Chicago White Sox Summer Check Up


Chicago White Sox

24-42 (4th in AL Central)



Eye Popping Number

26

In an ironic twist, if the Minnesota Twins yesterday were the most mediocre team with no stats that really pop, the Chicago White Sox are right there with them. And just as yesterday, the Twins had the doubles leader in the Majors, last night, Jose Abreu tied him with the doubles lead with 26. Abreu picked a great time to get hot from the White Sox perspective. His trade value is through the roof for a team looking for a first baseman or DH, while also not having to deal with the free agent market this offseason.

Biggest Surprise

On a team of mediocrity, the bullpen this season has been actually pretty good. After trading David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle last trade deadline, it looked like the older bullpen was going to be detrimental to the team full of young potential. But the Joakim Soria lead bullpen has pitched to the 5th most valuable pen in the American League. Bruce Rondon has been a nice surprise setting up Soria at the end of games. After a few disappointing seasons for the Detroit Tigers after being hyped up as the next closer, he’s finally putting it together this year on pace to set career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts.

Player to Watch

Reynaldo López has come out of nowhere to be the White Sox best starting pitcher, not that the bar was set very high to begin with. With a 3.26 ERA, and on pace to throw over 100 strikeouts this season. With a plus plus fastball and a plus slider, White Sox fans hope that he can keep this up so he can bring back a hefty haul at the trade deadline, with the number of starters available scarce.

What to Watch for at the Deadline

The White Sox seem to be close to calling up the farm and taking the next step to contending again, but this year delayed that by a year with their slow start. They’ll be happy to be sellers again at the trade deadline again this year in order to bring even more prospects to their system. Soria and Rodon will be the easiest to move as just about everyone is looking for bullpen help. Abreu would probably bring the biggest return as an elite bat with an extra year under contract. Lots of teams in the American League could use a DH to fit in the middle of their lineup, and several National League teams need a first baseman. López will be interesting to watch, because he doesn’t have the track record of being a great pitcher, but he’s pitched really well this season, and just like relievers, most teams need another starting pitcher or three.

*All stats as of 6/14 via fangraphs.com and baseball-reference.com

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