5 big moves the White Sox should consider
The Chicago White Sox are one of the most surprising stories of 2016, surging to a 24-15 record - second-best in the American League - after a spring training full of controversy surrounding Adam LaRoche's retirement. They've done it on the backs of great pitching from Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, and Mat Latos, an excellent bullpen, and contributions from newcomers Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie, among others.
Nobody in baseball was really expecting this from the South Siders, but everyone around the team is happy - so much so, general manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday he's "prepared to make a big move today if it presents itself" in order to return the playoffs to U.S. Cellular Field for the first time since 2008.
There are a lot of obstacles in Hahn's way, particularly a weak farm system that lacks trade pieces beyond its two top prospects. Still, if the White Sox believe in this team, why not dream big and empty the tank to go for October baseball? If Hahn really wants to make a splash, here are five big names he should target right now:
Freddie Freeman
Contract remaining: 4 years, $86 million
Could the rebuilding Braves be convinced to give up Freeman for a lesser return - one of the two top White Sox prospects, Carson Fulmer or Tim Anderson - in exchange for Hahn eating the rest of his contract? Hahn should hope so, because slotting the 26-year-old into a lineup with Frazier and Jose Abreu would improve the lineup both now and for years to come.
Andrew Miller
Contract remaining: 2 years, $18 million
If the struggling Yankees decide to wave the white flag, Miller's the likely piece of their bullpen to be on the block. A package centered around Fulmer could prove to be an intriguing package for New York, and would help make an already excellent Chicago bullpen even more deadly.
Jonathan Lucroy
Contract remaining: $5.25-million team option for 2017
The asking price will be high, and the Sox might not have enough to meet it. But it would behoove them to try. Lucroy would be an instant upgrade over Dioner Navarro and Alex Avila behind the plate.
Matt Kemp
Contract remaining: 3 years, $65 million
The Padres desperately want to unload the disappointing Kemp's deal - $21.75 million each of the next three years - and a salary dump could work here. Kemp could DH in Chicago, but can the White Sox trust in a Matt Kemp rebound?
Joey Votto
Contract remaining: 7 years, $172 million - $7-million team option for 2024
If you're going big, you might as well try for the best. Like Freeman, Votto would transform the White Sox lineup for the foreseeable future, but they'd have to give up a lot to appease Cincinnati. He's struggling with the mediocre Reds this year, though, so perhaps a change of scenery is needed.