5 popular moves the Chicago White Sox should make in the offseason
By Todd Welter
Bring back Carlos Rodon.
Rodon spent seven, mostly injury-riddled, seasons on the Southside. When he was healthy, Rodon was a strikeout artist. The problem was he was rarely healthy between 2016-2020.
The Chicago White Sox even non-tendered him after the 2020 season. The market was so poor for Rodon that he returned to the White Sox on a team-friendly deal for the 2021 season. He was dominant that season but injuries caught up with him down the stretch.
The Sox let him walk in free agency. He landed in San Francisco and finally showed he could pitch a full season.
He was brilliant last season for the Giants. He posted a 2.88 ERA, struck out 237 batters and posted a 5.4 WAR number.
Some might say the Chicago White Sox never fully replaced Rodon in last season’s rotation. The Sox could use him in the rotation with Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn coming off a subpar season. Also, Michael Kopech’s body may not allow him to ever pitch a full season as a starter.
Bringing back Rodon will be costly as he is now a top-tier free agent but the Southside faithful always loved him. Plus, he can form a dominant duo with Dylan Cease. Also, it would allow the Sox to move Kopech back to being a bullpen weapon.
Given that he has only pitched over 150 innings twice in his career and his price tag, it is highly unlikely he will return to the franchise that drafted him.