AL Central: A mid-season front office assessment of the division
By Bill Felber
Chicago White Sox front office, -4.2
The Sox were the consensus pre-season pick to win the division, probably easily. Hahn came in for some of the credit when he bolstered bullpen with the pickups of Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly and acquiring outfielder A.J. Pollock in a trade. Few of those moves have worked out as planned.
Thus far the White Sox have made 22 moves impacting major league rosters, but the net impact is a disappointing -4.2 games. Only seven of those 22moves worked out in Chicago’s favor, while 11 have to date turned sour. Here are the five most impactful.
Nov. 3: Like the Royals, Chicago’s major goof involved the loss to free agency of a system pitching product. Coming off a 13-5, 2.37 2021 season, Carlos Rodon signed with the Giants, where he has enjoyed continued success. In 15 starts he has a 7-4 record and 2.62 ERA, adding up to +2.2 WAA. The White Sox certainly could have used him.
Dec. 1: Leury Garcia has been a utility fixture on the South Side since 2014, so it was really no surprise that a month after being released, he and the White Sox came to terms on a three-year, $16.5 million contract through 2024. The White Sox front office may be regretting that decision. Garcia, who is 31, is off to the worst start since 2014, batting just .206 with just two home runs and 14 RBIs. His .504 OPS and -1.2 WAA tell the story.
April 7: System pitching product Bennett Sousa made the Opening Day roster, and so far that’s been his career highlight. Before being returned to Triple A Charlotte in mid-June, Sousa was used 25 times for 20 innings, running up an 8.41 ERA and 1.72 WHIP. It added up to -1.1 WAA.
April 8: When the Sox signed free agent pitcher Johnny Cueto one day into the regular season, they had to wonder whether there was any point to doing so. There was. Cueto’s only 2-4 in Chicago, but he has a credible 3.33 ERA in eight starts and 54 innings, translating to +0.8 WAA.
April 7: Following a brief 2021 introduction, rookie third baseman Jake Burger made the club this spring. It has been an up-and-down experience, including a two-week stopover at Triple A Charlotte before being recalled in late May. With the White Sox, Burger is batting .250 with a solid .761 OPS and eight home runs. But Burger’s defense has needed work, and the sum only amounts to -0.6 WAA.