Chicago White Sox Rumors: Pitchers drawing early trade interest

The Chicago White Sox trade rumors are beginning to swirl.

On Thursday, the White Sox trade rumor of the day was that the Los Angeles Dodgers are targeting starting pitcher Lucas Giolito to bolster their starting rotation for the second half of the season.

Giolito, the White Sox’s biggest trade chip ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline, is not among the probable starting pitchers for the team during their weekend series against the Atlanta Braves.

With the second half of the Major League Baseball regular season, the focus is shifting to the trade deadline on August 1 and the White Sox are the team that many believe has the most talent to sell.

That was the sentiment shared by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

"The White Sox are said to have the most “good” players available early. Free agents Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Keynan Middleton should go, and others likely will, too.-Jon Heyman via The New York Post"

As firm sellers, the Chicago White Sox can be in the driver’s seat ahead of the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline.

The interesting caveat that Heyman placed on his information was “early”. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn should not waste time as that is how he may be left holding the bag.

There is shaping up to be very few sellers at this year’s deadline but that could change depending on how teams such as the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets fare at the start of their second-half schedules.

If any of those teams sell, especially the Cubs, Padres, or Mets, the White Sox may no longer be viewed as the team with the most talent to sell. Especially in the case of the Cubs or Padres as their respective starters in Marcus Stroman and Blake Snell likely would be more appealing to teams than Giolito or Lance Lynn.

Therefore, it would benefit Hahn to get started on making the moves to capitalize on teams such as the Dodgers that are in need of starting pitchers.