Chicago White Sox: Trevor Bauer needs to be a priority

National League Cy Young favorite and soon to be free agent Trevor Bauer should be the priority for the Chicago White Sox this offseason.

The Chicago White Sox were eliminated for the 2020 Major League Baseball postseason on Thursday after their Game 3 loss to the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wildcard Round.

While it is clear that the White Sox need a manager change, it is also clear that the White Sox need to address their starting rotation this offseason.

If there was one flaw of the White Sox during the 2020 season outside of their bullpen, it was the fact that the team had no dependable starting pitcher in their rotation after Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel.

Had the White Sox had an effective third starter in their rotation, chances are the outcome of Game 3 against the Athletics would have been different.

With Michael Kopech being an uncertainty given the idea that he opted out of this season and is coming off Tommy John surgery, the idea was that Dylan Cease could be the third starter for the White Sox.

Cease was inconsistent for the White Sox during the 2020 season.

in 12 starts for the White Sox in 2020, Cease posted an ERA of 4.01 but his 6.36 FIP and 5.2 walks per 9 innings speak to the struggles that the young pitcher had. While Cease should not be written off, and Kopech for that matter, it is clear that the White Sox are going to need to add a third veteran to their starting rotation.

Enter Trevor Bauer.

Bauer was excellent with the Cincinnati Reds during the 2020 season. In 11 starts with the Reds this season, Bauer posted a 1.73 ERA (2.88 FIP) while averaging 12.9 strikeouts per 9 innings and 0.795 WHIP. Bauer is the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award for his efforts this season and it could not have come at a better time as he set to become a free agent this winter.

For the White Sox, Bauer should be the clear target. If the 2020 Major League Baseball Postseason has made one thing clear, it is that a team must have at least three viable starting pitchers if they have the expectation of advancing to the World Series.

The White Sox have two of three already in Giolito and Keuchel. Giolito was near perfect in his Game 1 victory over the Athletics this past Tuesday and cemented his role as the ace of the rotation. Keuchel, despite his struggles in Game 2 of the series against the Athletics, was an anchor for the White Sox rotation in 2020.

Adding Bauer to the mix would give the White Sox three ace quality starting pitchers at the top of their rotation. Not to mention, the addition of Bauer will take weight off the shoulders of Cease and Kopech. With Cease still trying to find his consistency and Kopech returning after opting out of the 2020 season, a relaxed workload as the fourth and fifth starting pitchers in the rotation would do wonders for the two young starting pitchers.

The Chicago White Sox are knocking on the door of World Series contention and Trevor Bauer is the starting pitcher that will allow them to burst onto the scene. What are your thoughts of the potential signing? Sound off in the comments section with your thoughts.