Complacency reigns despite a golden opportunity to optimize player development

With the trade deadline behind us, the White Sox find themselves in the midst of a forgettable start to the second half of the season. At this point, it seems as though the team’s encouraging first half of the year from a record standpoint will not translate, largely due to injuries and questionable decisions by the front office and the manager. Throughout the final two months of the season, the only truly important developments at the major league level will be the progression of the team’s core talent (which could, but probably will not, include Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal).

In the meantime, there is truly no downside to giving opportunities to players currently in AAA who may be hard-pressed to find playing time during the 2020 season. Nevertheless, the White Sox seem to be happy trotting out Jon Jay, Welington Castillo, and A.J. Reed (update: Reed was mercifully optioned to AAA today) for the time being. Such complacency is puzzling, as the team is supposedly planning a more active off-season. Nobody will be surprised when the aforementioned players do not make the 2020 roster, so why let potential talent rot in AAA when these two months present a golden opportunity to see if they can handle major league pitching?

I am not talking about Robert or Madrigal, even though I would be thrilled to see them debut in the coming weeks. Rather, supplying around 800 plate appearances to replacement level veterans, AAA journeymen, and stopgaps is an indefensible decision when there are intriguing mid-tier prospects waiting for playing time. Such a decision is especially egregious when the team in question is allegedly planning to compete next season.

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Zack Collins was not given a fair chance in his first go around the major leagues, and has reportedly made a swing adjustment (diminishing or eliminating his hitch) that has assisted him in producing a .349/.453/.488 line since his return to AAA. Collins should be the primary designated hitter and backup catcher for the rest of the season, taking plate appearances from A.J. Reed and Welington Castillo. To those who do not want two catchers in a lineup every day out of fear of losing one to injury and thereby forfeiting the designated hitter, I would argue that this has not stopped the White Sox from using this lineup with Castillo and James McCann. Additionally, I would add that on days where one of McCann/Collins is off, or the opposing pitcher is left-handed, the DH should be Yermin Mercedes. Sure, he may offer no defensive value, and he may be old for a prospect, but anyone hitting .317/.376/.560 between two levels is worth a look, especially when the current DH situation is so bleak. Finally, Ryan Cordell, who was both a solid outfield defender and was starting to look pretty good at the plate prior to his demotion (and quick promotion following the injury to Yoan Moncada), should not be relegated to the bench while Jon Jay racks up plate appearances.

Collins, Mercedes, and Cordell may struggle to find playing time in 2020, especially if the team actually does sign free agents. These next two months are a perfect opportunity to see if they are worth anything, before it is too late. I have yet to hear a single good argument as to why Jay, Castillo, and Reed deserve playing time over them, but the White Sox seem content to maintain the status quo. It is possible that Collins, Mercedes, and Cordell all never amount to anything, but the risks of giving them the opportunity at the tail end of a non-competitive year are essentially non-existent. Collins and Mercedes will probably join Cordell in the major leagues in September, picking up a few starts here and there but still losing playing time to veterans. If player development were an actual priority, however, the White Sox would take advantage of these two months and give their mid-tier prospects a real opportunity to perform.

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