Chicago White Sox: It is time to trade breakout reliever Tommy Kahnle

It is time for the Chicago White Sox to sell high and trade breakout relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle.

Tommy Kahnle has been one of the biggest stories for the Chicago White Sox this season. After starting the season in Triple-A, the hard-throwing righty has pitched his way to a 2.45 ERA, with 56 strikeouts in just 33 innings pitched. Kahnle has made the absence of Nate Jones almost unnoticeable. But why would the Rick Hahn and the Sox decide to trade him?

Before we get started on any return, there are two important things to keep in mind. These are ultimately the reasons why Kahnle should be traded:

1. Kahnle is under contract until 2021 and is earning just $535,000 this season. Money is not an issue in any potential deal.

2. Despite his great season, Kahnle has steadily declined as of late. Kahnle had a 4.35 ERA in June and has a 5.40 ERA so far in July.

As playoff races start to take shape, contending teams will be looking for pitching. Teams like the Nationals, Brewers and Yankees have the biggest needs for bullpen help, and all have young prospects to offer. Kahnle could also be paired with fellow relievers David Robertson and/or Anthony Swarzak in a deal for a larger return. This brings us to everybody’s favorite part. Who/What can the White Sox expect in return?

New York Yankees

It’s no secret that the Yankees have a great farm system. It’s also no secret that the Yankees need bullpen help. If you watched either of their games against the Sox last Monday or Tuesday, you would quickly learn about the atrocity that is the New York bullpen. The White Sox scored a total of six runs combined in the ninth inning of each game. What could this deal happen is depth. The Yankees have a deep farm system.

The Chicago White Sox could go for a Top-100 caliber prospect such as Chance Adams or Miguel Andujar, but that would be it, likely a one-for-one. A more realistic package would be one consisting of 3-4 mid-tier prospects with high ceilings such as Billy McKinney, Dillon Tate, and/or Tyler Austin. This deal all depends on how desperate the Yankees are for bullpen help, and also if the White Sox truly want to trade Kahnle.

Milwaukee Brewers

Of the three, this is the most unlikely. Nobody really expected the Brewers to win this year, but here they are, sitting in first place at 46-40.

Like the Yankees, the Brewers have a great farm system, full of depth. Again, the White Sox could go for Top-100 caliber prospects like Isan Diaz or Trent Clark, but the Sox could be more interested in former Top-100 prospects Phil Bickford or Brett Phillips in a package. The Brewers might not be willing to deal either of the two, but if the opportunity presents itself, the White Sox need to jump on it.

Washington Nationals

The Nationals’ bullpen struggles have been well documented throughout the season. The lack of a true closer has been a killer for the Nats this season. While he has yet to do it in his major league career, many think that Kahnle has the stuff (and the fastball) to become an elite closer.

While the Nats don’t have the type of system depth that the Brewers or Yankees have, the Nats do have up-and-coming players such as Brian Goodwin and Michael Taylor, who could interest the White Sox. The Nationals need Kahnle, but the only thing in the way of a deal is the return.

Next: Five players White Sox should trade prior to July 31st

In the end, Kahnle could, in fact, be a building block in the Chicago White Sox rebuild. He’s controllable, young and a good pitcher. But if the White Sox think that Kahnle isn’t going to be able to repeat his success and that a good return is there, Kahnle should, and will be dealt prior to the July 31st MLB trade deadline.

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