Report: White Sox could trade 6 players at Trade Deadline

If you believe Bob Nightengale, big changes could be coming to the White Sox’ roster at the deadline.

On the latest episode of the White Sox Talk podcast with Chuck Garfien, Nightengale reported that he believes the White Sox could move as many as six players at the Trade Deadline: Lucas Giolito, Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, Lance Lynn, Aaron Bummer, and Mike Clevinger.

“I’d be stunned if any of those six are still with the White Sox after August 1.”

Four of the six mentioned players – Giolito, Lynn, Kelly, and Clevinger – are all on expiring contracts, so it would make sense that a failed season would involve moving each of those four players. The two names most interesting on Nightengale’s list are Bummer and Graveman, who are both under contract beyond 2023. Due to his performance and closing experience, Graveman would likely return the better haul between the two. Of the expiring contracts, Giolito is likely to return the best package – though the team could look to package Giolito with another reliever in order to improve the return.

In suggesting 60% of the White Sox’ starting rotation could be traded, Nightengale claims that the White Sox could take advantage of a market without many starting pitching options at the Trade Deadline. He also has heard that other MLB General Managers “love” Lance Lynn, believing he would be a different pitcher on a different team: “I know he hasn’t, you know, he doesn’t have a good ERA. Hasn’t performed well. But they think – get him out of Chicago, get him in our hands, pitch lights out.”

In looking at this though, Nightengale put in a caution for Sox fans: none of the players they trade are going to bring in a huge haul. Giolito will likely bring in the best return, and he’s just a rental. But he believes the team needs to shake up the mix in the clubhouse that just isn’t working, considering Dylan Cease and Luis Robert the team’s only “untouchable” assets.

This is the first real sign – outside of some hints from Rick Hahn if you read closely – that the White Sox will be selling at the deadline. With this first wave of the rebuild failed, choosing this direction means the White Sox have a lot of work to do heading into 2024 and beyond to make this work.

For those interested, Nightengale said he considered it “50/50” that the White Sox would move Tim Anderson at the deadline. However, Nightengale does not see Anderson as having the trade value he once did but highlights the importance of Anderson being in a winning environment.

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