Chicago White Sox
- 2014 Finish: 73-89, 4th in AL Central
- 2015 Key to Success: Abreu duplication
Aside from those spenders in San Diego, nobody filled holes during the offseason quite like the Chicago White Sox.
General manager Rick Hahn presented Robin Ventura with a fantastic gift this offseason. Actually, several gifts were given as the boxes were checked off left and right as far as Chi Sox holes were concerned.
Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson and Melky Cabrera were the big fish.
If second year man Jose Abreu doesn’t duplicate his 2014 then all of those acquisitions will go to waste.
Abreu furthered the fascination with Cuban ball players among big league decision makers last year as he clubbed a ridiculous 36 HR and 117 RBI while batting .317. The interesting aspect here is what he did in the second half of the season as opposed to the first.
Abreu only hit nine of his 37 HR after the All-Star break.
Is it possible AL pitchers caught up to the Cuban sensation after a few go-arounds?
Jose Abreu in 2014:
As you can see, his batting average spiked while the power production completely nose-dived.
In baseball, a player hasn’t truly arrived until he duplicates a breakout season as we’ve come to be familiar with the one-hit season wonders.
Abreu will need to meet the very lofty expectations currently place on his shoulders if the Sox have any designs on taking home the AL Central crown.
Next: Cleveland Indians