Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel said team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf told him the organization is willing to show leniency when it comes to their policy on facial hair as long as the club is successful.

Keuchel told Bob Nightengale of USA Today in an interview published Wednesday that he was forced to clean up the beard by the team a couple of times since arriving to spring training before meeting with Reinsdorf last week.

"I thought, 'Oh, crap, I've got to trim this even more,'" Keuchel said. "He was like, 'Hey, man, you're officially violating team policy. But I hear you're a great guy. So let's just keep winning, and we'll be all right.' I said, 'All right, my guy.' Now, we've just to keep winning to keep this beard going."

The 32-year-old Oklahoma native signed a three-year, $55.5 million contract with Chicago in December after spending the 2019 season with the Atlanta Braves. He played the first seven seasons of his career with the Houston Astros, with whom the beard started.

"I started my beard the last week of spring training in 2014," Keuchel said. "It's going on seven years, and I love it. It's taken on various shapes and sizes."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efroBbJSsf4

The two-time All-Star and 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner will be joined by Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Dylan Cease and Gio Gonzalez to form one of MLB's deepest rotations in 2020. It's a group that'll be expected to play a key role in ending the club's 11-year playoff drought.

If they do find that level of success, Keuchel's beard should be back to all its glory by the postseason.

Three men have been charged in an alleged scheme to fraudulently sell more than 34,000 Chicago White Sox tickets from 2016 through 2019.

An FBI indictment released Friday alleges two former White Sox employees who worked in the ticket office, James Costello and William O'Neil, conspired with local ticket broker Bruce Lee to defraud the franchise of nearly $1 million, per Jon Seidel of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Lee has been charged with 11 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering, while Costello faces his own charge of wire fraud. O'Neil has been charged with lying to the FBI.

Costello and O'Neil allegedly generated complimentary and discount tickets to Sox games and then sold them to Lee.

According to the indictment, Lee listed the tickets below face value on StubHub, selling 6,323 tickets in 2016, 17,408 in 2017, 11,115 in 2018 and 30 in 2019 before getting caught. More than 95 percent of the tickets sold were vouchers earmarked for youth groups, corporate sponsors and friends and family of players.

The White Sox contacted the FBI in October 2018 after their data analytics team flagged Lee as having sold substantially more Sox tickets than anyone else on StubHub, per Seidel, citing court records. In 2018, for example, Lee sold over 10,000 more tickets than the three next highest sellers combined.

Among the games noted in the affidavit, Lee allegedly sold 500 tickets to Michael Kopech's first start with the Sox in 2018, which team officials said could not have happened without employee assistance.

From 2016 to 2018, the White Sox never finished higher than 25th in MLB's attendance rankings, averaging fewer than 22,000 fans per game each season.

The Chicago White Sox signed top prospect Luis Robert to a six-year, $50 million contract on Thursday.

Robert's new deal runs through at least 2025, with the White Sox holding $20 million club options (with $2 million buyout) for both the 2026 and 2027 campaigns:

2020: The Year of t̶h̶e̶ ̶R̶a̶t̶ La Pantera pic.twitter.com/wjuzdd5OF0

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) January 2, 2020

Bob Nightengale of USA Today and Jeff Passan of ESPN previously reported details of the agreement.

Though the outfielder is yet to make his major league debut, Nightengale reported he will "likely" be on the active roster for the start of the 2020 season.

Robert is considered the No. 3 prospect in baseball by MLB.com.

The Cuban first signed with Chicago in 2017. He received a $26 million bonus, second-most in history for an amateur international behind only Yoan Moncada, who signed with the Red Sox in 2015 for $31.5 million. 

He has justified the initial hype on the field, starting 2019 in Single-A before jumping to Double-A and Triple-A.

Between the three levels, he hit .328 with a 1.001 OPS in 122 games, totaling 32 home runs and 36 stolen bases. He had 16 home runs in 47 games at the highest level of the minors with the Charlotte Knights.

Chicago is clearly expecting big things from the five-tool player, who has spent most of his time manning center field.

While the team hasn't made the playoffs since 2008, there is already a productive young core in Moncada, Eloy Jimenez and others that should only improve. The latest move also locks down a potential key player on a team-friendly deal while avoiding arbitration down the line, similar to what the organization did with Jimenez and Tim Anderson.

