The Chicago White Sox have punted the 2017 season in a rebuilding effort. The team has made two major trades, moving Chris Sale and Adam Eaton for a group of players including four top 100 prospects.
While the team is clearly focused on the future, the White Sox must field a team in 2017, and have made moves to do so. The team has signed Derek Holland to a major league contract whilst signing Geovany Soto, Cody Asche and Everth Cabrera to minor league deals.
Chicago isn’t done and has been connected to another type of free agent. About a month ago, Fan Rag Sports Jon Heyman reported that the White Sox could be interested in “power hitting” free agents.
Signing a power hitter in a rebuilding year seems counter intuitive, but if that power hitter succeeds, he could become trade bait at the deadline. This way the team has more ammunition for future trades.
If nothing else, he gives fans a reason to watch in 2017.
While Heyman did suggest a few potential names, he didn’t confirm any specific players the Sox could be interested in. The team hasn’t come out and shown interest in any of the remaining power bats on the market.
One MLB Reporter tried to connected the dots between the White Sox and a free agent power hitter. He didn’t confirm interest from either side, but MLB.com and Sports On Earth’s Anthony Castrovince predicted the White Sox will sign Chris Carter.
He wrote:
Because, even in the midst of a teardown, they still need to field a team in 2017. (Chris) Carter comes aboard as a source of cheap power at the DH spot in a home park that suits his services.
Last season, Carter tied the Rockies Nolan Arenado with 41 home runs, good for the most in the National League. Over his seven year career, Carter has appeared in 688 games playing for the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros and most recently the Milwaukee Brewers.
He has hit .218 with 150 home runs, 374 RBIs and 12 stolen bases for his career. He averages a little over 21 homeruns a season.
Carter seems like a good fit with the White Sox. He isn’t going to come at a high price such as Mark Trumbo or Jose Bautista. Yet he offers the same amount of power and could turn into a nice trade piece.
SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo recently reported that Carter was seeing interest from atleast four teams. There’s a chance that one of them was the Sox.
Four clubs remain engaged with Chris Carter, source tells SBN. Market likely waiting on Trumbo, Bautista.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 10, 2017
If the White Sox were to sign Carter, they would have 80 home runs just by their corner infielders. Adding Carter’s 41 home runs to the White Sox total of 168 would give them 209, moving them from 22nd to 9th in the league.
It’ll be interesting to see if the White Sox do end up signing a power bat, and if that power bat ends up being Carter. But if so, the South Siders would have one of the best power hitters in the league.
If he goes on another home run tear, he will certainly draw some interest on the trade market at the Deadline.
Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14
