What would a dream White Sox starting lineup look like next year?
By Tim Boyle
6) Dream White Sox starting lineup: Jose Abreu bats sixth, DH
Jose Abreu could probably bat much higher in the White Sox lineup. In this starting nine, he slots in at the number six spot for one main purpose: drive in runs. It’s one quality he has done well throughout his time in Chicago.
Now a free agent, the White Sox do remain a potential match for his services. Abreu can offer them an answer at first base or the DH role where he slots in during this dream.
A short-term deal is all the front office should be looking for with Abreu. He’s aging and losing pop. Since we’re looking for what would be the dream lineup, it’s important to invite him back. The White Sox need to win one with him on the roster. They feel close. Let’s give it one more shot. Abreu should be good for at least 85 RBI in this lineup.
7) Dream White Sox starting lineup: Josh Bell bats seventh, 1B
Preposterous? Probably. The Southsiders not only re-sign Jose Abreu in this dream lineup. They also snatch the much younger Josh Bell to actually play first base. He can agree to a longer deal and give them some stability at the position for a few years.
Bell becomes a greater fit for the team in this dream lineup because we had to send Andrew Vaughn to Boston for Rafael Devers. Bell is more proven than Vaughn anyway. His switch hitting abilities can help with some more flexible lineups, too.
He slots in way down at the number seven spot in this dream lineup. There’s certainly room to move up the lineup further. He’ll need to be more like the Washington Nationals version of himself from 2022 than the San Diego Padres one.