MLB Rumors: 5 likeliest White Sox trade candidates and where they should land

Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, White Sox (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, White Sox (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /
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Chicago White Sox pitcher Keynan Middleton. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) /

MLB Rumors: 5 likeliest White Sox trade candidates and where they should land, No. 3: Keynan Middleton to the Rays

One area of need that plenty of teams look to bolster every trade deadline is the bullpen. That’s a necessity, given that those looking to win a World Series can rely on them to enter high-pressure situations and help get out of an inning or out of a jam. Without those reliable options, a team could be toast and end up getting eliminated way earlier than they had expected.

The Tampa Bay Rays are easily the best team in baseball. They can hit, and they can pitch, both very well. That’s great. But even with these “perfect teams,” that won’t stop them from stacking their depth chart. Given how tough the AL East division is, it would be wise of the Rays to add some bullpen help.

Luckily for them, they can get a good relief pitcher in Keynan Middleton, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. This year, Middleton has a stellar 1.80 ERA, along with a 1.040 WHIP, three holds, one save, 32 strikeouts, and nine walks in 25.0 innings pitched (26 appearances).

When it comes to the relief options on the White Sox that are rentals, Middleton is easily the best.