2019 Pre-Season Profile: Chicago White Sox

#22

Several years ago, the White Sox started a massive rebuild, bringing in loads of top prospects.  As a handful of these prospects are now in the big leagues, will the White Sox take a step towards contending in 2019?

2018 Predictions

3rd in AL Central

Michael Kopech will be in the top three for the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year.

2018 Results

62-100, 4th in AL Central

I thought 2018 would be the year the White Sox would start to turn a corner.  However, they had a 100 loss season instead.  Many of their top prospects that are now in the big leagues have yet to produce the numbers their talent projected.  As for Michael Kopech, the hard-throwing right hander went down with Tommy John soon after he made his debut and won't be available again until 2020.  For a team that has a lot of potential, 2018 was a disappointment.

Additions / Subtractions

Many of the White Sox offseason moves were minor, however their offseason, like several others, was defined by the move they were not able to make.  They brought in veteran Ivan Nova to eat some innings in the rotation.  They also traded catcher Omar Narvaez to the Mariners for closer Alex Colome.  Filling in some depth are veterans John Jay, Yonder Alonso, Welington Castillo, and James McCann.  However, they wanted Manny Machado.  Many speculated the Jay and Alonso moves were only made because they were Manny's best friends.  When he chose to sign in San Diego instead, this offseason was looked at as a disappointment.

Most Important Hitter

Yoan Moncada

This is the same answer I gave to this question last year.  I try to mix it up with different people each season, but no one else stands out.  Yoan Moncada was the centerpiece of the Chris Sale trade to the Red Sox a few seasons ago.  Touted as one of the best prospects in baseball, Moncada has yet to produce on his promise in the big leagues, having a career 97 OPS+ (below league average) and leading the league in strikeouts last season.  The good news is he is only entering his age 24 season.  He has been learning on the job for the past few seasons.  However, if the White Sox are going to turn the necessary corner to make this rebuild a success, Moncada needs to become the All Star everyone thought he would be.

Most Important Pitcher

Lucas Giolito

Lucas Giolito is in a very similar position as Moncada.  He was my pick for this spot last year.  He was the centerpiece of one of their blockbuster deals a few years ago, in this case it was the Adam Eaton deal with the Nationals.  He was once a top prospect in baseball.  He has also underwhelmed since joining the White Sox.  In Giolito's case, this underwhelming has been significant.  Last season, he posted a 6.13 ERA and a 68 ERA+ (league average is 100).  He led the league in earned runs and walks while posting a -1.3 WAR.  Reynaldo Lopez, the lesser prospect in the Eaton trade, has massively outperformed Giolito in every way to this point.  With all that said, like Moncada, Giolito is only entering his age 24 season.  He has plenty of time to get better and develop.  However, the clock is ticking a little more on Giolito with the amount of top end pitching developing in the White Sox system.  Giolito needs to start producing, not only to help the White Sox succeed, but to keep a spot in the major leagues.

Prospect to Watch

Eloy Jimenez

Everyone has heard of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  Many have heard of Fernando Tatis Jr.  However, the consensus third best prospect in baseball has flown under the radar, possibly because he doesn't have the famous fathers of the top two.  He has the potential to be every bit as impactful though.  Eloy Jimenez was a centerpiece of another blockbuster trade a few years back, this time it was the Jose Quintana deal with the Cubs.  This 6'4" rightfielder was always thought to be a top prospect, but then he went off in 2018, hitting .337 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI's between AA and AAA, while garnering comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton.  This 22 year old has proven he is ready to make an immediate impact this season.  Look for the service time to be manipulated as he starts the season in AAA and then make his debut in mid-April.  Once he is called up, watch out!

2019 Prediction

3rd in AL Central

The White Sox have to turn a corner this season.  With as horrible as the bottom of this division is, they need to prove this whole rebuild is working in the right direction.  A .500 record would be a huge success.  This 3rd place finish would be a step in the right direction.  Especially if Eloy Jimenez has a breakout season, this looks realistic.  Another 100 loss season might lead to manager Rick Renteria, as well as the entire front office, getting fired.

