The MLB Trade Deadline has come and gone…
The Chicago White Sox made one trade. Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn moved valuable lefty reliever for Cardinal’s Outfield prospect, Charlie Tilson. Tilson is considered a 4th outfielder with little to no power. With that being said, it was a step in the right direction.
Little did we know that was the only step that White Sox brass had in them.
The Deadline flew by with the Rangers, Indians, and Cubs making significant upgrades.
The Yankees took the route that the White Sox should have emulated. The Yankees moved 2 of the top relievers in baseball in Aroldis Chapman (to the Cubs) and Andrew Miller (to the Indians). They moved a well hitting veteran in Carlos Beltran to Texas. The Bronx Bombers now have the most top 100 prospects in baseball.
The White Sox, after moving Duke yesterday morning, did not have a single move today. Williams, Hahn and staff decided to stand pat.
The Sox have players that could have gotten prospects back. Frazier (2nd in MLB HR totals), Cabrera (currently batting over .300), Robertson, Jones, and Jennings are all valuable bullpen pieces.
Now we get to Sale and Quintana. The top 2 pitchers available this season. I understand completely that White Sox brass didn’t get what they were asking for. I can understand and justify that. These two aren’t just guys to trade for the sake of making a trade.
However, the other White Sox players mentioned? All are replaceable, and based on some of the deals that happened today, could have jump started the White Sox farm system.
Now, I could have made a case for the White Sox wanting to add at the Deadline and trying to make a run. If they wanted to go and get that left handed bat (Jay Bruce, Carlos Gonzalez, Josh Reddick, etc), and wanted push those Aces for a run, I would have been fine with that.
I would have been absolutely fine with trading everything, and watching the team I love struggle to win a game the remainder of the year. If they moved Sale and Quintana and got everything they wanted, and completely restarted this franchise. I think you would have seen Sox fans excited for the future for the first time in years.
But instead of picking a lane, the brass decides to stand pat and not make moves. This, to me, is unacceptable. It’s clear that the “re-tooling on the fly” model isn’t working.
You have 2 of the top ten pitchers in baseball. If you wanted to use them, and ride them to the playoffs, go ahead and add. If you feel like you don’t have enough to go the distance, make the moves and rebuild.
By not making moves, the White Sox brass shows their true colors. They’re cowards. They would rather not make a move than to pick a path and fail.
Sox fans will have to wait until the offseason, again, to see if there’s a future.
As I’ve said before, I don’t think this culture changes until Kenny Williams is no longer with the organization. And that, seemingly, isn’t going to be happening any time soon.
