The White Sox Should Trade Grant Taylor
Hi I’m BeefLoaf, I haven’t written a blog here in over two months, but (ir)regardless, I am here to tell you that the White Sox should trade Grant Taylor.
Let’s Rewind and Figure Out How We Got Here
Almost a year ago at this time my guy Ian Eskridge from Future Sox was joining me for our annual gab sesh where I ask him a bunch of questions about their mid-season top 30 list. That full conversation is HERE. Future Sox are the old head in the Sox prospect game and I get on with Ian well so I bring him on the Au Jus to answer my questions on the list. In this particular episode and the short video above, Grant Taylor was one of the topics.
Sure I’d heard the name, sure I knew he was from LSU (LUS $1 Justin Wilson) and that the Sox had drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft, but I ain’t know much more. However, the big homeys at Future Sox had him ranked #5 on their mid-season list and dude had barely played. That caught my eye, even if I didn’t know nothing about him. Ian schooled me on what dude was all about.
Fast forward a couple of months and his performance at the Arizona Fall League was garnering him much accolades and putting his ass on the fast track to being what they call…..A DUDE! All this despite still not having much game action. He shot up the White Sox prospect list on the national rankings to line up with the Future Sox mid-season 2024 ranking.
Then 2025 Happened!
Grant Taylor started his year off in the White Sox absolutely loaded Birmingham starting rotation that also included Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz. However, after a half dozen unremarkable starts the White Sox decided to change course and move Taylor to the bullpen. That move proved fruitful as he absolutely SHOVED in that capacity in AA. At the 19:28 mark of the video White Sox czar of pitching Brian Bannister discusses the decision to move Taylor to the bullpen, his quick ascension and eventually his June 10th promotion to the White Sox.
Anyways, since Grant Taylor has been in Chicago he’s been nothing short of breath-taking on the bump, even if his overall run prevention isn’t quite lining up with the underlying metrics….
This got me thinking (for once)…..I think the White Sox should trade Grant Taylor.
Trading Grant Taylor
We are almost two full years into the Chris Getz GM regime and there is one resounding concept that floats up every time a future White Sox contention window is mentioned….THE WHITE SOX WILL NEED TO TRADE PITCHING FOR BATS!
Enter Grant Taylor, he is “pitching”, but he’s a super unique piece of “pitching”. He’s a piece of pitching that helps a playoff contender RIGHT. DAMN. NOW in their World Series seeking bullpen, but he’s also a “potential” future rotation piece. I say potential as try #1 to put him in the rotation has been aborted and from Brian Bannister’s discussion with Our Chuck they believe the path to better health today is bullpen, but YMMV. That type of talent might allow the White Sox to do something that mostly all of yous think they will eventually need to do. Trade a pitcher for a bat. A move like this would be….
Grant Taylor is the type of player with big potential that could have you regretting trading him. But scared money don’t make money, so let’s keep going. Taylor is a 50 FV by Fangraphs rankings. Let’s assume for a minute that is still true (I don’t know if making it to the majors increases that number or if moving to the bullpen would decrease it, but let’s just pretend it’s static). Below is an exhaustive list of current 50 FV hitters (excluding catchers). I’ll assume a one for one deal, Taylor for the 50 FV Hitter Prospect of your choice.
How does a Zyhir Hope or a Josue DePaula from the Dodgers sound as a return? What about Jacob Reimer or Jett Williams coming back from the Mets? If Seattle is feeling the need (Jerry DiPoto always is) they have a bunch of potential fits for the White Sox. With Luis Robert Jr.’s trade value down to an unexciting level and the rest of the roster either undesirable or underdeveloped, the White Sox have just one potential piece that could change the trajectory of the next competitive offense. That’s Grant Taylor.
The next opportunity to acquire a 50 FV bat prospect is hopefully the 2026 Draft and after that, who knows. Now might be the time to strike with a very tasty pitching prospect.
-BeefLoaf
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About The Author
beefloaf108
Low information White Sox Fan. Big Feet Energy ORIGINAL 108er Like Whore 2019 Opening Day #SoxMath WINNAR Mediocrity Personified
You should write more. I wouldn’t trade him, but its this kind of out-of-the-box thinking that I crave reading about my shitty (if plucky) team.
Thank you for that nice compliment!
I disagree but I can’t hate the article because you went in depth why they should but also talk about his potential. Respect sir
Thank you!! totally reasonable to not want to do it, but an exchange of ideas is what I always shoot for…thanks for your feedback!
Great article beefloaf!!!