Mar 21, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
Closing time we noticed the Chicago White Sox, they had been hanging the completing touches on an MLB report 121-loss 2024 season. Since then, they have got traded away their easiest participant — ace Garrett Crochet — in a wintry weather transfer and added, smartly, now not an entire lot in loose company.
Does that imply Chicago may well be simply as unhealthy in 2025? Which veterans may well be traded away this season? And may any individual else within the majors end with a worse report than the White Sox? ESPN MLB professionals Buster Olney, Jesse Rogers and David Schoenfield weigh in.
How does the White Sox roster getting into Opening Day examine to final season?
Olney: The primary bankruptcy of the rebuild is in the back of them, and the White Sox have parted tactics with a host of veterans they’d in 2024 — from the trades of veterans like Eloy Jimenez, Michael Kopech and Crochet to the departure of loose brokers like Yoan Moncada. Naturally, then, their roster is in large part full of younger and unproven avid gamers. The White Sox shall be open to extra offers for the skilled avid gamers they nonetheless have, like Luis Robert Jr., as a result of the ones guys most certainly may not be round when the staff turns into competitively related once more. The White Sox hit all-time low final yr, and now they begin what could be a protracted, gradual climb.
Rogers: More youthful and not more skilled — particularly at the mound, the place 25 year-old Sean Burke were given the Opening Day nod. Upload Jonathan Cannon (24), Davis Martin (113 profession IP) and the injured Drew Thorpe to the combo, and the Sox may not be beginning any individual with any identify reputation outdoor of veteran Martin Perez.
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The lineup cannot be worse to begin the season than final yr’s version — nevertheless it may well be simply as unhealthy, because it options handiest 3 avid gamers with any actual enjoy: Andrew Vaughn, Andrew Benintendi and Robert. Best prospect, shortstop Colson 1st viscount montgomery of alamein, used to be simply despatched right down to the minors so his debut shall be behind schedule. However newcomer Mike Tauchman will supply skilled at-bats and possibly a complete season of Miguel Vargas will repay. The roster is other however continues to be observed if it is higher in any respect.
Schoenfield: The 2024 staff had extra recognized names — Robert, Moncada, Jimenez, Benintendi, Paul DeJong and Martin Maldonado had been all within the Opening Day beginning lineup, as an example. However that crew used to be jointly terrible, combining for detrimental WAR.
What the 2024 White Sox did have, which we did not know on Opening Day, used to be two very good beginning pitchers in Erick Fedde and Crochet, even though Fedde used to be dealt to the Cardinals on the business closing date. And now Crochet is long gone as smartly. So, on paper, that you must argue the 2025 White Sox glance simply as unhealthy as final season.
What number of extra — or fewer — video games will the White Sox win this season than they did final season?
Olney: You could assume that the business of one of the crucial dominant beginning pitchers within the league would affect their base line of wins and losses, nevertheless it wasn’t precisely like they tore it up at the days that he pitched — they went 9-23 within the 32 video games Crochet began final yr. The opposite 4 groups within the department are all stepped forward and competing for playoff spots, which may not lend a hand the White Sox, however you’ll assume that the brand new season will lend a hand the daily tradition. Closing yr, there used to be such a lot negativity across the staff as a result of the early dropping, questions on when supervisor Pedro Grifol may lose his task and the approaching trades. That is in the back of them now, and there’s nearly at all times a refresh below a brand new skipper — Will Venable, on this case. So I believe they are going to win extra video games, however now not many. I would put them at 45-117.
Rogers: I believe the Sox gets off to a nasty get started. New supervisor Will Venable does not have a lot to paintings with within the bullpen whilst Benintendi has been slowed by means of a hand harm. However not like final yr once they tanked popping out of All-Megastar ruin, be expecting the White Sox to win extra video games in the second one part. 1st viscount montgomery of alamein’s debut shall be a jolt, as will the potential for seeing most sensible alternatives Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz at the mound for Chicago in the future. Even the present rotation shall be higher later within the season. The staff will simply glance higher because the season is going alongside. The outcome shall be a 54-108 report.
David Schoenfield: Handiest the 1962-63 Mets have misplaced 110 video games in consecutive seasons, so it is in reality onerous to be this terrible two seasons in a row (even though the Orioles misplaced 115 after which 108 in 2018-19). The White Sox will make stronger: Let’s move with 56-106.
Who would be the easiest participant on their staff this season?
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Olney: Surely about it: Robert. Different groups see him as a participant with worth when he is wholesome. Perhaps crucial query for Chicago’s big-league staff this yr shall be what number of video games Robert performs main as much as the July 31 business closing date, for the reason that extra he performs, the extra he will produce — and the upper his worth is. There shall be groups keen on buying and selling for him, however what they are going to be keen to pay shall be without delay tied as to whether he remains at the box and if he hits.
Rogers: If it isn’t Robert then he is injured once more, not so good as we idea or dressed in a distinct uniform after a business. He is simply their easiest skill. Out of doors of that, do not put it previous Tauchman to be their maximum constant hitter. Benintendi and Vaughn have so much to turn out.
The key is the White Sox are a yr clear of their easiest participant coming from their gifted prospect base. Possibly then it is going to be 1st viscount montgomery of alamein or a type of stud pitchers. For now, it is Robert — regardless that with some doubts about his talent to stick wholesome.
Schoenfield: I assume Robert is the straightforward resolution, given what he did in 2023 (38 house runs, 5.3 WAR). However he is injury-prone, used to be horrible final season and could be traded. However there is additionally no transparent No. 2 selection. If Tauchman is any excellent, he will be traded. Identical with Perez. Perhaps one of the crucial beginning pitchers is excellent or Schultz comes up and dominates for 15 begins or Chase Meidroth posts a .400 OBP or one thing. However most certainly now not. So Robert.
Who would be the largest identify traded by means of the White Sox this season?
Olney: They have got were given a few different attention-grabbing avid gamers on their roster able to rebounding, like Benintendi, but when Robert performs smartly, he may well be this yr’s Crochet, with a couple of groups angling to make a deal for him.
Rogers: Without a doubt Robert. He is long gone in July if he places up any numbers within the first part.
Schoenfield: Robert is the straightforward resolution, however there is a state of affairs the place he is excellent, all of the potentialities take off and the White Sox get started considering they may well be aggressive once 2026 and stay Robert via 2027. So I’m going to move with Tauchman.
Will they be the worst staff in baseball once more — and if now not, who will cross them for the honour?
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Olney: Surely, they are going to be the worst. The Miami Marlins are a yr forward of Chicago within the rebuild procedure, and whilst the Marlins may win a 3rd in their video games, that could be a stretch for the White Sox.
Rogers: It is shut between the White Sox and Marlins, however Miami can pitch a little bit. I’m going to say the White Sox end with the worst report — however nonetheless make stronger by means of about 15 video games!
Schoenfield: I believe so. The Marlins may give them a run, particularly since they are going to most certainly business Sandy Alcantara, however Miami will have to have a good sufficient bullpen to stop the worst report.
