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10 Trades for the White Sox to consider at the 2024 Trade Deadine

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The post 10 Trades for the White Sox to consider at the 2024 Trade Deadine appeared first on Sox On 35th.

Over the past five seasons, I’ve published an article about what the White Sox should do at the Trade Deadline based on their current situation. In this sixth edition, if I’m Chris Getz, I’m walking into today thinking like Jared from Margin Call:

Fun fact: I’m a huge fan of Simon Baker (Jared) from his time on “The Mentalist.” Not relevant at all, but just thought you, the reader, might be interested.

To answer “at what cost,” Kevin Spacey Sam Rogers – absolutely nothing. This team stinks and they aren’t getting better any time soon. It’s time to strip this down and try again. I just don’t know where the next wave of talent is coming from, and because of that, it’s time for them to do a hard reset and capitalize on the assets they currently have that won’t be here by the time the next core is ready to compete.

Overall, I did my best to use recent season’s returns on players to judge who the White Sox would receive in return. In most circumstances, I try to err on the side of thinking a trade return is “too light” for the Sox rather than creating a bunch of “steals” – though, in some instances, I list what I would shoot for as my initial offer while being willing to inevitably accept less. It’s not easy to do this, especially when you have next to no information about how teams view players.

With that all out of the way, let’s begin.

Trade #1: Milwaukee Brewers acquire SP Erick Fedde in exchange for SS Cooper Pratt and 3B Eric Bitonti

Let’s start off with an easy one. Among all the unknowns for the White Sox at this trade deadline, it seems pretty well-documented that Erick Fedde has pitched his way off of this team. With as many as 10 teams reportedly interested in acquiring a pitcher with a year of control at $7.5M remaining on his contract and a 2.98/3.68 ERA/FIP that helps him rank 19th in fWAR among all qualified SP, Fedde should be able to return at least a fringe top 100 prospect and a wild card piece. For the White Sox, we also know they are targeting hitting prospects (at least reportedly).

Enter Cooper Pratt and Eric Bitonti. Pratt was the sixth-round pick for the Brewers back in 2023 out of Magnolia Heights High School. As a 19-year-old in Low-A this season, he’s hitting .297/.392/.398 and comes with a reportedly high baseball IQ. At 6’4″, it would appear he has the frame to unlock more power as he grows, as he’s only had 16 XBH this season. However, he has stolen 23 bases while keeping his strikeout rate relatively low (19.2%) for his age. While Baseball America doesn’t have him among their top 100 prospects, MLB Pipeline ranks him 94th on their list – hence the “fringe top 100” category I’ve placed him in.

As for Bitonti, he’s a mammoth of a kid from the left side of the plate with a lot of work still to do. Similar to George Wolkow, he was young for his 2023 draft class (third round) and possesses light tower power. He has moved over to third base since being signed, though his size generally screams first base – which, given enough power, wouldn’t be a knock on him at all. In the complex league this season, Bitonti has hit .320/.451/.580, though he struck out 27% of the time. In short: a profile to dream on with enough swing-and-miss concern to make him anything but a sure thing. With him likely to join Pratt in Low-A soon enough, teams might be able to get more answers on his long-term outlook.

Pratt and Bitonti rank sixth and seventh, respectively, within the Brewers’ farm system, so it appears to be a fair enough trade to ask for two players within any team’s top 10 prospects for Fedde, especially with a year of control remaining. This may end up being a tad light if enough teams get involved, but for now, it’s a package built around two players with a longer runway towards the major leagues – which makes plenty of sense for where the White Sox are at right now development-wise.

Other Players Considered: Tyler Black, Mike Boeve, Brock Wilken

Trade #2: Atlanta Braves acquire OF Tommy Pham and INF Paul DeJong in exchange for RHP Garrett Baumann

The first trade isn’t the last time we will see Fedde on this list, but I’m trying to mix up the names as we go. We go next to one of my favorite players from this season in DeJong, who has provided power from the White Sox’ middle infield that I’ve been dying to see for a while now, and Tommy Pham, whose winning attitude will likely see him traded to a contender for the third consecutive season. Neither is a long-term piece, but both are capable backups with enough power and ability to make them enticing to teams with a need.

