Opinion: It's Hard to Be Optimistic about the White Sox

But I will giveit a try.

Dylan CeasePhoto byCreative Commons: Jmar Gambol: Flickr, Instagram

The White Sox were absolutely abysmal last season. Couple an organization devoid of talent with an owner who is perhaps the most tone-deaf owner in baseball and throw in a manger who seems clearly over his head and optimism becomes hard to come by. But I’ll give it a try.

Dylan Cease will probably be traded

Dylan Cease is a good pitcher, but he needs to be traded. Cease has two more years before he hits free agency. The White Sox are unlikely to be good in the next two years, so it makes sense to move him. The Yankees, and Rangers have been mentioned as possible trade partners.

The White Sox asking price reportedly remains high, which is a good thing. The Sox could use help at pretty much everywhere so any talent would help.

Plus, the Sox are reportedly showing interest in Michael Lorenzen. Lorenzen is at least a functional big-league starter. He would help the Sox whether they trade Cease or not. Though it’s basically irrelevant, Lorenzen is a better hitter than most of the Sox position players, carrying a career OBS of .710.

The defense should be better

Paul DeJong is definitely better defensively at shortstop than Tim Anderson. And he will probably be better offensively too. Anderson was one of the worst offensive players in MLB last year. Actually, he stunk defensively too.

Nicky Lopez should also be able to catch the ball at second base, so there’s that.

Domenic Fletcher should also be an upgrade in right field, both defensively and with the bat. In addition, I would think that Andrew Benintendi will be better in left field.

Yoan Moncada has, to some extent, been the poster boy for underachieving White Sox teams from the past two seasons, but I look for a bounce back year from him this season. Moncada was actually pretty good over the last two months of the 2023 season, but that was lost in the carnage.

How many catchers that can’t hit does one team need?

Martin Maldonado, Korey Lee and Max Stassi all fit that mold. Edgar Quero is on the horizon, but probably won’t help this season. Of course, getting rid of Yasmani Grandal is probably a positive as in addition to not hitting, he was a bust at the plate.

What about pitching?

I have no idea. The Sox have taken flyers on a bunch of guys, some who have had success in past seasons. That's true of starters and relievers.

In the rotation, hard-throwing lefty, Garrett Crochet, has the most potential but carries the most question marks as to duability. Erick Fedde will probably be of some help, and Chris Flexen is a possibility. So you have an if, an if and an if followed by numerous question marks.

Who will be the closer is an open question, but this team may not need one.

All in all, I still the Sox will be better. The USA Today pegs the Sox as a 67-win team in 2024. I’d take the over. But not by a whole lot.