MLB team report: White Sox young core offers hope for offense
About this series: Sports Weekly takes an in-depth look at each major league organization during the offseason, from the major leagues to the farm system. We start with teams with the worst records and move up. (First printed Dec. 28)
MLB team report: Chicago White Sox
After trying every way to contend, the White Sox are rebuilding. Chris Sale and Adam Eaton are gone, and others might follow as GM Rick Hahn tries to build the farm system. USA TODAY Sports’ Peter Barzilai takes an in-depth look at the team. (*Denotes prospect)
Catcher
Nothing says rebuilding like going with two catchers who have combined for 133 plate appearances in the majors, but barring a trade or free agent signing, Omar Narvaez and Kevan Smith figure to share time. Narvaez, with 117 of those plate appearances, is a left-handed hitter and did well in 2016. Smith, a seventh-round pick in 2011, made his big-league debut last season but at 28 his upside is limited. Depth chart: Narvaez, Smith, *Zack Collins
MLB team report: Offseason upgrades enough for Angels?
MLB team report: Phillies rebuilding project in full stride
MLB team report: Brewers in hunt for 'young, controllable talent'
First base
Jose Abreu had a dip in his numbers because of a slow start, but as a result, he’s probably one of the few veterans the White Sox are not looking to trade as of now. He has a reasonable salary ($10.8 million) and is not a free agent until after the 2019 season. Consequently, the White Sox can keep him and see if his trade value increases or decide if he is somebody worth investing in for the long haul. Depth chart: Abreu, Todd Frazier, Matt Davidson
Second base
Brett Lawrie likely will start the season holding down this spot, but don’t expect it to last. Not because he has played in more than 126 games once in five full seasons. Yoan Moncada, the main piece in the Sale trade, should get a shot at taking the job during the season. He turns 22 on May 27 and gives the White Sox a dynamic double-play combo for the foreseeable future. Depth chart: Lawrie, Tyler Saladino, Carlos Sanchez, *Moncada
Third base
Don’t expect Frazier to remain on the White Sox through the 2017 season, let alone avoid being traded before the start of the season. He’ll be a free agent next winter, and while he’s largely a one-dimensional player at the plate, those 75 home runs over the last two seasons are bound to be attractive to a contender. Davidson was rated a top-100 prospect by Baseball America dating to 2011 and finally might be ready for an earnest big-league shot after a much-improved season at Class AAA. Depth chart: Frazier, Davidson, Saladino
Shortstop
Tim Anderson made his major league debut June 10 and immediately established himself. The 23-year-old is a key part of the rebuild and will have to improve his plate discipline (13 walks in 431 plate appearances) so he can become an effective presence at the top of the order. Depth chart: Anderson, Carlos Sanchez, Saladino
Left field
Melky Cabrera continued his up-again, down-again trend with an excellent season (.800 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 2016, .709 in 2015, .808 in 2014, .682 in 2013, .906 in 2012). Now he is entering the last season of his contract and at 32 is another candidate to be traded before or during the season. Rymer Liriano is a bit of a wild card. He was claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers after missing all of 2016 with a concussion. A former top prospect with the San Diego Padres, he figures to get a chance to make the team out of spring training, provided he’s healthy. Depth chart: Cabrera, Liriano, Avisail Garcia
Center field
Charlie Tilson was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals before the trade deadline for reliever Zach Duke and now sees himself with a wide-open chance to be the White Sox’s center fielder. Tilson, 24, was drafted in the second round in 2011 and has hit at every stop. His initial chance with the White Sox was cut short in 2016 when he suffered a season-ending torn hamstring a few days after being dealt. Luis Alexander Basabe was also part of the Sale trade, and while he’s only 20 and a couple of years from reaching the majors, he could be a key piece of the rebuild. Depth chart: Tilson, Liriano, Leury Garcia, *Basabe, *Adam Engel
Right field
This job could be up for grabs entering spring training. Jason Coats (29th-round pick in 2012) doesn’t have the pedigree but put up a .912 OPS at Class AAA last season. Avisail Garcia is what he is, which is a below-average corner outfielder. And then there is Liriano. Depth chart: Coats, Garcia, Liriano
Designated hitter
Avisail Garcia is in line to take the bulk of the duties, although this is one spot where the White Sox might make more acquisitions in the hope of creating depth. Depth chart: Garcia, Abreu, Frazier
Starting pitchers
Sale was arguably the White Sox’s best player the last five years, but the rotation is stacked with young talent after the trades of Sale and Eaton. Jose Quintana is now the ace, that is unless he follows Sale out of town. But with four years left on his contract, the White Sox might choose to have him anchor what will soon be a very green rotation. James Shields, Miguel Gonzalez and Derek Holland are essentially placeholders. In addition to established Carlos Rodon, there are huge upsides in the system in Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and several others. Depth chart: LH Quintana, LH Rodon, RH Shields, RH Gonzalez, LH Holland, RH *Giolito, RH *Lopez, RH *Carson Fulmer, RH *Michael Kopech, RH *Spencer Adams, RH *Dane Dunning
Bullpen
After five dominant seasons, David Robertson saw his walk and strikeout rates slip. He’s due $25million over two seasons, so the White Sox likely hope he returns to form and becomes a hot commodity on the midseason trade market. Nate Jones and Dan Jennings had terrific seasons, but there’s no reason for a rebuilding team to keep aging relievers. Depth chart: RH Robertson, RH Jones, LH Jennings, RH Zach Putnam, RH Tommy Kahnle, RH Michael Ynoa, RH Dylan Covey, RH Jake Petricka, RH *Zack Burdi
***
Offseason outlook
After trying to contend for the last two years, there will be no question about the White Sox’s intentions for 2017: build for the future. Expect more trades and more kids getting playing time.
***
Top five prospects
Excerpted from BaseballHQ.com’s 2017 Minor League Baseball Analyst. To order: Baseballhq.com/mlba2017:
1. Lucas Giolito, RHP: The prize of the Adam Eaton trade has exceptional stuff, including a mid-90s fastball, hammer curveball and usable changeup. Though he got hit around in a short major league debut in 2016, the 22-year-old has a very high ceiling because of high strikeout potential. He could be up from Class AAA by midseason.
2. Yoan Moncada, 2B-3B: An explosive athlete who reached the majors late in 2016, Moncada likely will return to second base, where he’ll show off above-average speed (45 steals) and power potential. The 21-year-old swings aggressively but is willing to draw walks. He’ll polish his pitch recognition and defense at Class AAA.
3. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP: Small in stature but strong, Lopez pumps mid-90s fastballs with ease, but his command comes and goes. Lopez, 22, has an aggressive demeanor that seems well-suited for a late-innings role, but he’ll remain in the rotation for now, likely starting at Class AAA.
4. Michael Kopech, RHP: The tall, aggressive pitcher hits triple digits with his fastball and racks up strikeouts (86 in 56 1/3 innings in 2016). His fastball is explosive, and he throws a hard slider. Kopech, 20, must improve his control, starting at high Class A.
5. Carson Fulmer, RHP: Fulmer, 23, was a starter in the minors but a reliever in his White Sox debut. He has an above-average fastball and big-breaking curve. His command has been inconsistent and could lead to a full-time bullpen role. He will be in the mix for a spot on the White Sox roster.
By Jeremy Deloney
Gallery: Notable offseason trades