That’s where the Braves come into play, with Orlando Arcia unable to replicate his stellar 2023 season and Nacho Alvarez Jr. playing 30-grade baseball despite his 80-grade baseball name. It’s a small sample size for Alvarez Jr, but seeing as he came out of nowhere to hit like he did in Triple-A this season, it’s probably smart for the Braves to consider a more proven option like DeJong who won’t cost nearly anything at all. As for the Pham part, well…

In return, Garrett Baumann is another young player quite a ways away from the majors. Standing at an imposing 6’8″, the right-hander ranks 20th in the Braves system and features primarily a two-pitch mix. At 19-years-old, he’s thrown 72.2 innings in Low-A this season, posting a 3.72 ERA. He doesn’t strike out many hitters, and because of his height, he struggles with walks at times. In addition, he’s still working up in fastball velocity, as it sits mostly at 91-93 mph currently; however, the appeal here is the sinker-type profile on the fastball that might be something for the White Sox to play into – and something they like as shown in Erick Fedde and Jonathan Cannon. With just two pitches, he has a lot of work to do to get to the majors, but that is a long runway the White Sox can afford to give players.

Listen, neither of these players is going to fetch much on their own. But together? The two could be worth something rather than nothing. It’s far more likely that at least one, if not both, of these players is part of a much larger package than sold as one-off pieces or even together.

Other Players Considered: Dylan Dodd, Ian Mejia, Luis De Avila, Riley Frey

Trade #3: Seattle Mariners acquire RP Michael Kopech, 1B Andrew Vaughn, and SS Paul DeJong in exchange for OF Tai Peete, RHP Troy Taylor, and RHP Michael Morales

Not the Mariners trade you were expecting, is it? Don’t worry, we may or may not get to that…

This trade, much like the one above, is a trade for a need – or in this case, needs. J.P. Crawford will be out for 4-6 weeks with a hairline fracture in his finger, while Ty France was just designated for assignment and his replacement, Tyler Locklear, has a nice (but not nice) 69 wRC+. If the Mariners want to prevent from losing a large early-season lead in the division, they’re going to need some sort of help.

We’ve already discussed DeJong being expendable, but as the White Sox get ready for their next wave of talent, Andrew Vaughn feels as though he is part of the old wave that doesn’t need to make it to the new one. His stellar June slash line of .337/.371/.561 brought his season back from the dead, but his .197/.242/.328 July slash line has renewed the calls to move on from the former first-rounder. Michael Kopech is a new name here, but his availability is pretty obvious as teams continue to look for high-leverage relievers.

The main piece of this package is Tai Peete, last year’s 30th overall pick who’s seen his stock drop a bit this season. As an 18-year-old in Low-A this season, he’s slashed .269/.346/.377 with 24 stolen bases. He’s far from a home run threat and needs to show some consistency with his swing, but has the potential to grow into his power as a strong 6’2″ athlete.

Taylor and Morales both likely represent long-term relief pitchers, as Taylor is exclusively a relief pitcher now (1.52 ERA in 23.2 AA innings) and Morales would need to gain some velocity on his fastball as a starter to make it work. However, he has also been successful this season, rising to AA as a 21-year-old due to his solid 2.36 ERA and 23.1% strikeout rate in High-A.

This trade is tough because, well, Vaughn is not very good even with two more years of control, and Paul DeJong has an expiring contract. I don’t think any team is willing to pay much for their services, though Kopech and his additional year of control bring back additional value. There’s also a world in which the White Sox could involve Gavin Sheets here, though he has fallen just as far from his great start to the campaign. If I had to guess? Either Morales or Taylor would be removed from this deal if Peete were the headliner. But, all three pieces remain intriguing enough to be discussed.

