5 Chicago White Sox players who should already be on the radar of contending teams

3. RP Reynaldo Lopez

Lopez’s surface results are ugly thus far in 2023, and ugly might not be a big enough word (8.76 ERA, 7.06 FIP, five home runs allowed and six walks over 12.1 innings entering Wednesday). He left his most recent outing with a bicep issue but, as of this writing, he is not expected to be put on the IL.

Lopez’s strikeout rate is a career-high right now (33.3 percent) as is his fastball velocity (99.2 MPH). But he’s had a bad combo of walks (10.5 percent walk rate), with more hard contact and flyballs when hitters do make contact. That’s all a hard reversal from 2021 and 2022, when he walked just 5.3 percent of the batters he faced, with a fly ball rate below 39.5 percent both seasons and 0.8 HR/9 rate allowed over the span.

Lopez is on a cheap contract ($3.625 million) in his last arbitration year, and his raw stuff is still there despite this year’s rough first month-ish. Maybe the bicep issue, IL stint or not, allows him to have a little rest and a reset.

2. SS Tim Anderson

Let’s go a little aggressive here. Anderson is a fan favorite on the South Side, and there’s no denying his talent level. But he was just activated off the IL on Tuesday after missing about three weeks with a left knee sprain, and his list of lower body injuries over the last few seasons is extensive (right ankle, right groin, left hamstring, groin). Approaching his 30th birthday (June 23), he’s unlikely to suddenly become a picture of health.

Per-162 games over the last three plus seasons, counting 12 games this year and with a caveat of the shortened 2020, Anderson is averaging 20 home runs, 68 RBI and 25 stolen bases with a .308/.341/.454 slash-line over the span. But he played just 79 games in 2022, 123 in 2021 and he’s already missed 18 games this year.

Anderson is making $12.5 million this year, with a $14 million club option for next year. The White Sox probably won’t actively shop him, but a contending team or two may very well come with a trade offer that can’t be turned down. The White Sox top prospect is also a shortstop, 2021 first-round pick Colson Montgomery, who may be ready for the big leagues in 2024.

So, all in all, the idea of trading Anderson is not that outlandish if he can stay on the field in the coming weeks.