The White Sox control players through the following years:

Luis Robert: 2027
Eloy Jimenez: 2026
Dylan Cease: 2025
Tim Anderson: 2024
Michael Kopech: 2024
Lucas Giolito: 2023
Yoan Moncada: 2023
Yasmani Grandal: 2023
Dallas Keuchel: 2023

Madrigal, Vaughn, Dunning: at least 2026.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 2, 2020

Meanwhile, Robert gets more financial security before his first MLB at-bat. He also has a better chance to be on the Opening Day roster without having to deal with any service time manipulation.

The Chicago White Sox have been active this offseason, and they don't appear to be done.

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Thursday, the White Sox "remain engaged" in the right-field market even after trading with the Texas Rangers for 24-year-old right fielder Nomar Mazara earlier this month at the winter meetings. Feinsand pinpointed free agent Yasiel Puig as a "primary target."

Puig hit free agency after beginning 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds and finishing it with the Cleveland Indians. The 29-year-old posted a .267/.327/.458 slash line with 24 home runs and 84 RBI. Puig appeared in 98 games (95 starts) for the Reds and 48 games (all starts) in right field for the Indians.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that the White Sox "have been talking" to free-agent right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and Puig. However, Heyman added it's "uncertain if one of them could still be [in] play" after Chicago agreed to terms with first baseman and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the Sox agreed to a one-year, $12 million pact with a $12 million club option for 2021 on Wednesday.

Chicago also landed starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez last week:

Even if Dallas Keuchel isn’t what he once was, he’s the exact sort of innings eater the White Sox needed. Lucas Giolito could take the leap this year, Dylan Cease has frontline potential, Michael Kopech is back from TJ and Reynaldo Lopez is a suitable back-end guy. That’ll play.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2019

“He brings an impressive resume to our pitching staff as a veteran left-hander who has enjoyed success and should have a positive impact on our younger pitchers in terms of competing, battling and helping us win games at the major league level.” MORE:

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 21, 2019

The White Sox depth chart lists Mazara and Leury Garcia in right, though the 28-year-old Garcia primarily played in center field last season.

Chicago is clearly all-in to take a giant leap in 2020 after finishing 72-89 in 2019, its seventh straight year below .500. The White Sox have not made the postseason since 2008.

Puig would likely not be a franchise-changing piece for Chicago, but the 2014 All-Star would provide proven help alongside Mazara. The seven-year veteran reminded everyone of his massive potential last season after he wore out his welcome with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Chicago White Sox added serious power to their lineup by agreeing to a one-year, $12 million deal with designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.

Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported the deal is for $11 million with a $1 million signing bonus, and the White Sox have a club option on Encarnacion for 2021 that's for $12 million as well.

Encarnacion started last season with the Seattle Mariners before being traded to the New York Yankees in June. The three-time All-Star hit .244/.344/.531 with 34 homers and 86 RBI in just 109 games between the two teams.

The Yankees announced Oct. 31 they declined Encarnacion's $20 million option for 2021 and would pay a $5 million buyout to make him a free agent. It wasn't a surprising move because he was acquired to provide help with many players like Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez dealing with injuries.

Being able to move on from the Yankees afforded Encarnacion an opportunity to find a situation that will allow him to play every day, which likely wouldn't have happened in New York next season.

Encarnacion has the potential to be one of the best bargains on the free-agent market because of his offensive capability. The 36-year-old has been the most consistent power hitter in Major League Baseball since 2012:

Most seasons with 30+ HR since 2012:#Yankees Edwin Encarnacion - 8
Mike Trout - 6
Nelson Cruz - 5 pic.twitter.com/djz7ogDB3c

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) July 25, 2019

Teams are always searching for middle-of-the-order bats. Encarnacion, even at this late stage of his career, remains a reliable source of power. He only needed 109 games last season to hit 34 homers and 137 games to hit 32 homers in 2018.

The White Sox will be counting on Encarnacion to bring that reliable offensive performance as they try to make a playoff run in 2020.

The White Sox continue to make moves in an attempt to at least compete with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians atop the American League Central in 2020.