Other Players Considered: Jonathan Clase, Brock Rodden, Michael Arroyo

Trade #4: St. Louis Cardinals acquire SP Erick Fedde and RP John Brebbia in exchange for OF Victor Scott, RHP Zack Showalter, and OF Won-Bin Cho

Here’s the return to Fedde with a team that has been rumored to have a lot of interest in him. It makes sense, as a groundball-first pitcher has been the Cardinals’ M.O. for years, even as they’ve tried to transition away from that recently. This move is a little bit different in that it also includes a familiar face to St. Louis in John Brebbia – much like last season, the White Sox are very likely to package their starting pitchers with a reliever (Kopech, Banks, Brebbia) to increase their return.

Victor Scott II is the Cardinals’ fifth-ranked prospect that has seen some highs and lows in the past few seasons. He struggled when making his major league debut this season, But has a small ball-type approach that the White Sox may be looking for as a complement to some of their other pieces in the lineup when it’s all said and done. He stole an insane 94 bases combined across two levels in 2023, and in 2024, he’s stolen another 27 – the decrease mainly coming because of his drop-off in on-base percentage (you can’t steal if you’re not on base!). He’s hitting .208/.285/.283 across 307 plate appearances in Triple-A this season.

With Scott, you’d have to bet on him bouncing back and returning to form through continued swing changes.

As for Showalter, the 20-year-old has posted a 2.51 ERA in 32.1 innings in Low-A this season, striking out 38% of hitters and walking 10.6% of them. Per Baseball America, his fastball sits 92-93 mph and touches 95 from a sub-five foot release height that creates deception. He has a wide range of projections at his age but has the tools that Brian Bannister would likely be intrigued by.

Finally, Won-Bin Cho is a corner outfielder with some upside that could be tapped into with some swing changes. He has an above-average arm and is hitting .237/.320/.322 in High-A as a 20-year-old this season.

This is a much riskier package than the Brewers’ package, given that both Pratt and Bitonti have experienced higher levels of success in 2024. However, the intrigue is clear, as is the upside, if that is the sort of package the White Sox want to swing for. If not, there are a few higher-floor, lower-ceiling players that the club could consider here as well, as listed below.

Other Players Considered: Thomas Saggese, Chase Davis, Cooper Hjerpe

Trade #5: Los Angeles Dodgers acquire SP Garrett Crochet and RP Michael Kopech in exchange for OF Josue De Paula, SS Alex Freeland, RHP River Ryan, and LHP Jackson Ferris

Here’s where we begin to look at some potential blockbusters.

But first, let’s talk a bit about Garrett Crochet’s recent request for a contract extension. It’s a smart play financially, as he ensures he gets paid and has insurance in case of overextending in his first year following Tommy John Surgery, but also gets traded to a team where his innings are worth more. For the White Sox, however, it makes things tougher, as there is now a stipulation that makes him less likely to be available in October. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the White Sox go the Dylan Cease route: dangle him until the 24th hour, then wait until the offseason to trade him.

But let’s pretend that doesn’t happen. The Dodgers, Yankees, and Padres have been the most connected to Crochet, and of those three, I think the Dodgers are the only team that has enough to get this done. Josue De Paula ranks in the 40s-50s of most publications as a prospect, while Alex Freeland has jumped onto Baseball America’s Top 100 list (#99) at the midseason re-rank. De Paula has a calm, patient approach and a picturesque lefthanded swing that leaves few holes for pitchers to attack. As a result, he profiles to be a plus hitter, though he still needs to grow into his power at just 19 years old.

Freeland is a physical, athletic switch-hitter and an aggressive swinger, but he controls the strike zone and shows the potential to hit for average and power from the left side. He is hitting .250/.371/.435 as a 22-year-old in Double-A so far this season after crushing High-A after getting a second look at it to start the season.

The additional value of this trade comes in the upside of the two additional pieces. River Ryan recently made his MLB debut, and Jackson Ferris came over from the Cubs in the trade for Michael Busch. Ferris is the high-upside play here with his 3.89 ERA and 30% strikeout rate in 83.1 innings of High-A baseball this season. His lefty profile fits what Brian Bannister and the White Sox organization have loved in drafts recently as well.

