MLB Free Agency Signings: How Does This Impact the Chicago White Sox?

MLB Free Agency Signings: How Does This Impact the Chicago White Sox?
Sun 14th February 2021

The Chicago White Sox took a few significant swings in the free agency market, and now they will be one of the most appealing teams to watch in 2021.

The team has plenty of stars that can help them compete now, plus they still have enough young talent that will help them contend for years to come.

Part of the White Sox’s efforts came from a few moves on the MLB free agency market. The team brought back many players from last season, but they also acquired one of the best relief pitchers in the league. They will perform alongside some outstanding young stars.

Acquisitions and Renewals of Note

The White Sox made a splash on the trade market when they acquired starting pitcher Lance Lynn on a trade with the Texas Rangers. But the team also made one of the league’s top free agent signings when they signed closer Liam Hendriks to a three-year contract. Hendriks played with the Oakland Athletics last season and had fourteen saves, a 1.78 ERA, and 37 strikeouts last year.


The team also avoided arbitration with a few players. Relievers Evan Marshall and Jace Fry agreed to one-year contracts, while outfielder Adam Engel did the same.

Pitcher Carlos Rodon also agreed to a one-year contract with the team. Rodon had dealt with many health issues over the years. He might compete with fellow pitcher Reynaldo Lopez for the last spot on the starting rotation, although prospect Michael Kopech could get in the way.

The team also signed outfielder Adam Eaton from the Washington Nationals. Eaton was part of the Nationals’ World Series-winning team in 2019. Reliever Emilio Vargas was also acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks on the waiver wire.

Departures To Spot

The White Sox also saw a few players leave this offseason, but they were mostly minor when compared with their acquisitions. Catcher James McCann signed a four-year deal with the New York Mets. Relievers Alex Colome and Ross Detwiler also signed respective deals with the Minnesota Twins and the Miami Marlins.

The White Sox declined club options on starter Gio Gonzalez and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, leaving them as free agents. Outfielders Nomar Mazara and Nicky Delmonico also left the team and are expected to be signed to minor league deals elsewhere.

What About the Rest of the Division?

The Minnesota Twins will be the top contenders to the White Sox in the AL Central this year. The team brought in starting pitcher J.A. Happ from the New York Yankees and shortstop Andrelton Simmons from the Los Angeles Angels.

There are concerns over how well Jose Berrios and Kenta Maeda can compete as starting pitchers, especially with the team not having many quality surrounding pieces.

The Cleveland Indians will also contend with the White Sox, as they added outfielder Eddie Rosario from Minnesota and shortstop Andres Gimenez from the New York Mets. But the Indians may also be rebuilding, as they traded Carlos Carrasco and Francisco Lindor to the Mets and lost Carlos Santana to the Kansas City Royals.

How the White Sox Will Compete?

The Chicago White Sox showed they are ready to compete. The team brought in some useful free agents, plus they managed to keep a few helpful pieces. The club will have all their new players compete well with league MVP Jose Abreu and various young stars like Nick Madrigal and Eloy Jimenez.

There’s also the potential for top-ranked first base prospect Andrew Vaughn to arrive on the roster this season. Expect the Chicago White Sox to be the favorites for the AL Central this season and to have a good chance of reaching the World Series.

The MLB season is almost upon us! If you are like us, then you are counting down the days until the season opener. But until then, make sure you check out our MLB hub page, for all the latest on what’s going on in baseball.

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