Mar 29, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Manaea against the Los Angeles Dodgers during spring training at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY
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The Chicago White Sox might not be done making trades before Opening Day. The White Sox traded Craig Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for outfielder A.J. Pollock.
Pollock is a good hitter with a history of injuries as he has averaged playing 90 games over 10 seasons. If he can stay healthy, he can be an upgrade in right field (even though he has played six career games in right).
Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is rumored to be pivoting his attention towards acquiring one more starting pitcher to make sure he has a World Series-winning rotation.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has been wrong before when it comes to Chicago White Sox trade rumors. However, he thinks the White Sox could be in play for Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea.
The Chicago #WhiteSox would also love to acquire Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea before opening day, joining plenty of other teams who are in pursuit.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 1, 2022
The only reason the A’s keep Manaea to start the season is with the idea they could get a better trade package before the trade deadline. Manaea is making $9.75 million and is set to be a free agent after this season.
It is just a matter of when Manaea is traded as the A’s are in rebuild mode. The A’s have already shipped out Chris Bassitt, Matt Olson, and Matt Chapman as they tear down their roster.
Do the Chicago White Sox have enough to pull off a trade for Sean Manaea?
The Oakland A’s are going to want prospects in return and the Chicago White Sox have the worst farm system in baseball according to the Athletic’s Keith Law. That has never stopped the A’s from doing business with the Chicago White Sox in the past.
The A’s for some reason like the prospects the Sox have. The problem is if the A’s demand the same type of trade return they got for Bassitt, which was two talented prospect pitchers, the White Sox currently do not have the young arms in their system to trade.
The A’s could be interested in the position players the Sox have available. The White Sox could give up one of their potential young stars on the Major League roster in Gavin Sheets and Andrew Vaughn. Sheets is a left-handed, power-hitting first baseman that could appeal to the A’s, but Vaughn has the higher ceiling.
I would not be surprised that the A’s consider outfielder Micker Adolfo or former first-round pick Jake Burger. They always seem to find value in players that the Sox undervalue or do not have room for on the roster like Marcus Semien.