The White Sox averted disaster with Andrew Vaughn’s injury diagnosis but White Sox fans remain unhappy. Heading into the offseason second base and right field were two areas that clearly needed to be addressed.
There was no shortage of options in the free agency class either. Wish lists were compiled which included names like Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber, Starling Marte, Avisail Garcia, and Joc Pederson. One by one they went off the board much to the disappointment of fans across the Southside.
“Not White Sox Fans”
But don’t tell White Sox manager Tony La Russa that. He went scorched earth on 90 percent of White Sox fans who felt a move needed to be made.
“Those are probably fans who are not White Sox fans,” Tony La Russa said. “White Sox fans know there are guys in this camp who can handle it.”
The White Sox roster seems to be set in stone for now. They are riding with the guys they got. According to La Russa, they also have a plan.
“We’ve got, counting today, eight games,” La Russa said. “There’s time for the outfield work. We’ve got a formula.”
No formula can fix the gaping hole in right field. It is one that has been there for years and seems to be more gaping as time passes. In 2020 the Nomar Mazara experiment failed. In 2021 the Adam Eaton reunion flopped. This season the White Sox brought in Adam Haseley, a former first-round pick who struggles against right-handed pitching and posted a .429 OPS last season.
He joins an outfield depth chart that could include a platoon of Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets. Both are traditionally the first baseman. Other options include Adam Engel, who is an excellent fielder but has struggled to stay healthy; Leury Garcia, who is better served for a role off the bench and Micker Adolfo, who has yet to play a major league game.
None of those names inspire a ton of confidence nor do they scream starting outfielder on a contending team. La Russa is right. The White Sox has multiple players capable of handling the outfield. But at this point in time, the organization needs players that can excel at it. Winning the division and getting bounced in the ALDS simply won’t cut it.
Conforto’s Market Heating Up
Michael Conforto is a name that has been floated around all offseason. His market should be heating up soon. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported, “Conforto landed “irregularly” on his right (throwing) shoulder diving for a ball during a workout in January, and wanted to get back to 100 percent before resuming contract negotiations with clubs, according to his agent, Scott Boras”
Conforto is a former All-Star who represents an upgrade over what the White Sox currently have in right field. Vaughn and Sheets are better off at designated hitter, we have seen what Engel and Garcia can do and Adolfo is an unknown commodity.
As the roster currently stands the White Sox are no more talented than they were last season. They need to make a move. Just don’t tell Tony La Russa.
