The Chicago White Sox have some of the most talented arms in the minor leagues. Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, and Reynaldo Lopez are the 3rd, 4th, and 10th rated right handers in all of minor league baseball, respectively. Throw in Carlos Rodon, who has flashed ace potential, and whoever the Sox acquire in a future trade, and we could be talking about one of the best rotations in all of baseball.
Of course, a lot can happen between now and 2020 — the year the Sox should be able to compete for a World Series. In this article, we will break down the probable 2020 rotation, from the back end, to the No. 1 starter. This will include all minor league call-ups, as well as potential trades and free agent signings.
Let’s get started.
5) Francis Martes
About a week ago I had this spot pegged for current Pirates prospect Tyler Glasnow. The White Sox seem to match up with Pittsburgh for a Jose Quintana trade better than any other team. That was until Houston picked up two first-round draft picks from the St. Louis Cardinals due to an illegal breach of the Astro’s database. This gives them more ammunition to go out and trade for Quintana.
Headlining the deal will be Francis Martes, the No. 29 overall prospect and 5th ranked right-hander. Martes has a 65 grade fastball, sitting consistently in the 93-95 range, with the ability to hit 98. With that comes a power curve that has gotten better each of the last couple years. While his changeup is below average, it has shown signs of developing. If the Astros and White Sox do end up trading, expect Martes to anchor the back end of the rotation for years to come.
