The main focus for White Sox fans so far this offseason has been the pursuit of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The team has made it clear the White Sox are a serious contender to sign one of the top-two free agents and for some they’re considered the favorite to sign Machado. However, White Sox GM Rick Hahn said at SoxFest 2019, that they’re still working on 3-4 moves and one of them could very well be for a starting pitcher.
According to Jon Heyman, the White Sox are one of several teams still trying to add a starter.
Teams still seeking a starter: padres, Chisox, giants, reds, presumably orioles and possibly yankees, mets, phillies.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 1, 2019
Here’s what the White Sox starting pitching depth currently looks like.
Carlos Rodon
Reynaldo Lopez
Lucas Giolito
Ivan Nova
Dylan Covey
Star prospect Michael Kopech is out for 2019, recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Dylan Cease might only make his MLB debut near the end of this season, if he breaks into the majors at all this year.
So, the White Sox could definitely use another arm for the rotation, especially if they do pull off a huge signing and want to speed up their window of playoff contention to 2019.
Here are the top-five starting pitchers from 2018 still available in free agency.
Dallas Keuchel
Gio Gonzalez
Clay Buchholz
Jeremy Hellickson
Brett Anderson
The most recent free agent contract for a starting pitcher was Wade Miley, getting a $4.5 million contract from the Astros, with $500k in incentives for 2019. So far only Patrick Corbin, Nathan Eovaldi and Lance Lynn have signed deals for more than two guaranteed years. Most of the starting pitchers that have been signed have only agreed to one or two-year contracts.
At this point it seems like the White Sox may be able to get a bargain for the rotation, although Keuchel, a Scott Boras client, is still expected to get a good chunk of money when he signs.
Despite the slow-moving offseason last year, Yu Darvish eventually got $126 million over six years from the Cubs, who signed him in the middle of February, while Jake Arrieta signed a three-year contract for $75 million guaranteed with the Phillies in March. Arrieta is also represented by Boras.
So, who do you think would be a good fit for the White Sox out of the free agents remaining?
