it acceptable to add someone hitting for a .733 OPS, especially when it shouldn't cost them much.
Closer Michael Kopech could also be seen as a worthwhile reclamation project; the White Sox have placed him in a bullpen role after seeing him struggle as a starter in 2023, but it doesn't seem like pitching off the pen has helped him much. He may have a 3.86 ERA, but his peripherals show that he should be allowing more runs. Still, he's only 28 years old, and he's throwing a 99 mile-per-hour fastball, so there will definitely be a market for him as teams look to maximize his velocity.
Erick Fedde should also fetch the White Sox a neat trade return. Fedde has remade himself into a quality starter after pitching in South Korea for the 2023 season; thus far in 2024, Fedde has put up a 3.12 ERA in 69.1 innings (12 starts), and his production is even backed up by solid peripherals. He is under contract at $7.5 million for this season and the next, so contending teams in need of a solid middle of the rotation starter could snatch him up.
Other White Sox players that Passan noted could be on the move are reliever Tim Hill, shortstop Paul Dejong, and starting pitcher Mike Clevinger. Perhaps players such as Corey Julks and Gavin Sheets could also have a trade market for them, being two of a few White Sox players on the roster who are contributing positively.
