With the MLB Lockout resolved, baseball activities are returning to normal, including power ranking for the 2022 season. The White Sox are expected to compete for the World Series this year, and many prominent sports media outlets believe that they are one the best teams as spring training begins. Both Bleacher Report and MLB.com have ranked the White Sox as the second-best team in their first power ranking of 2022.

Both Bleacher Report And MLB.com Have The White Sox Ranked Second in Their Rankings

The White Sox are ranked as the second-best team in both rankings and are ranked as the best team in the American League. The Los Angeles Dodgers are ranked number one and are the only team ahead of the White Sox in both power rankings. Chicago being ranked so high makes them the team to beat heading into the 2022 season, given what has and has not taken place yet this offseason. Although the White Sox have yet to make any significant additions to their roster this offseason, the potential to have a full season from both Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert matters. Having both players for an entire season serves as an addition of two players capable of hitting over 30 home runs over a whole season. Last season, Chicago won 93 games despite Jimenez and Robert missing more than half the season due to injury.

From a pitching standpoint, the White Sox will also feature one of the best pitching rotations in baseball with Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, and Michael Kopech. Lynn finished third in Cy Young voting last season and could have won the award had he not struggled with injuries towards the end of the season. Giolito has finished in the top-11 of Cy Young voting the last three seasons, while Cease recorded over 226 strikeouts in his first full season in the majors last year. Although Chicago has yet to address some of their positional needs this offseason, they have made a significant addition to their bullpen. In November, the White Sox signed former Houston Astros reliever Kendall Graveman, who posted an ERA of 1.77 over 53 appearances with the Mariners and Astros last season. Chicago is also expected to re-sign reliever Ryan Tepera, who served as a setup man for the White Sox after being traded from the Cubs in late July. Tepera recorded a 2.50 in 22 appearances after the trade.

The White Sox Have A Chance To Improve Their Power Ranking Standings Even More

The White Sox rankings could improve before the start of the season depending on what takes place with free agency and potential trades now that the lockout is over. Despite the high level of talent on the roster, Chicago still has room for improvement as they have weaknesses at several positions. General manager Rick Hahn still needs to find a starting right-fielder, starting second baseman, and additional starting pitcher. Chicago has been rumored to be heavily interested in All-Star free-agent outfielder Michael Conforto. Conforto has had three seasons of 27 home runs or more with the New York Mets and would give the White Sox a much-needed left-handed power bat. Last season, rookie Gavin Sheets was the only true left-handed power source as he hit 11 home runs. Conforto would also help Chicago from a defensive standpoint as he has proven to be capable of playing right-field every day.

Although the White Sox missed their chance of filling their need at second base by failing to sign free agents Marcus Semien or Javy Baez. There is a belief that Hahn could potentially trade reliever Craig Krimbel in return for a starting infielder. Many fans are hoping that the White Sox address the second base need and not fall back on relying on playing Leury Garcia. The White Sox will begin playing spring training games later this week and could potentially have a healthy roster by the time Opening Day happens in mid-April. The first power rankings released by Bleacher Report and MLB.com show how highly thought of Chicago is heading into this season. Depending on what transactions are made by Hahn in the next few weeks, the White Sox could be viewed as the best team in baseball heading into the start of the 2022 season.