White Sox: 3 trade deadline regrets killing Chicago’s AL Central chances
By Tim Boyle
The Chicago White Sox might have doomed their AL Central chances with these three trade deadline regrets.
The Chicago White Sox didn’t have an especially active trade deadline. They fell into the category of marginal buyer. Jake Diekman was their big addition.
Diekman would have been a nice complimentary piece to help cap off a trade deadline of major additions. Instead, he pushes the White Sox into the category of buyer rather than bystander. Still, not nearly enough was done.
Amazingly, the White Sox are right there in both the AL Central race and one for a wild card spot. Unfortunately, it’s these three trade deadline regrets that are killing their chances at a division title.
1) White Sox put too much faith in an offensive turnaround from their slumpers
You know things are going poorly when even the always reliable Jose Abreu isn’t performing. The longtime White Sox first baseman has started to hit amazingly well and should end up having some nice numbers by season’s end.
Sadly, he doesn’t have much company.
There is a long list of White Sox players who have underperformed this year. Rather than name them all, randomly select someone from the roster. Chances are you’ll find someone not having a particularly good season.
Injuries have been a huge issue for them but nothing we did at the trade deadline will help prevent this from happening again. For instance, the loss of Tim Anderson to the IL caused the White Sox to have a need to pick Elvis Andrus up off the scrap heap. They’re fortunate at least someone with a resume was available to them.
The White Sox got lucky in the offseason that Johnny Cueto turned out to be the pitcher he has been for them. Why didn’t they try to see if there was magic with an offensive player available?
The lineup is relatively unchanged with a healthy Eloy Jimenez being the biggest and most positive change. Will it be enough?