General manager Rick Hahn previously added catcher Yasmani Grandal, pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Keuchel in free agency. He also acquired outfielder Nomar Mazara from the Texas Rangers.

Now, the addition of Encarnacion gives the White Sox a formidable group at the top of their lineup. He can slot into the No. 4 spot around Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez, Jose Abreu and Grandal.

Chicago's designated hitters offered virtually no production in 2019 with a collective .205/.285/.356 slash line and 17 homers. Even at this stage of his career, Encarnacion is a significant upgrade at that spot for a franchise trying to take a major step forward after missing the playoffs in each of the past 11 seasons.

Even if the Chicago White Sox aren't yet finished with their offseason shopping, they've already done enough to be taken seriously as a contender for the American League Central crown.

When we checked in on the White Sox in late November, they had already positioned themselves for an improvement on their 72-win campaign in 2019 by re-signing first baseman Jose Abreu and adding catcher Yasmani Grandal. They've continued to be active since then, up to and including the big deal they struck Saturday.

As ESPN's Jeff Passan was first to report, the White Sox are in agreement with 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel:

BREAKING: Left-hander Dallas Keuchel and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a deal, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2019

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Keuchel's deal with Chicago guarantees him $55.5 million over three years. It also has a fourth-year vesting option that could bring his total payout up to $74 million.

That's not exactly Gerrit Cole ($324 million), Stephen Strasburg ($245 million), Zack Wheeler ($118 million) or Madison Bumgarner ($85 million) money, but it sure beats where Keuchel's first free-agent foray ended up.

Once Keuchel, who'll turn 32 on Jan. 1, ended his time with the Houston Astros after the 2018 season, he seemed like a good bet to earn a multiyear contract. Instead, teams gave him such a wide berth that he didn't sign until the Atlanta Braves picked him up for $13 million in June.

He only made 19 starts as a result, but it was otherwise business as usual for the left-hander. After posting a 3.74 ERA in 2018, he finished 2019 with a 3.75 ERA.

Keuchel set the bar higher with sub-3.00 ERAs in 2014, 2015 and 2017, but he did do at least one thing in 2019 that ought to have the White Sox intrigued about a potential return to his Cy Young-winning form.

After taking a disconcerting turn toward the league average in 2018, Keuchel's ground-ball rate bounced back into the 60-plus stratosphere to which he's accustomed:

Keuchel's ground-ball magnetism should play well with a Chicago infield that held ground balls to a .235 average in 2019.

As David Adler of MLB.com pointed out, Keuchel also ought to work well with Grandal. The former gets by on working the edges of the strike zone with his sinker. The latter is known for stretching the zone by way of his outstanding knack for framing.

Given Keuchel's age, it's difficult to project what he'll do all the way through 2022. But in 2020, at least, he should give the White Sox roughly 200 above-average innings.

Elsewhere on the topic of new White Sox lefties, there's also Gio Gonzalez. The White Sox originally drafted the 34-year-old all the way back in 2004, and he agreed to come home on a one-year, $4.5 million contract on Friday.

The White Sox probably can't expect the same ace-type pitching that netted Gonzalez Cy Young votes for the Washington Nationals in 2012 and 2017. But if he carries over the 3.50 ERA he posted for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, that'll do nicely.

In any case, All-Star right-hander Lucas Giolito, who broke out with a 3.41 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 2019, will have at least two other capable pitchers to help him carry the White Sox's starting rotation in 2020. And between Reynaldo Lopez, Dylan Cease and top prospect Michael Kopech, Chicago has three more starters who have real upside contained within their live arms.

Meanwhile, the White Sox's bullpen looms as an underrated threat.

The foursome of Alex Colome, Aaron Bummer, Evan Marshall and Jimmy Cordero combined for a 2.53 ERA in 2019. Kelvin Herrera is almost certainly better than the 6.14 ERA he coughed up. And in waiver pickup Tayron Guerrero, the White Sox added a guy with a 99.0 mph average fastball.

On the other side of the ball, the White Sox took a big step toward balancing their right-leaning lineup when they added Grandal, who's a switch-hitter. They took another step on Dec. 10 when they acquired lefty-swinging right fielder Nomar Mazara from the Texas Rangers.

