Chicago White Sox: 3 worst trades executed by Rick Hahn
After looking at some of their stronger trades, let’s examine some of the mistakes of the Chicago White Sox under Rick Hahn.
The Chicago White Sox are always one of the most active teams when it comes to trades. Since Rick Hahn was hired to run the franchise during the 2013 season, the team has made 27 separate trades.
There were some trades that really benefited the White Sox, such as the Adam Eaton trade, the Chris Sale trade, and the Jose Quintana trade.
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They improved for the future by completing all of these trades. They received the right o=players in return.
However, some other of these trades were train wrecks.
There were times where they went after the wrong player or included the wrong prospect in a package.
Since the team on the south side of Chicago has missed the playoffs every single season since 2008, they are very active at the deadline. They either get rid of veterans for younger prospects, or trade prospects for older veterans in a hope to make the playoffs.
This article is going to evaluate three poor trades by Rick Hahn and the Chicago White Sox. These transactions set the team back a few years each. They got rid of some players that would have been huge All-Stars, as well as screwing up a trade for a former All-Star.
Chicago White Sox: 3 worst trades by Rick Hahn
Trading Fernando Tatis JR. for James Shields
On June 4th, 2016, the Chicago White Sox were 29-27, with hopes of making the postseason. They wanted to go all-in on the season. As an attempt to do so, they traded for James Shields.
James Shields was coming off a great 2015 with the San Diego Padres. Despite his strong campaign, he was making $18 million a year, and the White Sox had to give up a lot.
The White Sox traded relief pitcher Erik Johnson and, just a prospect at the time, Fernando Tatis Jr.
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Tatis Jr. was not nearly as highly regarded as he is now. He spent less than a year in the White Sox organization. Nobody knew he was on the verge of stardom yet.
The worse part was that Shields’ time in Chicago was fairly disastrous. The White Sox missed the playoffs each year he was there, 2016-2018. He went 16-35 through 77 starts, 2.5 seasons. His ERA was 5.31. He ended his career with the White Sox. He has his worst seasons wearing white and black.
Fernando Tatis Jr. would be an amazing addition to this White Sox team. They could slide Tim Anderson over to second base and let Tatis Jr. man shortstop. He is going to a star and Chicago missed out by including him in the James Shields trade.
Chicago White Sox: 3 worst trades by Rick Hahn
Trading Marcus Semien for Jeff Samardzija
Prior to the 2015 season, the Oakland A’s traded away a few of their All-Stars. They sent Josh Donaldson, who won the MVP that season, to the Toronto Blue Jays.
In the process, they traded Jeff Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox for the last season before his free agency. The White Sox acquired Samardzija and RHP Gabriel Ynoa from the Athletics for SS Marcus Semien, RHP Chris Bassit, C Josh Phegley, and 1B Rangel Ravelo.
None of the other prospects besides Semien really panned out for Oakland, but Semien was worth it for sure. Semien is one of best defensive shortstops in baseball and just put together a monstrous campaign in 2019.
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He is another shortstop the White Sox got rid of too early. They would have loved to have him on this roster, but they missed out by trying to add a starting pitcher.
Samardzija has one poor season for the White Sox. He went 11-13, with a 4.96 ERA. The trade was a mistake for Hahn and the White Sox. They did not need to make the move.
Semien thrived in Oakland and just finished top three in the AL MVP voting. He was another mistake the White Sox made.
Chicago White Sox: 3 worst trades by Rick Hahn
Trading Frankie Montas for Todd Frazier
Todd Frazier was a huge mistake for the White Sox organization.
This might be a hot take, but Frazier’s 40-homer season in Chicago was a waste because they were not even close to making the playoffs and they gave up a few prospects for him, and then did not receive the same return when they sent him to the New York Yankees.
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They gave up Frankie Montas and two other hitters when they acquired Frazier from the Cincinnati Reds.
After a season and a half in Chicago, they sent him to the Yankees on a contract year for Tyler Clippard and prospects. In addition to Frazier, they sent Tommy Kahnle and closer David Robertson to the Yankees.
They did not get the return they should have for Frazier. They gave up too much for him too.
Frankie Montas is putting together a decent start to a career for Oakland, none of the players they got from Yankees turned into anything special.
Frazier was a failed experiment. He was one of the poor trades of Rick Hahn’s tenure with the White Sox.
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Hopefully, this season will be one-off good fortune for the White Sox. Hahn needs to be smart which prospects he trades away if they decide to be aggressive before the trade deadline this season when it begins.