Fansided

The 5 biggest winners from the MLB offseason as spring training opens

By David Salituro

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 18: Gerrit Cole and Manager, Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees pose for a photo at Yankee Stadium during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 18, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 18: Gerrit Cole and Manager, Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees pose for a photo at Yankee Stadium during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 18, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Edwin Encarnacion #30 of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins in game two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 05, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 8-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Edwin Encarnacion #30 of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins in game two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 05, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 8-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox won just 72 games in 2019 and haven’t made the postseason in 12 years, but General Manager Rick Hahn and Executive Vice President Kenny Williams are quietly assembling a powerhouse on the South Side.

The White Sox made the first big move of free agency, signing catcher Yasmani Grandal to a four-year, $73 million deal in November. The two-time All-Star was one of the most productive catchers at the plate in 2019. He led all catchers with a .380 on-base percentage, ranked third with 28 home runs, and was second to J.T. Realmuto in RBI and WAR. His 17.2 walk rate last season was four points higher than any other catcher with at least 300 plate appearances. Grandal is also the only catcher in baseball to reach 20 home runs in each of the last four seasons.

Chicago wasn’t done adding to their lineup, signing Edwin Encarnacion to a one-year deal in January. Last season, at age 36, Encarnacion split 34 home runs between the Mariners and Yankees. Only three batters—Nelson Cruz, Nolan Arenado, and Mike Trout—have more home runs in the last five seasons than Encarnacion. Only Arenado has more RBI in that span.

Joining the White Sox rotation in 2020 will be veterans Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez. Keuchel waited until June to sign a deal with the Braves last season, and his lack of conditioning showed early as he went 3-5 with a 4.83 ERA in his first 10 starts. Over his last nine starts, though, he improved to 5-3 with a 2.55 ERA, eighth in the NL during that span. The crafty left-hander led all pitchers in groundball rate, an encouraging stat for a pitcher who throws his sinker 49 percent of the time; White Sox starters generated the sixth-fewest groundballs in the league last season.

But what might be the biggest addition to their roster this season will come from a player who was already in their organization. Cuban outfielder Luis Robert, the No. 3 ranked prospect in baseball, signed a six-year, $50 million guaranteed contract with the club in January and is poised to make the jump to the big leagues full-time in 2020. In 47 games for Triple-A Charlotte last season, he hit 16 home runs while his .974 OPS would’ve been second in the International League if he had enough plate appearances to qualify.

The White Sox haven’t been serious contenders for more than a decade. That should change beginning in 2020.

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