Granted, this won't be much of a step if Mazara merely maintains the form that produced a .754 OPS over four seasons with the Rangers. Yet he's a former top prospect who's still only 24 years old, and his upward-trending hard-contact rate is one reason for the White Sox to dream big.

According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, up next for the White Sox might be Edwin Encarnacion. The 36-year-old's heyday as one of Major League Baseball's great sluggers is over, but he's still riding a string of eight straight seasons with more than 30 home runs.

Even as is, White Sox manager Rick Renteria has some pieces to play with in his offense.

Abreu and Grandal are going to provide power in the middle, as will Eloy Jimenez if he carries over his Rookie of the Month-winning surge from September. After teaming up for an .891 OPS, 43 homers and 27 stolen bases in 2019, Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada figure to do a bit of everything.

In second baseman Nick Madrigal and center fielder Luis Robert, the White Sox have two of the best prospects in baseball pounding on the door. Both could demand the Pete Alonso and Fernando Tatis Jr. treatment this coming spring.

Even if fortune doesn't smile upon them, the White Sox shouldn't be any worse than a .500 team in 2020. In the event that their unproven youngsters come through and their established stars live up to their billing, they'll have themselves a path to the top of the AL Central.

While the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals rebuild, the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians could be doing more to sidetrack the White Sox's mission. However, neither appears to be in a hurry.

With at least two holes in their starting rotation, the Twins are openly inviting regression from their surprise 101-win campaign in 2019. Coming off a 93-win season, the Indians have already traded two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber. Fellow ace Mike Clevinger and even superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor may be next as they seek to further cut payroll.

Come 2020, it will have been a dozen years since the White Sox last won a division title. With the way things are shaping up, they have a legitimate shot at avoiding a baker's dozen.

              

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.

The Chicago White Sox reportedly aren't done looking into impact moves this offseason.  

According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the American League Central team has engaged free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion in discussions since the Winter Meetings and continues to do so. Chicago has already added starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez, catcher Yasmani Grandal and outfielder Nomar Mazara this offseason.

Levine explained the White Sox would ideally use Encarnacion as a designated hitter who could occasionally play first base for Jose Abreu. Grandal is also capable of playing both positions whenever James McCann is catching.

While Encarnacion will be 37 years old during the 2020 campaign, he would also be a notable upgrade for the White Sox at designated hitter after the team received a .205 batting average, 17 home runs and 75 RBI from the position throughout the 2019 season.

Encarnacion is a three-time All-Star who split time with the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners on his way to 109 games in 2019. He slashed .244/.344/.531 with 34 home runs and 86 RBI, proving he was still a dangerous power threat in his 15th season.

It was his eighth straight year with more than 30 long balls, and he isn't that far removed from his 42-homer effort in 2016.

Chicago has not made the playoffs since the 2008 season, but it is clearly targeting a postseason run given the number of win-now moves it has already made this offseason.

There could potentially be an opening for a new challenger to the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central, as well, considering the Cleveland Indians already traded Corey Kluber and may move star shortstop Francisco Lindor before the offseason is over.

Adding Encarnacion would help the White Sox become that new challenger as soon as 2020.

Dallas Keuchel did not have to wait around in free agency nearly as long this time around, as he agreed to a contract with the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Keuchel's deal will be worth $55.5 million over three years, with a vesting option that could push the total value up to $74 million:

Keuchel to White Sox. 3/$55.5 with a vesting 4th year that could take to 4/$74.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 22, 2019

The southpaw found himself in free-agent purgatory last offseason upon declining a qualifying offer from the Houston Astros. He did not find a home until June, when draft-pick compensation would no longer be tied to his signing.

He ultimately settled for a prorated one-year, $13 million deal with the Atlanta Braves.

It turned out to be a quality signing for Atlanta. Keuchel helped the team capture its second consecutive National League East title, going 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP while striking out 91 batters in 112.2 innings. He allowed more than two earned runs in a start only twice in his final nine regular-season outings.

He gave his team a chance to win in each of his two postseason starts against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series. He allowed one run in 4.2 innings in Game 1 and three runs in 3.1 innings in Game 4, receiving no-decisions each time. However, the Braves dropped both games en route to a five-game exit.

