White Sox Should Be Embarrassed By Inevitable Trade Deadline Sell-Off

At this point, it’s not a matter of if the White Sox will be sellers at the trade deadline, it’s when. 

After getting trounced by the Atlanta Braves to open the second half of the season the White Sox record sits at 38-55. It’s the same record the White Sox had in 2017, with a payroll that was $100 million less and a team built to lose games.  

Other teams are beginning to circle the White Sox like vultures. Unlike most sellers this time of year the White Sox are loaded with talent. That’s why so many of their players have popped up in trade rumors. 

Lucas Giolito remains the number one trade candidate. Teams such as the Reds and Dodgers have already shown interest. But other pitchers like Aaron Bummer, Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Keynan Middleton, Mike Clevinger, Reynaldo Lopez, and even Dylan Cease have been highlighted as names to keep an eye on at the deadline. The team has already said that they will not be trading Cease. But if the right offer comes along they would have to consider it. Tim Anderson is another player who could be in another uniform after August 1st.  

If the White Sox have this many players that other teams are reportedly interested in it begs the question, why can't the White Sox win with them? Buying at the trade deadline is all about adding pieces that you think can get you closer to a championship. A lot of contenders want to buy what the White Sox are selling. 

Rick Hahn always seems to assemble rosters that have talent, but when it comes time to add the finishing pieces to turn it into a winning team, he takes shortcuts. Signing an aging veteran instead of a bonified star. Banking on players to have a bounce-back season instead of trusting a proven commodity. Keeping his fingers crossed the roster stays healthy instead of adding depth.

One player gets injured and the lack of depth gets exposed. Another player has a down year and the offense implodes. It's the same reason the White Sox had a lot of players to sell in 2016.

We have always heard how talented the White Sox are on paper. That talent just never seems to translate into wins. You can blame the players, yet other teams still seem to want them. Based on rumors and speculation the White Sox have at least nine players that other teams have shown interest in.

You can blame the manager but we have already seen Ricky Renteria, Tony La Russa, and Pedro Grifol try to right the ship, and all net similar results. You can blame the coaching staff but the White Sox have already turned over most of their staff so that is no longer an excuse. 

The White Sox should be ashamed of themselves. With this roster, they should have a lot more than 38 wins after the All-Star break. 

A weak American League Central even provided the White Sox with a glimmer of hope. And like they do most of the time with runners on base, they failed to take advantage of it. After the three-game series with the Braves, the White Sox will continue their road trip with three against the Mets and Twins. 

The Twins series ends on July 23rd. Scott Merkin of MLB.com marked this nine-game stretch as the White Sox's final chance to show Rick Hahn the roster should be kept intact. 

Of course, even if the White Sox did go on a run (which they have shown no ability to do since the first half of 2021) they should still sell. Making the playoffs does the White Sox no good if they are just going to get steamrolled in the ALDS. 

Lucas Giolito is on an expiring contract and if the White Sox don’t intend to resign him, which all signs say that they don’t, then they might as well get something for him and all the other players on expiring deals. 

General manager Rick Hahn will almost certainly make moves to reshape the roster. But given his track record, it’s fair to say it will not do the White Sox any good. He has run out of excuses and simply can’t be trusted.