Could White Sox address offensive needs with youth?

CHICAGO -- The White Sox offense needs to drastically improve.

This statement is based in fact by looking at a team finishing last in the Major Leagues in runs scored, home runs, average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS during the 121-loss 2024 season.

General manager Chris Getz has acknowledged the problem on numerous occasions in-season and after the unwanted record-breaking campaign came to a close. But how does Getz go about resolving the problem?

Much like the White Sox rebuild, there’s no quick fix. Shortstop Colson Montgomery, the No. 3 White Sox prospect (No. 37 overall) per MLB Pipeline, is on his way toward the Majors after regaining a good feel at the plate later in his season with Triple-A Charlotte where he initially struggled and carried that change into the Arizona Fall League. Catcher Edgar Quero, the No. 4 White Sox prospect and No. 59 overall, has a chance to break camp with the team.

Third baseman Bryan Ramos (No. 12 White Sox prospect) made his debut in 2024, hitting .300 with one home run and five RBIs over his last six games. Otherwise, the position players in the Top 30 White Sox prospects are years away from impacting the roster.

“We need to improve our offense, it’s very clear,” Getz told reporters Tuesday at the General Managers Meetings in San Antonio. “With any trade or free agency, we are looking for ways to improve our offense.”

Free agency won’t be a major White Sox force, not while the team is trying to figure out what they have within their system and what openings need to be filled. So, it’s development from within and trades at the core of this offensive improvement.

Getz confirmed on Tuesday the hiring of Ryan Fuller as Director of Hitting, with Fuller moving over after a stint as Baltimore’s co-hitting coach at the big league level since 2022. He’ll have the same sort of role as Brian Bannister holds over pitching, where the White Sox are presently richer in talent.

Talent still needs to be added on the position player side, which brings Getz and the White Sox back to trades. It also brings them to the possible trade of ace hurler Garrett Crochet.

Crochet, 25, became one of MLB’s top stories during the 2024 season. After throwing a combined 73 innings over three previous seasons out of the bullpen, the southpaw excelled in his move to the starting rotation with 209 strikeouts, 33 walks and a 3.58 ERA over 146 innings and 32 starts.

Teams had interest in Crochet at the past Trade Deadline, with two National League squads taking said interest down to the final hour. But why would the White Sox trade Crochet, who could anchor a rotation featuring fellow left-handers Noah Schultz (No. 1 White Sox prospect, No. 16 overall) and Hagen Smith (No. 2 prospect, No. 30 overall) along with right-handers Jonathan Cannon, Drew Thorpe, Sean Burke and Davis Martin for years into the future?

Not only does Crochet have massive talent but has the natural leadership capabilities. The White Sox have two years of arbitration control over Crochet, and without a contract extension, the team might not be a contender during his time in Chicago.

So, to get something good, they might have to move a key cog such as Crochet. Getz said more teams have expressed interest in comparison to the Deadline, including some at the GM Meetings, with any team in need of a young, front-of-the-rotation hurler in the mix.

Trading Dylan Cease during Spring Training last season laid out a blueprint for this type of deal. It also gave Getz a chance to see other teams’ prospects.

“It gave us a head start for another top tier player like Garrett Crochet,” Getz said. “I’ve certainly continued to build relationships around the game with other general managers as I wrap up my first year. We are in a good position to make sound decisions this offseason, and if that means we are going to make trades then we will go ahead and make trades.

“One thing about offseason vs. Trade Deadline is there is no real deadline, so the pace of those conversations is much different. Free agency, trade activity and everyone is shaping their roster in different ways … It’s been interesting to have those conversations and I look forward to diving in more as the offseason progresses.”