The 31-year-old may not be the same dominant pitcher he was when he won the 2015 American League Cy Young Award. However, he went 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA only two years ago. And over the course of the past two seasons, he has continued to be a dependable arm.

After last offseason's prolonged saga, Keuchel questioned the system to ESPN's Jesse Rogers in October:

"This is whole draft-pick compensation thing went from a throw-in for a team losing a player to is he really a free agent now? How can you be free if there is a draft pick attached to you? And why do they value draft picks so much when the percentage of picks who make the league, and are better than you, is what, like .01 percent? There are so many things wrong."

Fortunately for Keuchel, Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement prohibits players from receiving a qualifying offer more than once. As a result, landing a contract proved to be far more manageable this winter.

With Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole and Madison Bumgarner all signing during the first half of December, Keuchel found himself among the most coveted arms on the market as the offseason progressed. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported in mid-December that Chicago was one of several teams interested in the former Brave, along with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.

In the end, though, the White Sox got a deal done.

It's just the latest move in what has been a busy offseason in the Windy City. Chicago had already signed two-time All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal and two-time All-Star pitcher Gio Gonzalez. Signing Keuchel may have been the biggest splash yet.

The White Sox's rotation ranked 24th in the majors this past season. Of the six pitchers who made at least 10 starts, only one (Lucas Giolito) finished with a sub-4.00 ERA. 

The addition of Gonzalez and Keuchel provides quality depth alongside Giolito. As a result, the team is putting itself in position to potentially snap an 11-year playoff drought.

The Chicago White Sox officially added a veteran presence to their rotation Friday, signing Gio Gonzalez to a one-year, $5 million contract. The contract also includes a club option for 2021.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network first reported the deal.

The 34-year-old appeared in 19 games last season for the Milwaukee Brewers and posted a 3.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 78 strikeouts in 87.1 innings. It was a solid bounce-back effort after he finished with a 4.21 ERA during the 2018 campaign while pitching for Milwaukee and the Washington Nationals.

Gonzalez also had an ugly 6.00 ERA in two playoff appearances for the Brewers that season.

While the southpaw has been inconsistent of late, he is not far removed from a strong 2017 when he tallied a 2.96 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 188 strikeouts in 201 innings. He was also an All-Star in 2011 and 2012 while pitching for the Oakland Athletics and Nationals, respectively.

With eight playoff appearances on his resume, Gonzalez offers a veteran presence to a young White Sox team with plenty of promising pieces as it looks to turn a corner.

Chicago also needed pitching to go with a lineup that features Eloy Jimenez, Jose Abreu and the newly added Yasmani Grandal, among others. While the White Sox weren't able to land the biggest names on the market in Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Madison Bumgarner, Gonzalez will help them fill out the rotation.

The Chicago White Sox have evidently had enough of rebuilding.

Though their 72-89 record in 2019 marked their seventh consecutive losing campaign, it wasn't entirely devoid of bright spots. Specifically, 20-somethings Lucas Giolito (25), Yoan Moncada (24), Tim Anderson (26) and Eloy Jimenez (22) established themselves as cornerstone stars.

The White Sox might have opted to make 2020 yet another year dedicated to digging up in-house stars. Instead, they're quite literally buying in on contending.

To wit, they made the first big splash of the 2019-20 offseason when they signed two-time All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal to a franchise-record four-year, $73 million deal:

OFFICIAL: The #WhiteSox have agreed to terms on a four-year, $73-million contract with free agent All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal (@YazmanianDVL08). Under terms of the agreement, Grandal will receive $18.25 million per year from 2020-2023. pic.twitter.com/dczzZo8UTE

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) November 21, 2019

The White Sox made another big splash Friday when they signed three-time All-Star first baseman Jose Abreu, who'd already accepted a $17.8 million qualifying offer, to a three-year, $50 million extension:

OFFICIAL: The #WhiteSox and José Abreu have agreed to terms on a three-year, $50-million contract. pic.twitter.com/imKamyV8rD

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) November 22, 2019

There was never any doubt that the White Sox would retain Abreu, 32, for the long haul. He carried on as an above-average hitter with an .834 OPS and 33 home runs in 2019, and the White Sox have never made any secret of how much they value his leadership.

