With the White Sox not showing any real ambitions to compete during the 2025 season, they could be looking to part ways with any remaining talent for additional prospects.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter, keeping this in mind, recently ranked MLB’s trade chips and featured three South Siders. They include starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (No. 3), center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (No. 4), and first baseman Andrew Vaughn (No. 24).
Of the three, Crochet and Robert Jr. are no-brainers and will likely be featured in countless other lists this offseason. They’re the two most talented players on the roster who have already drawn plenty of interest in the past. Though it’s not a guarantee that either player will be moved ahead of Opening Day, GM Chris Getz and Co. will surely be fielding offers throughout the offseason in search of the right deal.
Crochet, 25, is set to become one of the hottest commodities for teams in need of starting pitching. In his first full season as a starting pitcher, the left-hander notched All-Star honors and finished with a 3.58 ERA, 209 strikeouts, and 2.69 FIP in a career-high 146 innings. He became the talk of the trade deadline and completely changed his market after reports surfaced that he would seek an extension before potentially pitching in the postseason.
With all of that now behind us and no signs of a long-term deal coming from the White Sox, the focus will likely shift to dealing the left-handed to the highest bidder. He possesses two years of club control and plenty of additional upside for anyone who’s willing to pay the price.
As for position players, Robert Jr. is arguably one of the most intriguing chips available for teams looking to solidify their outfield and lineup. He played a career-high 145 games in 2023, slashing .264/.315/.542 with 38 homers, 80 RBI, and a 130 OPS+ in what’s ended up being his only full season. The center fielder battled injuries in 2022 and missed a few months this past season due to a hip flexor strain.
It’s unclear what Luis Robert Jr.’s asking price would be in a possible deal, though he is under contract through the 2025 season at $15 million. He also has team-friendly club options of $20 million for both 2026 and 2027. Only time will tell if the White Sox plan to use these years to help their team in the short-term or for the future via the haul in return.
Vaughn, 26, is the final of the three White Sox players to be highlighted on Reuter’s list. The first baseman hit just .246/.297/.402 in 619 plate appearances, yielding a forgettable -0.1 fWAR this season. However, he still led the team in hits (140), doubles (30), RBI (70), and total bases (229). This isn’t necessarily a credit to him, but rather a knock on the poor performances of the rest of the roster.
The former first-rounder’s overall lack of development and production in recent years has been a valid cause for concern, especially as he enters arbitration with an estimated $6.4 million price tag. Valid arguments can be made for the White Sox to not even tender Vaughn a contract for next season, but if there’s a team that can provide something valuable in exchange, it might just be too good for Getz to pass up.
We will continue to monitor any news and rumors as the offseason continues. For all of the latest updates, follow us on social media @SoxOn35th.
Featured Photo: © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