Like many of the other packages listed here, the players in this trade are largely a ways away from the major leagues, giving the White Sox time to develop them and prepare them to be a part of the team’s next true wave of sustainable talent. It puts a lot of pressure on the White Sox to develop them, but that’s the pressure they’ve put on themselves and is a story for a different article.

Other Players Considered: Thayron Liranzo, Kyle Hurt, Landon Knack

Trade #6: Boston Red Sox acquire SP Garrett Crochet and RP John Brebbia in exchange for C Kyle Teel, 2B Kristian Campbell, RHP Luis Perales, and 2B Nick Yorke

The Red Sox are a team that I would love to see get involved in either the Garrett Crochet or Erick Fedde sweepstakes, though this is less likely following their trading for James Paxton from the Dodgers this morning. However, Paxton isn’t a game-changer at this stage in his career, and both Fedde and Crochet can be, which is why this trade remains here.

Kyle Teel and Kristian Robinson mirror Josue De Paula and Alex Freeman, respectively, from the Dodgers’ trade above – one clear top 100 prospect, and one fringe top 100 prospect. Teel went one pick before the White Sox selected Jacob Gonzalez last year and has destroyed AA pitching this season at 22 years old, slashing .301/.390/.459 with nine home runs. He would be among the fastest projected risers of anyone on this list of trades.

Robinson has come out of nowhere recently, and the league is starting to take notice, as his advanced plate approach has him hitting .390/.491/.582 in 171 AA plate appearances. He will still need to grow into his power, as he is very contact-oriented currently, though he has hit 12 home runs combined across two levels this season.

Luis Perales has been posting gaudy strikeout numbers all season with a big fastball (averages 95 mph and tops out at 99 with a ridiculous 21 inches of vertical ride and 6.7 feet of extension), while Nick Yorke could be in the big leagues tomorrow as a depth piece. He’s not a flashy piece, and his range at second base is suspect, but he’s the sort of piece that every big league team needs with the ability to grow into more.

You might be thinking, “Jordan, the White Sox have Edgar Quero, do they need another top-catching prospect?” To that, I respond: (1) Quero isn’t a sure thing yet, (2) One of them can learn first base (“It’s not that hard, tell ’em Wash!”), and (3) Have you checked Korey Lee’s numbers recently? There is a backup spot still up for grabs in the future even if Quero does work out.

Plus, remember when the White Sox had too many outfield prospects in 2018? How did that work out?

Other Players Considered: Miguel Bleis, Roman Anthony

Trade #7: Baltimore Orioles acquire SP Erick Fedde and RP Tanner Banks in exchange for 2B Connor Norby, OF Dylan Beavers, and RHP Alex Pham

This is a typical Orioles move: they have the prospect capital to make a giant splash but settle for just a tier below the best they could get. That’s why you won’t see a Garrett Crochet-Orioles move on the main part of this list.

With the amount of research White Sox fans have done into the Orioles’ farm system, I’m sure all three of these names are at least vaguely familiar. Connor Norby is a 24-year-old second baseman who is only seeing extended time in the majors right now because of Jorge Mateo’s injury. He’s blocked in the short-term by Mateo and by Jackson Holliday in the long term, but on the White Sox, he’s the team’s hopeful starting second baseman for all of 2025. He’s hit .297/.389/.519 in 375 Triple-A plate appearances this season but is a bat-first second baseman.

Beavers has been a favorite name for White Sox fans as well, though his upside still hasn’t led to the results he likely had hoped for (.754 OPS in AA in 2024). However, the upside is clear and allows Beavers to serve as a strong second piece in a Fedde trade while still possessing some of the most upside in the Orioles organization. His swing will still need some work to tap into his potential. I keep using “potential” and “upside,” trust me, I know, but that’s what Beavers brings currently.

