2024 Chicago White Sox Predictions with World Series Odds and Season Win Total Picks
Want to talk about a team in disarray? Let’s talk about the Chicago White Sox. There are issues up and down the roster and up and down the organization. The team has no managing backbone, and very few players on the roster possess the ability to be part of a winning culture. Last season, the White Sox would go on to finish 40 games below .500 with a 61-101 record and a 2nd-to-last-place finish, five games ahead of the Royals.
Luis Robert Jr. led the team offensively, where he clubbed 38 homeruns (9th in MLB), tallied 80 RBIs, an impressive .857 OPS, and a team leading WAR of 5.1. No other Chicago position player accounts for a WAR of more than 1.5. As a team, the White Sox ranked 29th in OPS and runs, last in walks, and 20th in homeruns.
The rotation, led by Dylan Cease, struggled mightily this past season and has more holes in it thanks to some departures. Mike Clevinger was actually the best pitcher in their rotation last year, posting a 3.77 ERA, best among the team’s starters. Cease and Michael Kopech both had bad years, with the two combining for an ERA of 5.01 in 60 starts. The bullpen didn’t fare any better, and no White Sox pitcher, who pitched 10 or more innings, posted a sub 2.00 ERA. As a team, the White Sox ranked 26th in ERA, 24th in WHIP, and allowed the fourth most homeruns in the league.
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Chicago White Sox Key Additions/Losses
After a dreadful season, the White Sox entered free agency without Liam Hendriks, Tim Anderson, Mike Clevinger, and quite a bit more role players like Elvis Andrus, Jose Urena, and they traded controllable reliver Aaron Bummer to the Braves.
In the trade with the Braves, the White Sox did get four guys who could compete for roster spots in SP Michael Soroka, SS Braden Shewmake, SP Jared Shuster, and INF Nicky Lopez. The team would also acquire C Max Stassi in a separate trade with Atlanta. In free agency, the club has signed, INF Paul DeJong, C Martin Maldonado, 3B/1B Mike Moustakas, and pitchers Jesse Chavez, Corey Knebel, John Brebbia, Joe Barlow, Tim Hill, and Chris Flexen.
Chicago White Sox Prospect Outlook
The White Sox are not competing this season. Their goal is to take a bunch of fliers on older guys to fill the seats then trade for prospects while taking chances on their prospects to crack the club out of spring training. With that, Chicago has quite a few of their top prospects expected to see the big leagues at some point this season. Pitchers Jake Eder (5th), Ky Bush (9th), Prelander Berroa (18th), and Shane Drohan (20th) could find themselves as bullpen pieces with work in the starting rotation for some. The White Sox also have four more Top 30 team prospects that could see the field, with 2B/SS Jose Rodriguez being a dark horse name that could end up being their everyday shortstop.
Chicago White Sox X-Factors
Michael Soroka- The rotation was awful, but on paper with Cease, Kopech, and Soroka are not a bad trio and can be even more dangerous if Soroka could return to form. Soroka was once the ace for the Atlanta Braves before suffering two serious Achilles injuries and a shoulder injury that kept him out for over two years. Now at 26, he may not be the top of the rotation guy we once knew him as, but he doesn’t have to be. If he can get consistent work, he would be a solid middle rotation piece for a young club trying to rebuild.
Cease Trade Speculation- At one point in the offseason, it seemed inevitable that Cease would be in either a Braves, Dodgers, or Orioles jersey heading into the new season, but that did not come to fruition thanks to the White Sox ‘astronomical’ asking price for the ace. However, teams will begin to see if Cease is made available later in the summer. A trade would tank the club’s chances at exceeding their projected win total. However, for prospects and a better draft slot, it may be worth it as the White Sox are years away from competing, even in a weak division.
Chicago White Sox Season Expectations
A last-place finish in the weakest division in baseball and a dog fight with the Oakland Athletics for the worst team in the league. The fliers may pay off early in the season, but most of them will just be flipped for future capital. It will be interesting to see how much they sell this season, but that is going to be the only excitement surrounding the club this year. At some point, they will have to start signing some core players if they want to make a run.
Chicago White Sox Notable Odds
World Series Champions- +25000
Pennant Winners- +15000
Division Winners- +3800
AL MVP- Luis Robert Jr.- +5000
Chicago White Sox Predictions
The South Side will see the south side of their projected win total this season. At 63.5 games, for a team that finished at 61 wins a season ago, they did not improve the roster outside of the Soroka addition, but even then health is a question mark for the pitcher. Luis Robert Jr. is one of the most talented players in the world, and it is a shame that he is stuck on an awful team. Under 63.5 wins seems the most likely scenario, especially once they trade away some of their production in the summer.
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