Winner: The Chicago White Sox signing a pair of veterans in Joe Kelly and Josh Harrison as free agents
There has been plenty of buzz this offseason about what the Detroit Tigers are putting together with their free agent signings of Eduardo Rodriguez and Javier Baez as well as the trade for Tucker Banrhart. However, don’t forget that the Chicago White Sox are the defending division champion and are looking to repeat and go even deeper in the postseason in 2022.
Harrison will likely fill a number of positions for the White Sox last season and his bat will provide enough offense to give Chicago a boost any day he is in the lineup. Kelly, meanwhile, is reportedly fully healed from a biceps injury that limited him last postseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His presence, along with, for now, Kendall Graveman, Liam Hendriks, and Craig Kimbrel, gives the White Sox a power-packed back end of the bullpen.
Does this mean a Craig Kimbrel trade could happen? It’s been discussed plenty this offseason, and it’s something to watch for the White Sox as the spring evolves. However, manager Tony La Russa said that he expects Kimbrel to be a part of the White Sox when the team opens the season at Detroit on April 8.