Chicago White Sox: What’s on their 2022 post-lockout to-do list
Fresh off of a 93-win season and a first place finish in the American League Central, the Chicago White Sox are flying high heading into 2022.
What has changed about the Chicago White Sox roster so far this offseason?
The vast majority of the team’s roster will look similar as it did last year. Why change if you have something good going? To this point the White Sox have re-signed utilityman Leury Garcia and signed star relief pitcher Kendall Graveman.
The club’s only noteworthy losses come in the form of second baseman Cesar Hernandez (who signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals), right-hander Ryan Tepera, and a revitalized Carlos Rodon (who remains a free agent but is expected to sign elsewhere). Surprisingly, the team doesn’t seem to be all that interested in bringing one of their best pitchers back according to Bob Nightengale.
The #Whitesox decided at the end of the season that they were not going to bring starter Carlos Rodon back, and did not make a qualifying offer to retain him
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 7, 2021
As it always goes with any successful baseball team, the White Sox do have some holes in their roster that they need to address if they are to continue their recent performances. Let’s take a look at a few moves that should be on their to-do list once the Major League Baseball lockout ends.
The Chicago White Sox should give Give Yermin Mercedes another shot
At this point, everyone knows who Yermin Mercedes is. Affectionately called “The Yerminator,” Mercedes exploded onto the scene in 2021 at 28 years old and took Major League Baseball by force.
Yermin Mercedes is the first MLB player in the modern era to begin a season with eight straight hits. This is a feat that is difficult to truly comprehend, especially when the player is a rookie and is brand new to MLB. The big catcher won an AL Player of the Week award in early April and then won the MLB Rookie of the Month award that month as well thanks in part to his insane .415/.455/.659 slash line.
Mercedes is a young and fun player full of swagger that looks a lot like Carlos Gomez back in his day. Gomez was always having fun on the field, whether it was interacting with fans mid-game or swinging completely out of his batting helmet and falling over. Yermin Mercedes is an electric player and played his way into the hearts of everyone around the majors. Everyone, that is, except for his manager Tony La Russa.
On May 17, Yermin Mercedes hit a home run on a 3-0 count while the Sox had an 11-run lead over the Twins. Minnesota had their version of Mercedes, utility man Willians Astudillo, on the mound. White Sox manager Tony La Russa publicly criticized Mercedes for breaking an “unwritten rule” in baseball.
"He made a mistake. There'll be a consequence that he has to endure here within our family. But it won't happen again."
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 18, 2021
-White Sox Manger Tony La Russa on Yermín Mercedes hitting a HR on a 3-0 pitch while up big in the 9th pic.twitter.com/pG32nY8srn
From that day forward, Mercedes’ performance began to dip and never quite recovered. In May, his slash-line was .221/.292/.326 and ultimately dropped down to .159/.221/.190 in June. The White Sox ended up sending him down to the minor leagues after their game on June 30 and the Yerminator was not seen again in the majors in 2021. While playing for the White Sox’s Triple-A affiliate, Mercedes hit 11 home runs in 59 games, slugging .464 and playing below-average defense at both catcher and first base.
Mercedes profiles as a designated hitter and that is exactly where the 2022 Chicago White Sox could use him. A catcher by trade, Mercedes has experience at both infield corners in the minors but has never been a plus-defender. Let bygones be bygones and see what the Yerminator is truly capable of when handed a full-time role for an entire season.
The Chicago White Sox should sign Johnny Cueto to a one-year deal
The Chicago White Sox appear to be set to return former prized-prospect Michael Kopech to the starting rotation in 2022. Functioning primarily out of the bullpen last season, Kopech threw 69 innings, striking out 103 and walking only 24. This was Kopech’s first MLB action in over three years as he missed the end of 2018 and all of 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and then he chose to opt out of the 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fact that injuries have been an issue for Kopech makes a guy skeptical about his odds of pitching the whole season out of the White Sox’s rotation in 2022. Reynaldo Lopez and Garrett Crochet are two bullpen arms capable of starting, but the White Sox could use another reliable arm in their rotation.
35-year old Johnny Cueto is entering his 15th season in the big leagues. With 300+ starts, 2,000+ innings, and three top-6 finishes in the NL Cy Young voting under his belt, he would be a perfect addition to the back-end of the Chicago White Sox’s starting rotation.
Cueto, like Kopech, is only a few years removed from a Tommy John surgery of his own. Last season saw him make 21 starts and 8.0 strikeouts per-nine innings, his highest in a full season since 2017. Cueto is no longer the pitcher who goes 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 242 strikeouts, but he is an experienced starting pitcher with an extensive track record. He would fit very nicely in the back end of the Chicago White Sox starting rotation.
The Chicago White Sox should sign Jonathan Villar to play second base
Per ESPN’s depth chart tracker, the Chicago White Sox have lumbering first baseman/outfielder Andrew Vaughn atop their depth chart at second base followed by their starting third baseman Yoan Moncada. There is virtually no chance that either of those players sees time at second base for the club in 2022.
Related Story. Yoan Moncada not the answer at second base. light
Second base is the White Sox’s biggest offensive hole in their lineup and they could use someone to plug into the everyday starting nine. Switch-hitting Jonathan Villar is a speedy, versatile player with some pop in his bat that would fit nicely on the Sox.
Villar, 30, has spent significant time at second, third, short, and center field in his career. He was the Brewers’ starting shortstop for all of 2016, the Orioles’ starting second baseman in 2019, and the Mets’ starting third baseman for the majority of games played in 2021.
Not known to blow people away with his defensive prowess, Villar has a career dWAR of 2.0 to go with his 15.1 oWAR in his nine-season career so far. His career high dWAR in a single season is 0.6, a feat he has accomplished in both 2014 and 2018, both seasons saw him play in under 90 games.
Second base does not require the same range and throwing arm as third base or shortstop, so it is a reasonable assumption to make that the White Sox could hide Villar’s lack of defensive competency at second base for a season.
Speed, power, and durability are, however, three of Villar’s strong suits. Throughout his career, Villar has topped 35 stolen bases three times, including a 62-steal season in 2016 for the Brewers. Last season was the fifth time that Villar has put up double-digit home run totals and the fifth time he has appeared in over 122 games in a season. In 2019 for the Orioles, Villar appeared in all 162 contests, a feat that is not so common in today’s age.
Jonathan Villar would prove to be an instant upgrade for the White Sox who currently have Andrew Vaughn atop their depth chart.
The Chicago White Sox should trade Craig Kimbrel
Craig Kimbrel is undoubtedly one of the greatest closers in the history of Major League Baseball. The active leader in saves is now 33 years of age and is currently slated to play in his first full season as a member of the Chicago White Sox. That concept seems to be in jeopardy already, though, as Bob Nightengale reported that the club could look to trade him this winter after picking up their $16 million club option on him.
The Chicago #WhiteSox are expected to pick up reliever Craig Kimbrel's $16 million option and then trade him during the winter. He badly struggled as a setup man, allowing 31 baserunners in 23 innings, including a 5.09 ERA. There will be plenty of teams looking for closers.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 13, 2021
The White Sox acquired Kimbrel in a huge crosstown trade with the Cubs at the 2021 trade deadline. Nick Madrigal was the centerpiece going from AL to NL and could end up proving to be a steal by the Cubbies.
Upon his arrival on the south side of Chicago, Kimbrel served in a setup role to incumbent closer Liam Hendriks. Kimbrel did not fare very well and appears to be a pitcher who simply cannot function in a role besides closer. While that may sound ridiculous, closing games requires a certain mindset and playing style that is different than any other role on a pitching staff. Knowing you will be in to shut the door in the ninth inning provides a closing pitcher with a set routine that serving as a setup man does not.
Before Craig Kimbrel was traded to the White Sox, he was absolutely dominant in a Cubs uniform. In 36.2 innings as a Cub, Kimbrel gave up just two earned runs while sporting an ungodly 15.7 strikeouts per-nine innings rate. This turnaround season came on the heels of two subpar years in a row with the Cubs that saw Kimbrel put up a 6.53 and 5.28 ERA in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Kimbrel is a surefire future Hall of Famer thanks in part to his career 2.18 ERA and the fact that he has almost 400 saves since he debuted in 2010 as a 22-year-old. Kimbrel has also finished in the Top 10 in Cy Young voting a total of five times, a number that is simply unheard of from a relief pitcher. The former Rookie of the Year and eight-time All Star will most likely be traded this offseason by the White Sox as they look to plugin someone who can function as a setup pitcher for them. They may have already signed the top option for the role in 2022 in Kendall Graveman, a move that may signify the end of Craig Kimbrel’s White Sox career.
Next. Tim Anderson's offseason offer from the Chicago Bulls. dark
Owed $16 million in 2022, Kimbrel’s contract will surely come off the books for the Sox, maybe even before the season starts. His first-half success in 2021 should warrant a hefty return and the South Siders should be able to use that $16 million to help make the previously mentioned signings.