By Jonah Drew

Record: 58-104

On paper, this team has the look of a 100 loss team. This is a stark contrast from how things were looking on the south side just a couple of years ago. Coming off their first playoff birth since way back in 2008, the White Sox were the clear favorite in the AL Central and a dark horse world series contender heading into 2022. Things did not come together and just like that, they were right back to mediocrity with an 81-81 season. It was clear it was past clear that Tony La Russa was not fit to be managing a Major League club at his old age. His successor, Pedro Grifol did not have the inaugural season he hoped for finishing 61-101. From a player standpoint, talent is few and far between. Even though Dylan Cease didn’t have the season he has shown he is capable of in 2023, I don’t think anybody believes he is 4+ ERA guy. With the White Sox having no intention of competing in 2024, and Dylan Cease only having 2 years of control remaining, It only makes sense for them to deal, it seems they attempted to deal him this past off season but nobody was willing to meet the king’s ransom they desired. I would be shocked to see him in the windy city post deadline. Moves for guys who will probably be starting opening day like Martin Maldonado, Paul Dejong, Dominic Fletcher, and Nicky Lopez definitely did not move me although Dom Fletcher does have some long term upside. Luis Robert Jr. is legit 30-30 talent and one of the premier Center Fielders in our game but even he struggles to stay on the field.There is not much to dream in the rotation after Cease, KBO MVP Erick Fedde is probably their 2 and he has been batting practice in MLB. Even with his loud stuff Michael Kopech has had no real significant stretches of big league success. With all due respect this bullpen is honestly laughable, guys like John Brebbia and Tim Hill are decent flip candidates and Jordan Leasure has some upside. That said, with the loss Gregory Santos there is almost nothing to be excited about in this stable, outside of Garret Crochet if he is able to stay healthy. Since 2021, the White Sox have been nothing but a disaster and I don’t expect it to change in the near future.

MVP: Luis Robert Jr.

This was a no brainer, Luis Robert is one of the best outfielders in baseball full stop. He was great last year, a 5.0 bWAR, 38 HR, 20 SB, .264/.315/.500. Not only are those numbers elite, but he is also an elite defender with a fielding run value in the 97th percentile of all Center Fielders. This may sound crazy but I honestly believe this is simply the baseline for Robert Jr. going forward. I say this because I believe that Robert did this a very clear, yet fixable hole in his game. Robert had an absolutely abysmal O-Swing% of 43.3%. In english, this means that Robert Jr. swung at 43.3% of pitches outside the strike zone leading to a K% of 28.9% and a BB% of just 5.0. I do feel like part of the reason he was chasing so much is because he was pressing to do damage because if he ain’t doing the run production nobody in this lineup will come through. Even with a very flawed approach Robert still put up a 128 WRC+, the sky is the limit for what he could do in 2024 and beyond.

Cy Young: Dylan Cease

By all accounts, Dylan Cease was phenomenal in 2022. Cease made 32 Starts across 184 Innings of 2.2 ERA ball. Cease’s peripherals backed up what we already knew with an xBA of .184, an xwOBA of .257, and a 2.7 xERA, all which ranked in the top 10% of pitchers respectively. He finished 2nd in AL Cy Young just behind Justin Verlander who posted a sub 2 ERA at 1.85. Expectations could not have been higher going into 2023 but it did not go Cease’s way by means. I believe this is for a variety of reasons, Cease actually threw his slider more than his fastball in 2022 but vise versa in 2023. This may have affected his velocity loosing more than a tick on his fastball leading to a wOBA of .340. I believe it is in his best interest to trust his nasty slider more, similar to ’22. Cease’s slider is unhittable posting a whiff rate of 43.3% the past 2 seasons. I am confident these tangible changes would not only make him a lock to be the best arm on this staff, he could be right back in the AL Cy Young conversation

Breakout: Garrett Crochet

Crochet has thrown all of 0(Non Rehab)Minor League Innings. The southpaw was selected 11th Overall out of the University of Tennessee in the 2020 Draft and was immediately thrust into a big league role, throwing 6 innings out of the bullpen in the 2020 shortened season. Crochet was great in the White Sox back end, posting a 2.82 across 54.1 Innings. Since this season, innings have been scarce for him, missing all of 2022 due to Tommy John. Garrett only appeared in 25 Games total(MiLB included) in 2023 due to shoulder issues but now is supposedly fully healthy. Crochet has great stuff, sitting in the upper 90s from the left side and an 80 Slider. In 2021, Crochet’s only MLB season of any significance, opponents had an xBA of .126 and whiffed nearly 45% of the time against his slider. Crochet has all the makings of when of the best left handed relievers in baseball and I expect him to do so, health permitting.

ROTY: Jordan Leasure

Leasure is anything but a household name. Odds are that if you are reading this you are probably asking who is Jordan Leasure. Well, I honestly believe that he should be a set-up guy for Chicago. Yes, that is partly because the White Sox pen is so bad that a reliever prospect who has never stepped foot on a big league mound is who I am recommending for a back end role. That said, Leasure has some violent stuff and one of the better fastballs in the minor leagues. Leasure sits high 90s, even touching 100 with tons of ride helping him dominate the top of the zone. He also has a low arm slot while generating plenty of extension, making it a damn near 80 Fastball. Leasure came over from LA in a 2023 deadline deal sending Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the west coast. Leasure’s numbers in the are good with great K/BB ratios which give me hope that he can more than survive in the bigs. There is no reason to waste Leasure’s talent away in favor of Touki Toussaint and Alex Spaes. Leasure could turn some heads and gain some national recognition in the upcoming season.

Sources:

Baseball Reference

Baseball Savant

Fangraphs

CBS Sports