"Certainly, [we] envision Jose as an important part, again, not just offensively, but in terms of what he brings to the table in the clubhouse and what it means to your organization and how he represents us," general manager Rick Hahn said Friday, per MLB.com's Scott Merkin.

Grandal, 31, is a heck of a hitter in his own right. His 101 homers since 2016 are more than every catcher except Gary Sanchez, and he's coming off a career year marked by an .848 OPS and 28 long balls.

The White Sox may be just as thrilled about what Grandal can do for them behind the plate. His reputation as an elite pitch-framer is certainly well-deserved, after all. Only Austin Hedges edged him out in that category in 2019, according to Baseball Prospectus.

Given how much trouble they had getting favorable calls, this talent would have been of great use to White Sox hurlers in 2019:

• In-Zone Called Strikes: 85.7%, 29th in MLB
• Out-of-Zone Called Strikes: 5.4%, 30th in MLB

Simply by signing Grandal, the White Sox have therefore already nudged their pitching staff toward an improvement on the 4.90 ERA it posted in 2019. And the man himself likes what he sees.

"I don't care where I'm going as long as I see a future in the pitching staff," Grandal said Thursday, per Merkin. "If I see that I can help that pitching staff, for me that's pretty much No. 1. So, their sales pitch was: Look at the young arms we have, look at the guys we have coming up. We have an opportunity here to win, and we think you can help them out."

In the wake of his 3.41 ERA and 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings, Giolito's credentials as a frontline starter are beyond dispute. And while Reynaldo Lopez, 25, and Dylan Cease, 23, each posted an ERA north of 5.00 this past season, they offer electric upside by way of their live arms. Both young righties sat in the mid-90s with their fastballs in 2019.

The White Sox have still another live-armed righty in their midst in Michael Kopech. The 23-year-old prospect will be on an innings restriction after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2018. But with a fastball that's climbed as high as 105 mph at his disposal, he figures to make it difficult for the White Sox to limit his exposure in 2020.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old center fielder Luis Robert and 22-year-old second baseman Nick Madrigal are two more prospects who'll make a bid for the White Sox's Opening Day roster. Madrigal projects as a perennial .300 hitter. For his part, Robert looks like a perennial All-Star after busting out with a 1.001 OPS, 32 homers and 36 stolen bases across three levels of the minors in 2019.

Between Abreu, Grandal, Anderson, Moncada and Jimenez—the latter three of whom combined for an .871 OPS and 74 homers in 2019—the White Sox's 2020 offense will feature at least five impact hitters. Robert and Madrigal could make it seven when they catch on.

Factor in what Grandal's framing could mean to their pitchers, and next year already has the potential to be the White Sox's first winning season since 2012.

To their credit, however, the White Sox aren't yet content with what they have. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today and Andy Martino of SNY, they have their eye on former New York Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler. He comes with a good deal of bust potential, but unlocking his considerable upside might be as easy as simplifying his pitch mix.

The White Sox's apparent willingness to keep spending must be at least partially motivated by the troubles facing the two clubs that finished ahead of them in the 2019 AL Central race. 

The Minnesota Twins are coming off 101 wins but are now tasked with adding as many as three starting pitchers. The Cleveland Indians won 93 games of their own, yet they may soon part ways with superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor, whose salary is due to rise to $16.7 million.

According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Lindor has emerged as a hot commodity on the trade market:

Indians are receiving a lot of trade calls about superstar SS Francisco Lindor. But Indians baseball president Chris Antonetti said: “My expectation is Frankie will be the shortstop Opening Day next year.”

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 12, 2019

With this much blood in the AL Central waters, the White Sox might even be willing to push their payroll to new heights. As it is, their $90.3 million projection for 2020 is nearly $40 million short of the $127.8 million payroll with which they opened the 2011 season. That gives them plenty of room to add not only Wheeler, but perhaps an additional bat and depth for their bullpen.

The more needs the White Sox fill, the more likely it is that they'll be more than just a winning team in 2020. They might at least contend for a wild-card spot. Depending on what happens in Minnesota and Cleveland, they could even have a shot at winning the AL Central.

Whatever the case, their rebuild will be well and truly over.

               

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, Baseball Savant and Baseball Prospectus. Payroll data courtesy of Roster Resource and Cot's Baseball Contracts. Salary arbitration projections courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors.