12-24-2018, 07:48 AM
As the 2016 MLB season approaches, SN's Je se Spector will examine each team's outlook. Today: the White Sox.2015: 76-86, fourth place in American League CentralMORE: Rookies poised to become stars| Rankingworst teamssince '85Key arrivals: C Alex Avila, 3B Todd Frazier, RHP Mat Latos, 2B Brett Lawrie, SS Jimmy RollinsKey departures: IF Gordon Beckham, C Tyler Flowers, SS Alexei Ramirez, RHP Jeff SamardzijaBest-case scenario: Chris Sale, already one of the best pitchers in baseball and a top-five finisher in the American League Cy Young vote each of the last three years, puts together his best year yet and wins the award. A lineup that last year scored the fewest runs in the Junior Circuit, with the lowest team OPS in the league, gets a boost not only from the addition of slugger Todd Frazier, but bounce-back years from Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera, while Avisail Garcia and new Colorado Rockies Womens Custom White Jersey arrival Brett Lawrie fulfill their longstanding promise. Mat Latos, who had a 2.27 ERA in seven starts working with Dioner Navarro on the 2012 Reds, benefits from the reunion. The White Sox not only have their first winning season since 2012, they win their first division title since 2008 and the quartet of Sale, Latos, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon thrives through the playoffs.Worst-case scenario: Having a rotation with four left-handed starters leads to trouble in a division with a revitalized Tigers team that features right-handed power up and down the order, including new arrival Justin Upton. Team defense is a problem that proves costly at inopportune times, and while the lineup is somewhat better, the pieces dont fall into place to make much of a difference. After two years of upward mobility, Chicago slips back Tyler Anderson Jersey to a 90-lo s season and its clear that the machinations of the last two winters are for naught.Big question: If things arent looking good in July, could Chicago go for a total teardown? Alex Avila, John Danks, Austin Jackson, Adam LaRoche, Mat Latos, Dioner Navarro and Jimmy Rollins all would be trade candidates as rentals, with Matt Albers, Melky Cabrera, Zach Duke and David Robertson also players who could bring back value not to mention starting pitchers under longer-term control who could bring back a bonanza if the decision was made to really shake things up, though those are the players youd want to build around.FANTASY POSITION RANKINGS: 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | C | SP | RPDont forget: The White Sox bullpen had middling results with a 3.67 ERA last year, but the 1.361 WHIP was fourth-worst in the American League, and Chicago doesnt really have any major new faces in the relief corps this year. Stability can be a good thing, but it can also be a hefty risk.Five crazy-sounding words you can talk yourself into not sounding so crazy: American Leagues top Ian Desmond Jersey sleeper pick.Over-the-top proclamation to regret later: This will be the most fun-to-watch White Sox team since the world champions of 2005. They wont replicate that succe s, but theyll play a ton of exciting games.