Here are 3 White Sox players who could be traded this offseason Originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
He white sock made a series of trades before the MLB trade deadline, parting ways with players such as Eloy Jimenez, Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech, Paul DeJong and Tanner Banks.
They did, however, keep some players who were expected to be traded, but the team could reconsider trade opportunities in the offseason if it chooses.
That said, here are three players the White Sox could trade this offseason.
FURTHER: White Sox trade deadline recap: Every trade the team made and didn’t make
The 25-year-old was widely expected to be dealt at the trade deadline. His value is arguably at an all-time high, but general manager Chris Getz and the White Sox didn’t see this as the right time to move their ace.
“Garrett has had a lot of interest from clubs, for obvious reasons,” Getz said after the deadline. “He’s become one of the best starting pitchers in our game, and the history speaks for itself. We were talking to clubs right up until the last minute. Nothing came together. We didn’t feel like it was the right decision to trade Garrett, even though there was a lot of interest.”
Crochet entered the league as a reliever and set a single-season mark for innings pitched with 54.1 innings in 2021. In April 2022, Crochet underwent Tommy John surgery, allowing him to pitch 12.1 innings during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. (He did not pitch in 2022.)
But this season, he has exploded in his first full season as a starter. He has already thrown 114.1 innings in 22 starts. And he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Crochet holds a 3.23 ERA and 1.006 WHIP, along with a league-leading 160 strikeouts.
However, just days before the deadline, it emerged that Crochet wanted to remain a starter despite the White Sox’s attempt to reduce his workload to fewer pitches. He also expressed a desire for a new contract extension, especially from a potential trade suitor who expected him to pitch in October during the playoffs.
Some teams were skeptical of his ability to stay healthy, even before it was known that he wanted a starting pitching workload and a new contract. This forces the White Sox to wait until Crochet finishes a full season on the mound. That way, if he stays healthy and maintains his production, it will likely reassure opposing teams.
So the price of crochet should increase during the off-season.
“You don’t see arms like that,” Getz said of Crochet’s offseason trade. “And, perhaps, the interest could be even greater since it’s the offseason and the urgency can change for a handful of clubs. So I anticipate the attention on Garrett and the interest in acquiring him will only increase.”
The case for Robert Jr., if he is not traded at the deadline, is fairly simple to break down.
A hip flexor injury in April kept him sidelined for 53 games this season. And when he has been on the field, he hasn’t shown much promise, either. He’s batting .221/.290/.451 with 12 homers, 25 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He’s struck out 82 times and walked just 20.
Considering the White Sox are acquiring young prospects, it’s fair to assume the center fielder doesn’t fit into their competitive window. But with a tough season underway, general manager Chris Getz will have a better chance to maximize his performance during the offseason.
Multiple reports before the deadline suggested that teams had little interest in Robert Jr. If he stays healthy and begins producing in the batter’s box over the remainder of the season, the White Sox should be able to find a suitor for his services and possibly reap a sizable reward.
The White Sox signed Benintendi, 30, to become the team’s starting left fielder in 2023. They signed him to the franchise’s largest contract: a five-year deal worth $75 million.
But since his arrival, he hasn’t lived up to expectations, especially this season. He’s posting a .199 batting average and a .565 OPS. He’s hit eight home runs and driven in 29 runs, while scoring 25 runs of his own. On defense, he’s posting seven runs below replacement level for above-average defensive runs saved.
It’s clear that the White Sox overpaid him and are looking to get rid of him. According to a report from James Stweart, just before the deadline, the White Sox attempted to link Benintendi to Garrett Crochet in a deal with the Red Sox.
I heard the White Sox want the Red Sox to acquire Andrew Benintendi in a potential deal for Garrett Crochet.
—James Stewart (@IAmJamesStewart) July 30, 2024
This makes sense, considering Benintendi played his first five seasons in the majors with the Red Sox. There, he played arguably the best baseball of his career. In 2017, he finished second to Aaron Judge in the American League Rookie of the Year voting after hitting 20 home runs, 90 RBIs and stealing 20 bases. He hit .271 that season as well.
The White Sox were hoping the Red Sox would shed Benintendi’s salary. Benintendi has three more years left on his contract after the season. It’s possible they could try to trade him to get rid of his salary this offseason.