The Chicago White Sox rotation has a lot of question marks outside of Lucas Giolito and Dallas Kuechel. It wouldn’t hurt if GM Rick Hahn went out and addressed the rotation this offseason. They have money to spend so might as well.
Chicago White Sox fans already know what they are going to get out of Giolito. He pitched in 72.1 innings with a 3.48 ERA. Oh, and might I add, Giolito pitched a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates with 13 punch outs and was in fact the teams’ 19th no-hitter in franchise history, historic.
After signing Kuechel last season to a 3-year contract, he pitched in 63.1 innings with a 1.99 ERA. So, you could say the first-year for Kuechel in a White Sox uniform was pretty successful, to say the least.
But, like I said, outside of Giolito and Kuechel, it’s question marks. Remember when the White Sox traded away Jose Quintana to the Cubs for Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease? Well, obviously the Jimenez move has worked out but the Cease move? Well, it hasn’t really worked out in the White Sox favor.
Dane Dunning didn’t have that terrible of a season, he pitched in just seven games last year with a 3.97 ERA in 34.0 innings pitched. Oh, and Dunning is just 25-years old, so the future is bright for him if he pitches like he did last year.
The White Sox don’t need a number one starter or even a two with how Giolito and Kuechel pitched, so maybe Hahn can find a number three guy and possibly move Cease to the bullpen? Maybe. Don’t think they need to spend the money on Trevor Bauer, but it would be great to see Bauer and Giolito at the top of the rotation.
Here are options for the White Sox to add to their rotation this off-season.
James Paxton
James Paxton only pitched in five games and held a 6.64 ERA with 20.1 innings pitched. He sustained a Grade 1 flexor strain which ended up ending his season in August, sadly.
Paxton has a good enough resume for the White Sox to take a serious chance on him, plus it adds another lefty to the rotation.
MLB trade rumors actually predicts the White Sox to sign Paxton to a 1-year, $10M contract.
Corey Kluber
After pitching in only 1 inning last year for the Texas Rangers because of a shoulder injury that shut him down for this season, Corey Kluber is now a free agent.
Kluber also has quite the resume when he was with the Cleveland Indians, and has plenty of postseason experience, which the White Sox need.
Give him a 1-year contract and see if he’ll accept it knowing he won’t get much since he did just come off a shoulder injury.
Jose Quintana
Wouldn’t it be wild to see the White Sox get Jose Quintana back after trading him away in 2017?
Quintana just hasn’t worked out the last two years for the Cubs, I’d say. Maybe if he comes back to the White Sox, he’ll find his groove again.
Trevor Bauer
Ok, hold on. Let’s talk. What if Trevor Bauer ended up joining the South Side? Like what if? It could happen, but it also could end up not working out. GM Rick Hahn could not want to spend that type of money for a number one pitcher when they have Giolito at the top of the rotation.
Bauer is most likely looking for just a one-year deal, nothing more, nothing less. He had a 1.73 ERA in 73.0 innings pitched last year for the Cincinnati Reds, and is in the running for NL Cy Young.
Could you just imagine Bauer in a White Sox uniform? Because I certainly can.
Make it happen, Hahn!
What would you like to see the White Sox do to their rotation? Would you like to see them add to it? or stick with what they currently have?
