5 reasons that the Chicago White Sox lost the offseason
By Todd Welter
![Oct 10, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Leury Garcia (28) celebrates with teammates Gavin Sheets (32) and Yoan Moncada (10) after hitting a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning during game three of the 2021 ALDS at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Oct 10, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Leury Garcia (28) celebrates with teammates Gavin Sheets (32) and Yoan Moncada (10) after hitting a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning during game three of the 2021 ALDS at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5a9a7bc048b48bfe56066a47e4c3d652a70b2134590f14c5fc38296bcb4132e0.jpg)
No starter added
The Chicago White Sox could have added someone to their rotation before 2022.
Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn are an outstanding one-two punch at the top of the rotation. Dylan Cease has gotten better every season and has the stuff to be a really good number three pitcher.
It is the rotation’s back end that has a lot of question marks. Dallas Keuchel had a forgettable 2021. Michael Kopech is moving into the rotation but will be on an innings limit.
Instead of signing another starter to put the Sox over the top, Hahn is counting on Keuchel to have a bounce-back season. On starts Kopech misses, it appears manager Tony La Russa’s options are Reynaldo Lopez and Vince Velasquez to pick up those innings. Garrett Crochet might also get a few starts as well.
Robbie Ray, Max Scherzer, and Marcus Stroman all were available to be signed and the Sox once again went the cheap route. The Sox have some trade pieces to at least acquire an upgrade from Keuchel but still have not pulled off a transaction.
Sean Manaea would be a great number four pitcher in the Sox rotation. Also, acquiring Manaea would limit the starts Keuchel needs to make and have Lopez go to the bullpen where he is more effective. If there was one missing piece to the White Sox winning a World Series, it was a starting pitcher. That piece is still missing.