]The biggest question heading into the offseason is what the White Sox will do with Jose Abreu. For the past nine seasons, Abreu has been a staple of the middle of the White Sox lineup.
After making the AL All-Star team and winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2014, he sandwiched two more All-Star selections between an MVP Award in 2020. His production hasn’t slowed down with age, either. In his age 36 season, he slashed .304/.378/.445 with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs.
But he is set to become a free agent with the expiration of a three-year deal worth $50 million. The White Sox have an abundance of first basemen. All signs point to his days in Chicago being numbered.
Abreu On His Way Out?
According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the White Sox might be looking to part ways with Abreu. Nightengale has an excellent track record regarding anything within the White Sox organization.
Nightengale writes:
-“The White Sox loved having Jose Abreu the past nine years, and has been nothing but a class act and valuable hitter, but they plan to part ways with him. Simply, they need to shake up their team and are making virtually everyone but Andrew Vaughn and Dylan Cease available in trades.”
If true, the Abreu news marks a disappointing end for the face of the franchise. The White Sox first baseman has been the heart and soul of the team for nearly a decade and was only able to play in seven playoff games. He also was never able to get a final sendoff from the fans. He opted to spend his last game of the season on the bench to watch the game from the manager’s perspective.
Nobody Is Untouchable, But Vaughn And Cease
However, the biggest takeaway from Nightingales is that every other player on the roster outside of Andrew Vaughn and Dylan Cease is fair game in a trade.
Given that Vaughn is listed as a player on the do not trade list, it is clear the White Sox intends to make him their new first baseman. The former first-round pick took a major step as a hitter, leading the team with 17 home runs and 76 RBIs. He also showed he is incapable of playing the outfield, posting some of the worst defensive metrics out of any outfielder in the MLB.
The fact that Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert were not included on the untouchable list comes as a bit of a shock. Both are locked up to long-term deals and are considered part of the team’s future core.
The White Sox are in a tough spot after a terrible 2022 campaign. They have lots of money tied up in players that underachieved last season. If they hope to turn things around, a roster shakeup may be the only solution.
If they won’t spend in FA, then they might as well start a rebuild now. Letting Abreu walk and keeping Vaughn means a likely downgrade, on both offense and defense, at 1B, and that they get nothing in return. How would they address their needs from a thin farm while remaining competitive? It would be making moves just to make moves. Either really go all-in, or pack it in and start another rebuild. If going the latter route, Cease and Vaughn ought to be at the top of the trade list because of their returns.
We already know Sox won’t be spending in free agency. Hahn has said they will need to address their needs in the trade market. Vaughn and Cease are the only ones who would get the returns the Sox will seek. So they better be opened minded. Plus both would net the Sox multiple MLB ready players. This would allow them to plug more holes. Not ideal, but it would work. Robert and Jimenez… both have been hurt and have a hard time staying healthy. Sox will have to start the season with both. Then showcase them to show they not… Read more »
Until the sox have a change of ownership along with a new GM the teamed will be mired in a swamp of futility. Expect the same foolish decions along the way.