MLB Trade Rumors: Chicago White Sox pursuing center fielder

May 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Austin Jackson (10) hits a single against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Austin Jackson (10) hits a single against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the trade deadline quickly approaching at the end of July, MLB trade rumors will be flying from every direction in the coming days. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Chicago White Sox might join the ruckus and make a deal.

Through the first 33 games of the MLB season, the Chicago White Sox were one of the league’s best teams, running out to a 23-10 start. Since then, the White Sox are 25-33 with their first series after the All-Star break starting on Friday.

One of the reasons why the White Sox got out to that hot start was the addition of Austin Jackson to one of baseball’s worst defensive units. Jackson had knee surgery on June 10 to remove a small portion of his medial meniscus and the plan was to reevaluate him in four weeks.

But, this nugget from Ken Rosenthal is interesting.

With Jackson’s addition, the White Sox moved former center fielder Adam Eaton to right field and kept Melky Cabrera in left. The previous right fielder for the Sox — Avisail Garcia — has been underwhelming since arriving in a three-team trade three years ago.

The Sox have been disappointing since their blazing start but are just 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in the American League. A move for the Sox revolving around Jackson’s health could come before the July 31 trade deadline.

Recently, the Sox have signed Tony Campana to a minor-league deal and have been linked to a potential landing spot for New York Yankees switch-hitter Carlos Beltran.

A guy like Beltran could fill into in the outfield depth for the Sox, although he’s not what he used to be with the glove. The Sox signed Justin Morneau last month to potentially fill the designated hitter spot in the lineup, but someone like Beltran could potentially be a fit for the team on Chicago’s South Side.

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