The future for the White Sox is as bright as any team in the league. Most of, if not all of their top prospects should be in the MLB by 2020, the year most people are pegging the team to be a legitimate World Series threat. Furthermore, not counting arbitration, they only have Tim Anderson's contract on the books for 2019. So after the 2018 season, expect Rick Hahn to spend, and spend big.
With that being said, let's fast forward 2.5 years from now and see what the
Chicago White Sox might look like.
Yoan Moncada- 2B
Manny Machado- 3B
Jose Abreu- DH
Eloy Jimenez- RF
Zack Collins- C
Jake Burger- 1B
Luis Robert- CF
Blake Rutherford- LF
Tim Anderson- SS
The Top
Leading off for the White Sox will be Yoan Moncada, whose 1st to 3rd speed is second in the entire MLB, only behind Red's speedster Billy Hamilton. Moncada's elite speed and the ability to hit line drives into the gaps will see him as the perfect leadoff man for this potent lineup.
In the 2-hole, we have the biggest White Sox free agency signing in franchise history, Manny Machado. Rick Hahn has said time and time again that the last part of the rebuild will be to spend money. With the Red Sox and Yankees looking poised to run the A.L. East, Machado signs with the young, up and coming White Sox in a watered down A.L. Central. Besides his raw power, Machado and his Platinum Glove repertoire will lock down the hot corner for the South Side for the next decade.
All Jose Abreu has done since entering in the league is hit. Which is why he is the perfect DH candidate and a few years from now. The clear leader of this current squad, Abreu will want to see this rebuild through until the end goal of winning a World Series is achieved. While he may be on the wrong side of 30, assuming the full time role of DH will help prolong his career. Keeping in his usual 3-hole will provide him with comfort and familiarity. Furthermore, his experience and leadership qualities will be priceless to a still young team overall.
The Middle
Cleaning up for the White Sox is young phenom Eloy Jimenez. Before it is all said and done, Jimenez has a very realistic shot at being the no. 1 prospect in baseball. His ability to hit for both power and average will play perfectly at hitter-friendly Guaranteed Rate Field. If the Jermaine Dye comparisons come to fruition, the White Sox will have themselves yet another young star.
Batting 5th we have catcher Zack Collins. Not since A.J. Pierzynski have the White Sox had a true franchise-worthy catcher. That could all change if Collins can be consistent behind the plate. While his High-A numbers won't widen any eyes, his keen eye and patience will help him get on base even during prolonged slumps. And to be completely honest, Zack Collins is going to be fine. He'll probably never hit .300, but he is more than capable of hitting .260 to .275 with 20+ bombs a year. It should also be noted that Collins focused almost entirely on his defense this year, which could have had a prolonged effect on his batting average.
White Sox 2017 first round pick Jake Burger will man the 6th spot in the lineup. Burger and Collins are eerily similar in the fact that they both have a keen eye for the strike zone, and can both hit for plus power. While the White Sox drafted him as a third baseman, the signing of Machado and the move of Abreu to DH will force Burger to move to first base, which he should have no real trouble adjusting to. Collins and Burger in the 5-6 holes gives the White Sox back-to-back on-base machines.
The Bottom
Batting seventh we have Cuban sensation Luis Robert. This past spring, Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams went out and gave Robert the biggest international signing bonus in White Sox history. Robert, the most hyped Cuban since Moncada, has drawn numerous comparisons to Adam Jones- the Baltimore Oriole's center fielder. A perennial 5-tool talent, Robert's best tool is his well above-average speed, which he will use to track down fly balls with ease. If he hits like he is projected, he could be in future MVP discussions. Having speed like his towards the end of the lineup could prove to be vital for the White Sox.
Blake Rutherford, the prized prospect who came over as part of the Todd Frazier deal, will be plugged into the eighth spot in the White Sox lineup. Rutherford's hit tool should wind up being his best. Like Collins and Burger, he too has a very good feel for the strike zone. While he will gain power as he matures, he will also lose some of his already just average speed. Compared to a more athletic David Justice, Rutherford should excel in the eighth spot should he be plugged in there.
Finally, we have Tim Anderson rounding out the lineup for the White Sox. Tim Anderson's slow start has been connected to the fact that he lost his best friend due to gun violence back in early spring. Mentally, he was just not himself, and it showed. He finally decided to see a professional psychiatrist, and since then, he looks like the Tim Anderson that was getting Rookie of the Year votes least year. Aside from his plus speed and plus hit tool, Tim has some very deceptive strength. With 14 home runs this year, it wouldn't be shocking to see him wind up with 20 before the season ends. And that is with him playing as bad as he did to start the year. If Tim can adjust to how the league pitches to him and stay healthy, he could hit .280 with 20 bombs and 20 doubles. That would be incredible production coming from the 9-hole.
Recap
Obviously a lot of things can change from now until 2020. Prospects will get traded, injuries will happen, Tim Anderson might not pan out, and the White Sox might not sign Machado. It's all relative. However, I believe that for now at this very moment, this is the best possible future lineup for the White Sox. Will it happen? Nobody can for sure give a guarantee right now. But it sure is going to be fun to find out.
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