White Sox Rumors: Would they trade their two best players?

The Chicago White Sox should be listening to all trade offers out there.

The problem is the Astros have one of the worst farm systems in baseball. They have just one player in MLB Pipeline’s top 100.

Drew Gilbert is the Astros’ top prospect, and he bats left-handed–something the Sox always need.

He is currently struggling in Double-A. His slash line for the Corpus Christi Hooks is .214/.336/.313. He went from having a 1.107 OPS at High-A Ashville to .649 in Corpus.

Gilbert also has 12 homers in 300 minor league at-bats. Past trade markets have shown the prospect cost is pretty steep.

Last year’s trade market saw Juan Soto and Luis Castillo get dealt. Robert Jr. still has not reached Juan Soto’s level but if he can stay healthy, he has a chance. Cease has shown he can be an ace of a pitching staff.

The San Diego Padres traded six players to the Washington Nationals for Soto including their No. 1, No. 3, and No. 14 prospects.

The Seattle Mariners sent four prospects to the Cincinnati Reds. That package included the Mariners’ No. 1, No. 3, and No. 5 prospect.

Baseball-Reference.com has Frankie Montas listed as a similar player to Cease. At last year’s deadline, the New York Yankees traded four prospects in their top 25 to the Oakland Athletics to acquire Montas.

Those players were all traded individually. The Astros are rumored to be going big and want to get Robert Jr. and Cease from the Chicago White Sox. Two players that are in their mid-20s and under team control for a few more seasons.

That is going to require an even bigger package of prospects and Major League players.