As deadline nears, veteran pitchers White Sox's best trade chips
At this time last year, Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn was just getting started.
In advance of the July 31 trade deadline, Hahn made a monster deal two weeks earlier, sending Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs for Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease and two lesser prospects.
Before the deadline hit, Hahn made four more trades that subtracted six veterans and added more young talent to the rebuilding effort, headed by outfielder Blake Rutherford (acquired from the New York Yankees).
Still looking to deal this year, Hahn is much shorter on quantity and quality. But the Sox's GM does have some veteran pitchers who are attracting interest: starter James Shields and relievers Joakim Soria, Luis Avilan and Xavier Cedeno.
“Teams are definitely interested in numerous guys on our roster that could potentially help them win,” Hahn said during the White Sox's last homestand. “I don't think there's any club anywhere throughout the league that doesn't feel like they could improve themselves from a pitching standpoint, so that's certainly an area of conversation.”
After defeating Los Angeles 5-3 Monday night in the first of a four-game West Coast series, the Sox won again 4-2 on Tuesday night behind the pitching of Carlos Rodon.
Getting back to the trade market, Shields (4-11, 4.26 ERA) might not have flashy stats, but the veteran right-hander has value.
“He has reinvented himself,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said of the 36-year-old righty. “He continues to impress everybody. Little different arm slot now, he has become very comfortable with it. Changes speeds really well out of that slot, couple of different velocities on breaking pitches.
“Still is able to work 91-92 (mph), just continues to attack the strike zone and had a really good idea of how he wants to go after hitters. He continues to show everybody he can pitch.”
Starting pitching is a prime asset at the deadline, and contenders like the Yankees, Cubs, Brewers and Athletics might make a move on Shields.
On the bullpen front, the Seattle Mariners have been scouting the Sox for well over a month, and Soria and Avilan are on their radar.
Heading into Tuesday's late game against the Angels, Soria had a 0.77 ERA (2 earned runs in 23⅓ innings) and 11 saves over his last 24 appearances.
Avilan was averaging 10.36 strikeouts per 9 innings, and Cedeno allowed only 2 earned runs in 13⅓ innings since joining the White Sox's bullpen from Class AAA Charlotte on June 7.