Finally, Alex Pham likely doesn’t have the fastball to remain a starter, but his ability to miss bats with a cutter he added starting in 2023 could appeal to the White Sox when used out of the bullpen. He is striking out an impressive 30.7% of hitters in AA this season, albeit as a 24-year-old. It’s time for him to move up and see what he can do.

The Orioles remain a team that gets asked at every deadline: “Are they going to make THE move?!” I continue to think they won’t, but they’ll make a strong move like this one that barely begins to leave a dent in the prospect pool they’ve amassed.

Other Players Considered: Chayce McDermott, Mac Horvath, Enrique Bradfield

Trade #8: Seattle Mariners acquire OF Luis Robert Jr and RP Michael Kopech in exchange for OF Lazaro Montes, SS Felnin Celesten, and 2B Ryan Bliss

I said it on the latest episode of the Sox On 35th Podcast: the Seattle Mariners are the only interested team I feel comfortable trading Luis Robert Jr. to in terms of the prospect capital coming back. However, because the Mariners just traded for Randy Arozarena, I’m going to go out on a limb and say this trade likely doesn’t happen. As a result, check Trade #10, where I found one more team that would potentially be of interest in a Robert Jr. deal.

Lazaro Montes would be the biggest prize here, as he’s putting up power numbers that are easy to dream on at just 19 years old. Before moving to High-A, Montes was hitting .309/.411/.527 with 13 home runs in 309 Low-A plate appearances. He doesn’t fit the mold as a lot of the other players on the list in that he’s not a strong up-the-middle player or outfielder, as his role is likely going to be limited to a DH role in the future. He posts some of the highest exit velocities in the Mariners’ system and is strong enough to hit balls out even when he mis-hits them. Montes knows the strike zone and limits his chases, but he swings and misses an alarming amount in the zone.

Felnin Celesten is another high-upside pick who is a long way from the big leagues. He has some of the best tools and biggest upside in the Mariners system. He’s a lean but strong 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, and has physical projection remaining. He has a direct, powerful righthanded swing that produces plus power and could grow into more thump as he gets stronger. He projects to be able to remain at shortstop but needs to get a bit bigger to access more of his power potential. He is hitting .352/.431/.568 in the Complex League this season as an 18-year-old, so you’d imagine some better competition might be in his near future.

Ryan Bliss recently made his major league debut as an undersized second baseman who has simply been able to hit at every level he’s seen. That hasn’t yet translated to the big leagues, but he hasn’t exactly been given the reps necessary to get comfortable at the highest level. He catches up to fastballs at any velocity, crushes breaking stuff, and has the strength to run into double-digit home runs despite his size. He hit .249/.384/.450 as a 24-year-old in AAA this season before his call-up.

Here’s the thing about Luis Robert Jr. that I’m sure will get me in trouble somewhere down the line: he’s been a superstar for one season and a very, very good baseball player for all the others. “If he stays healthy” doesn’t work in a negotiation when the counterpoint is “he’s been fully healthy for 25% of his non-COVID seasons.” So, the idea of a “Juan Soto-like package” should be out the window. A package with a top 30-40 prospect and another high-upside, fringe top 100 prospect should be what the White Sox (and their fans) consider realistic. If they want to hold out for more, that’s fine, but understand the risk is that Robert Jr. is never on the field enough to make the risk worth it.

Other Players Considered: Colt Emerson, Jonny Farmelo, Michael Arroyo, Ben Williamson

Trade #9: New York Mets acquire RP Michael Kopech in exchange for C Kevin Parada and RHP Kade Morris

For the first time, I’m putting together a deal where a relief pitcher is traded by himself. It’s unlikely to happen this way, but I wanted to entertain it regardless (it’s my article). In looking at the Diamondbacks/Marlins trade of A.J. Puk from Thursday night, it appears the market for a controllable reliever is someone with potential, but clear flaws in their game that might end up making the trade a wash. That’s where Kevin Parada comes into play, a catcher who has really seen his stock take a hit since being drafted 11th overall back in 2022. He’s a bat-first catcher who hasn’t really hit this season, slashing just .230/.312/.400 in his first full season in Double-A. He’s striking out an alarming 34.2% of the time, and at 22 years old, he may either need a change of scenery, or he might in fact not be good. To his credit, he is hitting .310/.403/.534 in July, though his strikeout rate remains at 32.8%.

