Hot Stove League Review: White Sox

The White Sox have some of the very best young players in all of MLB and their contention window could open as early as this season, if we have one.  They made that more likely by filling important and a big extension for the top prospect in baseball.  Key Moves:

Free Agents Lost:  Yolmer Sanchez(2B), Ryan Cordell(OF), Jon Jay(OF), Charlie Wilson(OF), Ryan Goins(IF), Ivan Nova(RHP), Josh Osich(LHP), Dylan Covey(RHP), Manny Banuelos(LHP), Hector Santiago(LHP), Juan Minaya(RHP), Odrisamer Despaigne(RHP).

Free Agent Signings:  Yasmani Grandal(C- 4 yr/$73 M), Dallas Keuchel(LHP- 3 yr/$55.5 M), Jose Abreu(1B- re-sign(accepted QO then signed 2 year extension $32 M)), Edwin Encarnacion(1 yr/$12 M), Steve Cishek(RHP- 1 yr/$6 M), Gio Gonzalez(LHP- 1 yr/$5 M).

Trades:  Acquired Jonah McReynolds(3B) from the Rangers for Welington Castillo(C) and $250 K international bonus pool.  Acquired Nomar Mazara(OF) from the Rangers for Steele Walker(OF).

Waiver Claim:  Tayron Guerrero(RHP) from Marlins.

Extensions:  Yoan Moncada(3B- 5 yrs/$70 M), Luis Robert(6 yrs/$50 M), Aaron Bummer(LHP- 5 yrs/$16 M), Leury Garcia(UT- 1 yr/$3.5 M).

Minor League Free Agents:  Ross Detwiler(LHP), Andrew Romine(IF), Gorkys Hernandez(OF), Cheslor Cuthbert(IF), Caleb Frare(LHP), Ryan Burr(RHP), Nicky Delmonico(LF/1B), Bryan Mitchell(RHP), Matt Skole(DH/1B), Adalberto Mejia(LHP), Zach Putnam(RHP), Christian Friedrich(LHP).

Summary:  Yasmani Grandal is a huge upgrade at C.  Keuchel probably is not going to win any more Cy Young Awards but provide desperately needs veteran leadership for the rotation and takes pressure off some young, high ceiling arms.  EE can still mash at DH.  Perhaps the biggest move was locking up Robert to a team friendly extension allowing him to start on Opening Day without any service time implications.  This team is ready to gel and enter their contention window and these moves accelerate the process.

Grade A.