The 2021 MLB season has been a rollercoaster of emotions for the Chicago White Sox. It’s been chock full of winning, injuries, more winning and… more injuries.
Nevertheless, Tony La Russa’s ball club holds a pretty sizable lead in the AL Central as the All Star Break looms near. Speaking of the break, the White Sox are sending three to the festivities — and all are pitchers.
Lance Lynn, Carlos Rodon and Liam Hendriks will represent the South side in Colorado with the best of the MLB.
Should a handful — more realistically, a couple of handfuls — of players not have gotten injured, the Sox could have potentially had a few more players added to the game. Because of those injuries, the White Sox may end up buying a couple of times prior to this year’s MLB trade deadline.
In the last few days, a couple of possible trade targets have been linked to the Chicago White Sox.
The first name linked to the White Sox recently is Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier. The 29-year-old is controllable through next season via arbitration and would be a fairly affordable target for the Sox.
So far this season, Frazier is batting an impressive .324 with a contact rate of over 88 percent. He is also slugging .460 and holds an on-base percentage of .396. The White Sox have plenty of pitching, but Frazier would give them a nice bat who simply gets on base. Frazier’s batting average in 2021 is a career-high thus far.
Secondly, the Sox are also reportedly interested in Colorado Rockies stud shortstop Trevor Story. The Sox will not be alone in their pursuit of Frazier, but definitely will not be alone in the race for Story — if there is a race to begin with, that is.
The Rockies reportedly insist that Story will not be dealt, but if the Sox (or any other interested club) give them an offer they cannot refuse, you never know what will happen.
The 2-time All Star would be asked to switch to second base if traded to the White Sox, due to their immediate need at the position. Currently, Chicago has been going between both Danny Mendick and Leury Garcia with Nick Madrigal out for the year. Obviously, if the Sox snagged Frazier to play second, the need for Story dissolved.
The price for Story would likely be bigger than Frazier as well, especially with multiple teams interested.
One thing is clear, regardless of whom the Sox end up targeting: they will add another player to the infield. Ideally, that player will take on second base. Will it be Frazier or Story?