Kade Morris has a deep and well-rounded repertoire, a history of throwing strikes, and an athletic 6-foot-3 frame that will fit in a pro rotation. He sits at 93 mph and has touched as high as 97 in the past, focusing more on generating weak groundball contact than blowing the ball past hitters up in the zone. The White Sox certainly have a few pitchers who fit that description, so Morris might be appealing to them, especially considering his 3.33 ERA in 51.1 innings at High-A this season as a 22-year-old. He will likely start moving quickly heading into next season if his strong campaign finishes as such.

Of all my trades, I like this one the least, but mostly because it’s really hard to project the return for solely a relief pitcher. The White Sox wisely did not do this much at last year’s deadline, and I don’t anticipate them doing it much at this deadline.

Other Players Considered: Ryan Clifford, Mike Vasil, Jeremy Rodriguez, Colin Houck

Trade #10: Philadelphia Phillies acquire OF Luis Robert Jr. and RP Tanner Banks in exchange for OF Justin Crawford, RHP Mick Abel, C Eduardo Tait, and RHP Christian McGowan

Following last night’s trade of Randy Arozarena to the Mariners, I wanted to consider the possibility that the Mariners were no longer swinging for the fences in the type of trade. Because I’m slow, the Phillies went ahead and beat me to things, trading for Austin Hays this morning. However, trading for Austin Hays and his .711 OPS probably isn’t going to take the Phillies out of going for a large strike, as that’s what Dave Dombrowski is known for. Plus, I wrote this already, so here it stays.

Fans are likely very familiar with Justin Crawford, son of former big leaguer Carl Crawford. I was skeptical of him heading into the draft, so the reason I’m trading for him here is that, as many do, he’s shut me up by hitting .301/.349/.438 in High-A this season at the age of 20 and earning a promotion to Double-A. He also has stolen 29 bases so far this season after stealing 47 last year, so he fits the mold of a player the White Sox may really like. Presently, his speed helps mask reads, routes, and jumps that scouts believe could stand to be sharpened. If he makes those improvements, he could develop into an above-average defender. If he does have to move to a corner, his average arm strength would fit in left field, but his offensive game fits much better in center.

Mick Abel hasn’t exactly lived up to some of his hype coming out of the 2020 MLB Draft. He’s battled a lot of ineffectiveness, though recently made changes to his arsenal that the Phillies hope would help him out. The biggest remaining focus will be improving his control and command, which led to walk rates of worse than five per nine innings in a season spent mostly at Double-A Reading. To address this, the Phillies have been trying to get Abel to strengthen his lower half and shorten his arm stroke. It’s a work in progress, and Abel is still only 22 years old. Perhaps some work in the Bannister/Katz Lab would get him to where he needs to be – the profile is there to dream on.

Eduardo Tait is an intriguing catching prospect. His swing features a smooth enough rhythm to help him get the barrel to the ball on time more often than not. He’s only 17 years old but played well enough in the Complex League (.321/.377/.500) to earn himself a chance at Low-A with a recent promotion. He’s raw and a long way away, but this is the sort of upside you have to bank on if you’re the White Sox.

Finally, Christian McGowan is on the verge of the big leagues, though the jury is still out on whether he will throw enough strikes to be a part of the rotation. He’s been on the Development List for parts of this season, so he doesn’t have many in-game reps, but still projects as a likely late-inning power arm.

If you’re not overwhelmed by either of these returns for Luis Robert Jr, the reality is that at current, I’m not sure that the White Sox will ever get an overwhelming return. They’re asking teams to put a lot of stock into one season and a lot of good-to-very-good half-seasons. I’m not sure if any team would be willing to sell the farm for that – I’m not sure I would.

