2) David Robertson & Todd Frazier Have Bounce Back Seasons
I know I know, “Todd Frazier had 40 home runs last year, what do you mean bounce back season?!” From a power standpoint, yes, Todd had a stellar first season with the White Sox. However, he also had his worst on-base percentage since his rookie year, hit for a .225 average, and had only 21 doubles. For comparison, Frazier hit for a .255 average, 35 home runs, and 43 doubles in 2015. If Frazier can get closer to those numbers, then more teams will be willing to pay up for him at the trade deadline. It would shock me if Frazier was on the team at the end of the 2017 season, but to get a maximum return, it would be great to see him on pace for his 2015 numbers when the trade deadline nears.
David Robertson is another White Sox asset who really needs to bounce back. Once one of the most dominating closers in the MLB, Robertson took a step back last season. For his career, Robertson’s ERA is an incredible 2.97. Last season alone it was 3.47. The silver lining is that he was playing through injury, so it is not crazy to think Robertson can return to his dominant self while healthy. If he does bounce back, a handful of teams will be in the market for his services. In a league where the importance of bullpen arms is at an all-time high, the White Sox could see a pretty decent haul in return.
In this case, the dream scenario for the White Sox would be that Robertson has a bounce back year and is traded to the Washington Nationals. All off-season long, the Nats have swung and missed at landing a big time closer. With Robertson being the best available option, the Nationals may be forced to pull the trigger. Now, to sweeten the deal, the White Sox could eat a lot of Robertson’s remaining money, and honestly, that would be the smart move. After Rick Hahn got away with highway robbery in the Adam Eaton deal, the Nationals might be reluctant to trade with the White Sox again. However, with the South Siders not being in contention for the next couple years, they can afford to eat the majority of Robertson’s salary to help the Nats in the potential deal.
If Robertson has a bounce back season and the Sox eat the majority of his salary, they could get OF prospect Victor Robles in return. A speedy outfielder with a cannon of an arm and the ability to hit to all areas of the field, Robles has the potential to be a true talent in the MLB. He is the No. 10 prospect in baseball and it would sting for the Nationals to give him up, but by trading a handful prospects already, they have made it known that they are going for it. With Bryce Harper more than likely leaving soon, the time is now for Washington to go all in. If Robertson can get back to pitching like people know he can, this deal can very well become a reality.
