The White Sox’s season came to a screeching halt versus the Astros when they lost 10-1 in Game 4. This leaves an array of questions that the front office will have to address before the 2022 season starts. So in this article, we’ll go over the 3 most burning questions that the Sox will face this offseason, and answer how the 2022 White Sox can bring a World Series championship to the south side.
#3 Should the Sox Bring Back Carlos Rodon?
I covered this topic in depth in this article, but I’ll give an overview here.
Carlos Rodon put up a great season in 2021, finishing with a 2.37 ERA in 24 games. He was injured for a good chunk of the season, and hasn’t completed a full season since 2016. His injury history is a huge problem, but his raw talent is so great that the Sox should consider bringing him back.
Whether he’ll want to come back is a different question entirely, and seeing as he has Scott Boras as his agent, it seems more and more unlikely that he will end up returning.
#2 Who Will Play 2B?
Given the news that the Sox will not re-sign Cesar Hernandez, the White Sox will need to find a new second baseman. There aren’t many guys in the Sox organization who could play 2B at a decent level as the Sox traded Nick Madrigal midseason for Craig Kimbrel, so they will need to sign a free agent or make a trade.
For the free agents, it’s either Chris Taylor or bust for me. He’s a decent 2B who will put up good numbers in a starting role and has postseason experience. Unfortunately, his asking price will be high.
If the Sox wanted to make a trade, I think that Jean Segura would be an ideal candidate. He’s a decent ballplayer who’s put up solid numbers the last two years, and the asking price likely won’t be too steep.
#1 What Can The Sox Do To Get To The Next Level?
The 2021 Postseason was very disappointing for the White Sox. Not only did they almost get swept, they got embarrassed in the last game 10-1. The Astros outplayed them the whole series, and the Sox were generally overmatched. Fortunately, the Sox can prevent that in 2022.
First of all, having everyone healthy is going to be a big deal. Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Yasmani Grandal, and Carlos Rodon all missed big chunks of the season due to injuries. That can’t happen in 2022. A season where all of the White Sox’s players are healthy is a season that would results in a White Sox World Series victory.
Second of all, they need to fill the hole at Second Base. A mentioned this in number 2, so if you skipped to here, check my explanation out.
Third, and most importantly, the starting rotation needs to continue their production. Their success was vital to the success of the 2022 White Sox.
Featured Photo: White Sox Twitter @whitesox