Fearless Prediction

Eloy Jimenez will win the 2019 AL Rookie of the Year

All eyes are on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to walk away with this title.  However, this has the potential to be a lot of pressure on young Vlad, and starting the year injured might hold him back.  Like I said, Jimenez might be under the radar now, but that will change as soon as he debuts.  There is a good chance Eloy outshines Vlad Jr. this year and takes this title away from him.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: Chicago White Sox

#22

Many people say the Chicago White Sox won the offseason by how well they were able to reset their franchise and start their rebuild.  How much success will this lead to in 2017?

My 2016 Predictions

5th in AL Central

Manager Robin Ventura will be fired before the All Star Break.

2016 Results

78-84, 4th in AL Central

Going into the 2015 season, the White Sox were stuck in limbo.  Were they going for it, or were they rebuilding?  They were trying to do both at the same time, and instead did neither.  They were stuck in the middle going nowhere.  Robin Ventura wasn't fired before the All Star Break, but he was fired after the season was over.  Something needed to change either one way or another.

Additions / Subtractions

Finally, the White Sox decided to hit the reset button, and did so better than almost anyone has done in recent history.  The White Sox traded away two stars and single-handedly reset their farm system.  Chris Sale was sent to the Red Sox, and Adam Eaton was sent to the Nationals.  The prospects they brought back became five of their current top ten prospects in their system, including their top four prospects.  The only veteran talent the White Sox brought in this offseason was starter Derek Holland and outfielder Peter Bourjos.  Possibly the most significant addition the White Sox made was hiring new manager Rick Renteria, who is finally getting a fair chance as a manager after he was cast aside across town when Joe Maddon became available in 2015.

Most Important Hitter

Todd Frazier

With everything the White Sox did over the offseason, they could have done more.  All their veteran talent was on the trading market, but not all were able to be moved.  Todd Frazier is the biggest bat that is still on the team.  If he has another year like he did last year, the Todd-Father will be on the move for more prospects, making him quite the significant hitter for this team.

Most Important Pitcher

Jose Quintana

Quintana is an important pitcher for the same reason Todd Frazier is an important hitter.  Quintana is hands down the ace of this pitching staff now, however the Sox have been trying to move him as much as they wanted to move Chris Sale.  You have to give their front office credit though.  They refuse to settle for a sub-par offer on any of their stars.  This is how they got such big returns for Sale and Eaton.  Because of this uncompromising approach to their rebuild, Quintana is still on their roster.  This will serve them well because he is a great pitcher.  At the same time, he can still provide that big return the White Sox are looking for if another team gets desperate for a starter mid-season.

Player to Watch

Yoan Moncada

There are so many names that could be placed in this spot.  Easily, each of their top seven prospects could see time in the big leagues this year, highlighted by starting pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, who they picked up from the Nats in the Eaton deal.  However, the crown jewel of their farm system, as well as their offseason, is Yoan Moncada.  The centerpiece of the package the White Sox got back from the Red Sox in the Chris Sale deal, the 21 year old switch-hitting infielder is as close to a can't miss superstar prospect as they get.  This Cuban import will be a regular in Chicago before the end of the season.

2017 Prediction

4th in AL Central

The White Sox are going to be one of the most exciting teams to watch this season.  They won't be very good just yet, but they will surprise some people as their youth will emerge hungry and ready to compete.  Their record will probably be worse than it was last year, but at least this franchise has a clear direction in where it is going.  They broke this franchise down to take it to new heights.

Fearless Prediction

Half of the White Sox' Opening Day lineup will not be on their roster at the end of the season.

Like I said, the White Sox had a great offseason as they started their rebuild, but they still can do more.  I don't think this team is done breaking down this roster.  Look for players like Todd Frazier, Jose Quintana, Jose Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Avisail Garcia, Peter Bourjos, Derek Holland, and closer David Robertson to be on the trading block throughout the season.