White Sox “Trades” with EVERY TEAM – AL West Edition – 2022

November 15, 2021

A long time ago, I was listening to an interview with legendary poker professional Phil Ivey and the interviewer asked the question (paraphrasing) How would you recommend a player learning the game get better the fastest? Phil said something to the effect of (paraphrasing) Buy in to a game at much lower stakes than you would normally play, and then play every single hand for an hour. Try and figure out how you would play all of these different hands in different situations and positions that you are normally taught not to play in. In the spirit of that recommendation from an all-time great, Chorizy and I are once again going to undertake the exercise of making a White Sox trade with every team in the majors…..this is the AL West Edition.

Texas Rangers

108er: Chorizy-E
White Sox send: Micker Adolfo
White Sox receive: Jose Leclerc
Rationale: It’s strange to look at a trade as a salary dump when the highest paid player is making $5.25M, but here we are. The Rangers have almost no payroll, and Leclerc will likely be the highest paid player on the roster (other than what they’re paying Elvis Andrus to not be on their team). Leclerc missed all of 2021 and will likely start on the IL in 2022 after having Tommy John surgery in late March. For a team that might lose 100 games, closer isn’t really a position of need, so they may just want to take what they can get and dump the salary. And what they can get is someone the Sox were probably gonna cut.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

108er: BeefLoaf
White Sox send: Reynaldo Lopez
White Sox receive: Taylor Ward
Rationale: This swap is basically just two teams trading their depth to another team that would probably use the player a whole helluva lot more. The Angels are always dying for starts. They’ll take mediocre ones too. They rarely get ones that are that good. And their offense, particularly their outfield is pretty fuggin’ set, so why not do this? I don’t know if Taylor Ward is any good, but I think he’d log time in the White Sox outfield over a season, particularly if they don’t go out and spend on a regular right fielder.

Houston Astros

108er: Chorizy-E
White Sox send: Adam Engel
White Sox receive: Jason Castro
Rationale: Yes, we all love Adam Engel, but his health is definitely a question mark. Myles Straw seemed like he’d be the CF for the Astros, but then he was traded. Chas McCormick looked pretty good last year, but I’d be surprised to the see Houston rely solely on him. Engel likely plays a backup role for them, but could find himself being an everyday player. On the flip side, Jason Castro fills the backup catcher role the Sox have had a lot of problems with.

Seattle Mariners

108er: BeefLoaf
White Sox send: Adam Engel
White Sox receive: Dayeison Arias, Ray Kerr
Rationale: Not tryna copycat Chorizy-E with his trade to the ‘Stros, but the Mariners are also desperately in need a Centerfielder. Kyle Lewis had a devastating knee injury last year and three surgeries later they still don’t know what they’ll get. As Chorizy already mentioned, Engel’s health is a question mark, but this is a gamble that the Mariners could be willing to take, because the defense is top notch when healthy and his bat made a big turn in 2020 and limited action in 2021.

31 year old reserve outfielders tend to not fetch much, but the White Sox get two Rule 5 eligible high minor relievers that they could use and the Mariners would struggle to protect on their 40 man. Doesn’t seem like a big return, but both of these guys could matter in Chicago quickly.

Oakland Athletics

108er: Chorizy-E
White Sox send: Jared Kelley, Jake Burger, Yermin Mercedes
White Sox receive: Sean Manaea, Elvis Andrus
Rationale: Word on the street is that the A’s are open for business and are looking to get rid of contracts. If that’s truly the goal, they are going to do what they can to get rid of Elvis Andrus. While he’s only owed ~$7M this year, because he was traded to the A’s, his $15M 2023 option vested. By taking on this money, the Sox can reduce the amount of prospect capital to get Manaea. And if there is a team that will find positions for Yermin and Burger, the A’s feel like that team.