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Sure, the 2021 season hasn't ended yet and the 2021 playoffs have yet to even begin. But even if the 2021 White Sox go deep, deep into the postseason, the remaining games of 2021 will be a teeny-tiny sample size compared to the vast majority of the 2021 season already in the books. With meaningful games still weeks away, now might be a good time to think about the 2022 team: especially before playoff moments take an outsize spot in our heads!
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal had a great season and is not one of the problems. The White Sox can - and likely will - upgrade at backup catcher, but I doubt it will move the needle very much.
First Base
If it an't broke, don't fix it. Absent an injury, Jose Abreu will play 1B for the White Sox until he decides he no longer wants to, and fans BTW will be fine with that.
Second Base
Cesar Hernandez stopped hitting as soon as he came to the White Sox. I still think the best option is to keep him at 2B one year longer and hope he recaptures his first half 2021 numbers. His defense seems to be solid, especially his range.
Third Base
I was one of the earliest and most vocal Yoan Moncada skeptics on WSI. I am no longer a Yoan Moncada skeptic. Between his multiple hot streaks (including a stretch of 2021 when he carried the team on his back) and his always solid defense, I believe he is a solid MLB third baseman. He is also perhaps the most musically gifted player in the AL since Jose Lima.
Shortstop
Tim Anderson is one of the faces of the franchise and not going anywhere, even if the White Sox traded away two shortstops even better than him in the recent past.
Left Field
Eloy Jimenez can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag right now, but long term he is going to be just fine if he can avoid injuring himself in the field. I think if he stays healthy he will own the White Sox single season HR record before his time here is done.
Center Field
Luis Robert is still going to get better. This should terrify AL hitters and pitchers alike.
Right Field
OK, the first position where I'm not just going to say "things are fine". The White Sox have a number of young players who MIGHT be able to hit well while playing an acceptable defensive RF. Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets, Micker Adolfo, all of these guys have the potential to be cheaply add value as a full time right fielder. All of them also have the potential to stink it up at the plate and allow lots of doubles. As tempting as it would be (especially to, say, a risk averse owner who feels that most other MLB teams greatly overvalue FAs) to roll the dice and hope that somebody steps up at the league minimum in RF, given that the 2022 White Sox are a team that will be trying to win a World Series and make the playoffs for the third year in a row, I don't think they can accept potential here. They need certainty. I hope the team goes out and signs a big stick to put in RF. Should be target #1 in the offseason.
Designated Hitter
I'm fine with sticking Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets, Micker Adolfo, Jake Burger, etc. here and seeing if one of them can mash the ball and own this position for 2022. If not, somebody will be available at the trade deadline for not that much.
Starting Pitching
#1 Lance Lynn: probably won't be as good as in 2021, but probably a good signing
#2 Lucas Giolito: reinvented himself again, things are looking much better for him
#3 Dylan Cease: still gets into long counts and walks too many people, but the progress is there
#4 Michael Kopech: he deserves a chance to show what he can do in the starting rotation
#5 Dallas Keuchel: can be bounce back despite being another year older?
Yeah I'd definitely want the White Sox to sign another SP. Ideally another TOR starter, but that could be out of their price range. They need SOMEBODY to at the very least mitigate the risk of either Kopech or Keuchel flopping in 2022.
Bullpen
You can't just look at what a relief pitcher is doing this year and predict what a relief pitcher will do next year. Who knows. Hendriks is here to stay. Unless Craig Kimbrel blows MULTIPLE playoff games, I think his option will be exercised. Kopech ideally gets promoted into the rotation which opens up a spot for the Sox to sign a mid-inning reliever, which can probably be found on the FA market and won't break the bank. As with RF and DH, lots of guys currently in AAA or bouncing back and forth between MLB and AAA could potentially fill a bullpen role, but could also potentially flop.
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal had a great season and is not one of the problems. The White Sox can - and likely will - upgrade at backup catcher, but I doubt it will move the needle very much.
First Base
If it an't broke, don't fix it. Absent an injury, Jose Abreu will play 1B for the White Sox until he decides he no longer wants to, and fans BTW will be fine with that.
Second Base
Cesar Hernandez stopped hitting as soon as he came to the White Sox. I still think the best option is to keep him at 2B one year longer and hope he recaptures his first half 2021 numbers. His defense seems to be solid, especially his range.
Third Base
I was one of the earliest and most vocal Yoan Moncada skeptics on WSI. I am no longer a Yoan Moncada skeptic. Between his multiple hot streaks (including a stretch of 2021 when he carried the team on his back) and his always solid defense, I believe he is a solid MLB third baseman. He is also perhaps the most musically gifted player in the AL since Jose Lima.
Shortstop
Tim Anderson is one of the faces of the franchise and not going anywhere, even if the White Sox traded away two shortstops even better than him in the recent past.
Left Field
Eloy Jimenez can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag right now, but long term he is going to be just fine if he can avoid injuring himself in the field. I think if he stays healthy he will own the White Sox single season HR record before his time here is done.
Center Field
Luis Robert is still going to get better. This should terrify AL hitters and pitchers alike.
Right Field
OK, the first position where I'm not just going to say "things are fine". The White Sox have a number of young players who MIGHT be able to hit well while playing an acceptable defensive RF. Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets, Micker Adolfo, all of these guys have the potential to be cheaply add value as a full time right fielder. All of them also have the potential to stink it up at the plate and allow lots of doubles. As tempting as it would be (especially to, say, a risk averse owner who feels that most other MLB teams greatly overvalue FAs) to roll the dice and hope that somebody steps up at the league minimum in RF, given that the 2022 White Sox are a team that will be trying to win a World Series and make the playoffs for the third year in a row, I don't think they can accept potential here. They need certainty. I hope the team goes out and signs a big stick to put in RF. Should be target #1 in the offseason.
Designated Hitter
I'm fine with sticking Andrew Vaughn, Gavin Sheets, Micker Adolfo, Jake Burger, etc. here and seeing if one of them can mash the ball and own this position for 2022. If not, somebody will be available at the trade deadline for not that much.
Starting Pitching
#1 Lance Lynn: probably won't be as good as in 2021, but probably a good signing
#2 Lucas Giolito: reinvented himself again, things are looking much better for him
#3 Dylan Cease: still gets into long counts and walks too many people, but the progress is there
#4 Michael Kopech: he deserves a chance to show what he can do in the starting rotation
#5 Dallas Keuchel: can be bounce back despite being another year older?
Yeah I'd definitely want the White Sox to sign another SP. Ideally another TOR starter, but that could be out of their price range. They need SOMEBODY to at the very least mitigate the risk of either Kopech or Keuchel flopping in 2022.
Bullpen
You can't just look at what a relief pitcher is doing this year and predict what a relief pitcher will do next year. Who knows. Hendriks is here to stay. Unless Craig Kimbrel blows MULTIPLE playoff games, I think his option will be exercised. Kopech ideally gets promoted into the rotation which opens up a spot for the Sox to sign a mid-inning reliever, which can probably be found on the FA market and won't break the bank. As with RF and DH, lots of guys currently in AAA or bouncing back and forth between MLB and AAA could potentially fill a bullpen role, but could also potentially flop.
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