(670 The Score) While the White Sox had arguably the splashiest offseason of any team in baseball, their fate in 2020 may be determined by a few more familiar faces of a season prior.
The continued development of young pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dylan Cease will be crucial and perhaps the difference between marginal improvement and a playoff run for the White Sox.
Giolito, 25, is looking to prove his All-Star season of 2019 was a sign of more to come. He went 14-9 with a 3.41 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while striking out 11.6 batters per nine innings in 29 starts amid a breakout campaign in which he finished sixth in the American League Cy Young race. Giolito's goal is to showcase the consistency needed to become the ace of a staff.
Lopez, 26, had a strong 2018 campaign before a downturn last season. He lost his consistent fastball command, and that prevented him from piling up quality innings. Lopez had a 5.38 ERA in 2019, up from a 3.91 mark a season prior. His 110 earned runs allowed were the most in MLB.
Cease, 24, had an up-and-down rookie campaign, with some encouraging performances offset by him allowing some crooked numbers. Cease posed a 5.79 ERA in 14 starts, over which he struck out 81 batters in 73 innings. He needs to improve his 2.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio as he moves forward.
Those three will have good company when 23-year-old Michael Kopech returns to the big league rotation as well. After rehabbing from Tommy John surgery for all of 2019, Kopech projects to have a light workload early on and not join the rotation for perhaps a month or so. When Kopech does arrive, he'll bring an upper-90s fastball and boast the potential to be dominant.
To back their young starters, the White Sox added veterans in left-hander Dallas Keuchel and left-hander Gio Gonzalez in free agency. The 2015 AL Cy Young winner, Keuchel will be counted on as a frontline starter and as a team leader given his extensive playoff experience. Keuchel had a truncated 2019 because he didn't sign with the Braves until June. He then went 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 19 starts. The White Sox will count on him to eat innings across 30-plus starts and were attracted his ability to keep the ball in the park, as Keuchel leads all MLB pitchers with a 59.7% groundball rate since he made his debut in 2012.
Gonzalez gives the White Sox a versatile option at the back end of their rotation or as a long man and lefty option out of the bullpen. He could open the season as the No. 5 starter until Kopech is ready to take over a full-time spot in the rotation. Gonzalez could also be used as a spot starter later in the season if the White Sox want to skip starts for the youngsters like Kopech and Cease.
The White Sox believe their bullpen can be a strength and back their young staff. It will include a mix of veterans and young relievers who are still developing. Alex Colome will return as the closer after posting a 2.80 ERA and converting 30 of 33 save chances last season.
Lefty Aaron Bummer established himself as a force in 2019, posting a 2.13 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 58 appearances. The White Sox received more inquiries about Bummer than any other pitcher on their roster in trade discussions this offseason. Bummer can step into the closer's role should Colome get hurt or need a rest for a day.
A key addition is veteran sidearmer Steve Cishek, who signed a one-year deal with a team option in free agency after producing two solid seasons for the Cubs. He'll be called upon in high-leverage situations. Kelvin Herrera, Jace Fry and Evan Marshall will also be in the bullpen mix.
Beyond them, Zack Burdi, Ian Hamilton, Jimmy Cordero, Carson Fulmer and Jose Ruiz are among those who will have a chance to win a bullpen job in spring training. Burdi is an intriguing player to watch. The White Sox selected him in the first round of the 2016 amateur draft before he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017. Injuries have slowed the 24-year-old Burdi -- he had a 6.41 ERA at Double-A Birmingham last season -- but he still has an arm with upside.
A wild card for the White Sox is left-hander Carols Rodon, who's expected to be available sometime around midseason as he finishes his rehab from Tommy John surgery last May. Because of various shoulder and elbow injuries, Rodon's form and future with the White Sox is uncertain. When healthy, he has a gifted arm.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
