White Sox: 5 under-the-radar trade candidates to start scouting

White Sox trade candidate Tyler Naquin might be the lefty bat they need

The White Sox could really use a left-handed bat in their order. While not necessary to win a championship, balance can certainly help any team’s cause.

That’s when we arrive on the Cincinnati Reds roster and see outfielder Tyler Naquin. A man White Sox fans knew best for his early days with the Cleveland baseball franchise, he has been a quality player for the Reds in the last year and a half. Also a free agent after this season, he’s a nice short-term plan for the outfield.

Naquin primarily plays right field and that’s a great match for the White Sox who are putting Adam Engel out there often. Naquin can also give Chicago start over AJ Pollock in left field—at least when a tough righty is on the mound. Pollock has not done nearly enough to justify keeping his spot in the starting lineup if the team is able to find an upgrade.

Trading for Naquin could be a sneaky-good move for the White Sox to make because of how close to the ground he’s flying right now with the MLB trade deadline about two months away. The Reds have already fallen too far behind to pull themselves back into the race. As someone who wouldn’t cost a ton in a trade, he’s someone the White Sox could always add along with a few other pieces. He won’t deplete the farm and that’s important because right now the team doesn’t have much to trade away.