Previewing 2017 Chicago White Sox Season
After last season’s disaster, the 2017 year will seemingly be more easy to predict how it will go for the White Sox as the Pale Hose are going to be in a rebuild. In the offseason they traded away Adam Eaton and Chris Sale, easily two of their best players on the squad. In return, the White Sox got back a slew of talent from the Nationals and the Red Sox. Manager Robin Ventura stepped down handing the reigns to Rick Renteria. However, things do look bright despite the team going into a rebuild. Lets look at the roster:
Pitchers
Jose Quintana
Miguel Gonzalez
Derek Holland
James Shields
Dylan Covey
Anthony Swarzak
David Robertson
Nate Jones
Jake Petricka
Zach Putnam
Michael Ynoa
Dan Jennings
This will be the obvious strength for the Pale Hose as this part of the team will help the club win more games than they should. Quintana is finally getting some recognition as a really good pitcher now as he is slowly becoming an ace. Gonzalez is very good and reliable when his stuff is on, but when his stuff is off, he really struggles. If Holland can stay healthy, then the White Sox will have a very good starter who is a known competitor and knows how to win. Last season was not Shields best, but he will be looking to show that 2016 was a fluke. Covey is the probably fifth starter, but is a highly touted pitcher whom the team picked off of the Rule V Draft and will only stay in the rotation until Carlos Rodon comes back. Swarzak is a swing pitcher as he can start and relieve. The bullpen is very good as Jones, Petricka, Jennings, and Putnam are very reliable. Ynoa had a good season in 2016, so he will try to prove that he can still contribute in 2017. Robertson is a very good closer, but he is a likely trade candidate who will be proving his trade value.
Catchers
Geovany Soto
Omar Narvaez
Soto is back for his second stint with the White Sox as he is a reliable defensive catcher and does have some pop. Narvaez came up and played well last season as he looks to prove that he can be a reliable major league player this year.
Infielders
Jose Abreu
Tyler Saladino
Todd Frazier
Tim Anderson
Yolmer Sanchez
Matt Davidson
Leury Garcia
Abreu is one of the most feared hitters in the American League as he got to a 100 RBIs for the third straight season to start his career. Saladino is a very versatile player and has shown that he could be a good everyday player as evidenced in 2016. Frazier has some serious power and is a great defender, but hitting for average is not something he is used to doing. Anderson looks to be an up and coming star as he has the ability of a five tool player. Sanchez (now Yolmer, used to be Carlos) looks to finally make an impression on this team as he is very versatile. Davidson had a couple of disappointing minor league campaigns after being a highly touted prospect the team had traded for as he finally gets a chance. Davidson has some serious power that could be used from the DH spot. Garcia has a lot of versatility as well as he can also play in the outfield.
Outfield
Melky Cabrera
Jacob May
Avisail Garcia
Cody Asche
Cabrera had a very good 2016, but his time with the team might be over soon as he could be moved for young talent. May will be trying to prove that he is the centerfielder of the future as he is a touted prospect in the system. This will be Garcia’s last chance to prove himself, but he probably won’t have any pressue on him in this rebuilding year. He is a five tool player who the team hopes finally discovers his talent. Asche can play first base and DH as well, but had a good spring training to win the final roster spot.
As mentioned, this is a rebuilding year so there isn’t a whole lot to expect of this team except to see who gets traded and who develops into a good player. There are some youngsters who are waiting in the minors whom they traded for that will get their chance later this season to get some playing time in the minors like Yoan Moncada and Lucas Giolito. Even though the record won’t show it, it will be a fun time on the South Side of Chicago as watching youngsters trying to develop is exciting to watch.
