There’s no great mystery here. Mired in another miserable season, the Chicago White Sox will be sellers at the 2024 MLB trade deadline. And while the team is on pace to lose over 100 games for the second straight year, they could be baseball’s biggest winners come July 30.
Nonetheless, it’s been rough on Chicago’s South Side. The White Sox find themselves 31.5 games behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians. At 21-60, they have the worst record in baseball with a -168 run differential, which is also the worst in the majors by 35 runs.
The White Sox payroll stands at $136 million — about $36 million more than their division rival Cleveland — good for 18th-highest in baseball. However, Chicago has reined in the spending after payroll ballooned up in 2022, surpassing $200 million.
Sellers at the deadline in 2023, the White Sox are actually headed in the right direction. That seems an odd assessment for a team that finished with a 61-101 record last season and is on pace to be even worse this year. But the team is not currently competitive, so lowering payroll and emphasizing talent development is a step in the right direction.
Newly promoted general manager – and former farm director – Chris Getz has made a point of acquiring prospects. He’s slowly building up the White Sox’s farm system through trades, the draft, waiver claims, and international signings. And this year’s trade deadline is another opportunity to add to that talent pool.
Despite the nightmare season White Sox fans are suffering through, the team actually has some nice pieces. And those pieces will be shipped off to the highest bidders come July 30.
Yes, everyone knows Chicago is entering full fire sale mode at the trade deadline. The only question is how much they can get in return for their best players.
The White Sox are ready to sell at the deadline
If you need pitching, the White Sox have you covered. Garrett Crochet is widely considered among the best starters to be available at the deadline. Through 17 starts in 2024, Crochet has compiled 3.8 WAR to go along with an ERA+ of 135 while leading the league with 130 strikeouts and leading all of baseball with a ridiculous 12.4 K/9.
Crochet is just 25 years old and doesn’t hit free agency until 2027, meaning it’s going to take a haul to land him. But the White Sox can likely name their price as this combination of talent, youth, and team control is essentially the perfect combination.
For those teams that fail to land the crown jewel of the White Sox pitching staff, Erick Fedde is a nice consolation prize. Fedde is sporting a 3.05 ERA, 3.7 WAR, and, like Crochet, an ERA+ of 135 through 16 starts and 94.1 innings. He’s locked in at a reasonable $7.5 million through 2025.
Chicago can also offer bullpen help, with closer Michael Kopech on the block. He’s only managed five saves with the struggling White Sox this season but he’s put up a saucy 13.1 K/9, is just 28 years old, and doesn’t hit free agency until 2026.
If offense is what you’re after, the Sox still have you covered. Centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. is available. The only question is if the asking price will be too prohibitive.
Robert Jr. has had a down season thanks in large part to months on the injured list. However, he’s only 26 years old and he hit 38 home runs last year, putting up 5 WAR, making his first All-Star team, and grabbing a Silver Slugger award to go along with the Gold Glove from his rookie campaign.
He’s under team control through the 2027 season. So, like Crochet, it’s going to take a lot to land him. But he could be a difference-maker on a contender.
If the White Sox can get their asking price for even two of these players, the farm system will vastly improve. If they move all four (along with other pieces) they could transform the organization’s future.
If all goes to plan and Getz gets his asking prices, the 2024 trade deadline could set up the White Sox’s pipeline for a decade.
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