There’s no question the Chicago White Sox are in full rebuild heading towards the 2017 MLB season.
The South Siders traded away their biggest asset, Chris Sale, in a package to the Boston Red Sox. And while that package netted him an impressive prospect in Yoan Moncada, the Cuban alone is not enough to turn a franchise around. Knowing they also needed a top pitching prospect, the White Sox sent Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals. And the return was no other than Lucas Giolito, perhaps one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
Due to these trades and the overall depth that landed in the organization, the White Sox now have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball. They have a young rotation that includes Carlos Rodon, Jose Quintana and probably Giolito. And they have enough pieces that could have decent value on the market. Considering they won’t contend in the AL Central, the best scenario for them is to trade anyone they can.
If we stick to that philosophy, then the White Sox deinitively need to trade David Robertson away. Even though Robertson is currently pitching with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, it doesn’t make sense for him to start the season in Chicago. He’s one of the best late-inning relievers in all of baseball, and he belongs with a contending team.
Robertson is coming off an impressive year as the closer for the White Sox. He finished with a 5-3 record, a 3.47 ERA and 37 saves, good for fourth in the AL. He has 118 saves in his career since his debut back in the 2008 season. And while he is no Aroldis Chapman or Zach Britton, he’s certainly one of the most consistent relievers in baseball. Sure, the White Sox could certainly use him. But his best role within the franchise is to use him as a trade asset.
To make things even better, Robertson signed a team-friendly contract by today’s standards. The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $46 million contract back in 2014, which means any team that acquires him will have him for 2017 and 2018. And several contending teams could use a lock-down closer like Robertson. The Nationals appear as an obvious fit, but other teams could take on his contract as well.
Chicago needs to do something. Every day that passes with Robertson on the roster, his trade value diminishes a bit. And that’s something the White Sox can’t afford, because having a reliever available for trade is a luxury not many teams have. And the franchise needs to pull the trigger before it’s too late.