Other Players Considered: Aidan Miller, Bryan Rincon, Starlyn Caba

Other Trades Considered

Obviously, there are a lot of different things the White Sox could consider at this trade deadline, and every time you find a good trade partner for them, another two pop up. So, here are some trades I considered, but didn’t include in my top list, but that I find interesting because of either the destination or some of the names included in return.

  • Erick Fedde to the Red Sox in exchange for 2B Kristian Campbell and SS Franklin Arias
  • Tommy Pham to the Royals in exchange for OF Javier Vaz
  • Luis Robert Jr. to the Dodgers in exchange for C Thayron Liranzo, LHP Justin Wrobleski, and OF Andy Pages
  • Erick Fedde to the Astros in exchange for OF Jacob Melton and OF Zach Cole
  • Garrett Crochet to the Orioles in exchange for 3B Colby Mayo, OF Dylan Beavers, and 2B Connor Norby
  • Andrew Vaughn to the Astros in exchange for OF Luis Baez
  • Michael Kopech and Paul DeJong to the Dodgers in exchange for RHP Landon Knack and SS Trey Sweeney
  • Erick Fedde to the Guardians in exchange for OF Jaison Churio and RHP Daniel Espino

Realistically, I could do 10-15 more of these trades; everyone has different evaluations of prospects, and when you are talking about players in the mid-teens of prospect lists, you can make a case for many of the players’ upside. I also consider the relievers attached in all of my proposed trades as interchangeable – I expect the club to move Banks, Kopech, and Brebbia in some form, so it doesn’t necessarily matter to me who they are sent to.

The overwhelming trend I tried to capture with these trades: I think the White Sox should be targeting players who are a bit further away from being major-league ready. I don’t think this team as a whole is close enough to go target MLB-ready prospects. A few here and there are fine, but this pipeline needs to be built up badly with reinforcements. In an extended rebuild, this is how you go about doing it. They’ll need to focus on spending money (sigh) to improve the major league team in the near term. Let the prospects develop to ensure that the pipeline is consistent in the long term.

In reviewing the trades presented here, the trade deadline for the White Sox could go one of two ways:

  1. They truly tear this thing down to the studs and take whatever they can get for anyone and everyone
  2. They trade Erick Fedde and a couple of relievers and call it a day

Based on recent reports from Jeff Passan, option #2 looks more and more likely as every hour passes – teams are pretty turned off by the idea that Garrett Crochet would need to be extended to pitch in October this season. In hindsight, it almost seems like Crochet and/or his agent want to make sure he stays with the White Sox. I’m not sure about the merits of something like that, especially if the White Sox themselves aren’t really making an effort to extend him.

At the same time, two of the trades outlined above were for Luis Robert Jr. to head to teams that needed an outfielder, but just traded for one – albeit, both worse than Luis Robert Jr, but it all still holds. I’m not sure there is a market for him right now, which leaves the White Sox once again to hold onto him at the deadline. That leaves Fedde, Kopech, Banks, DeJong, and Brebbia as highly likely to be moved, with Andrew Vaughn thrown out there simply because it would make for a more interesting deadline. I’m just not sure I see anyone else moved, and instead see this as a super uninteresting deadline for the White Sox that leads to a dragging August and September without much news to discuss.

It’s a frustrating place to be as a White Sox fan, but for the next few months, the focus is clearly going to be on internal growth and development, maybe a few financial additions at the major league level in the winter, a new managerial search, and potential trades of Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. in the offseason. The dog days might typically be in August, but right now, expect those to be a bit extended.

Sox On 35th Podcast: Let’s Make a Deal – 2024 White Sox Edition

Back to the trades: overall, I feel pretty good about most of these mock trades. Some feel like they border on overpaying for the opposing team, but all feel like they blend team needs for the White Sox with strengths and weaknesses of other teams’ farm systems and major league rosters.

So, what do you think about the suggestions, Sox fans? Sound off in the comments below!

Follow us @SoxOn35th for more throughout the season!

Featured Image: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The post 10 Trades for the White Sox to consider at the 2024 Trade Deadine appeared first on Sox On 35th.