MIAMI — The Chicago White Sox could have a different-looking roster by the end of July.
The MLB trade deadline is July 30, and the Sox are positioned to be sellers for the second consecutive season.
“I think it’s just like surrounding the team, it’s just something that is talked about constantly, so it’s kind of hard to avoid it,” starter Erick Fedde said of the trade speculation. “But in the reality of it, I’ve been trying to say this since the first time I’ve (been) asked about it, you start pitching bad (and) those things go away quickly. So I’m worrying about one start at a time.
“I love it here, I’ve been happy here. But, you know, I’m just going to do what I do and whatever happens, happens.”
Fedde is one of several players mentioned in the speculation, with starter Garrett Crochet and center fielder Luis Robert Jr. among those generating buzz.
“Every year it gets harder and harder to make trades,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “Everybody wants to win the deal. Sometimes when that happens, it just becomes really difficult. In our situation, the guys we’re talking about are superstars. It’s hard to execute a deal with a superstar.
“Who are we talking about? We’re talking about Crochet, Robert, those are the guys that keep getting mentioned. If you see Robert play center field and you see what he does at the plate and what he’s capable of doing, those guys don’t come around too often. And the same thing with Crochet.”
Grifol’s message to the group is, “Don’t worry about it.”
“Stay focused,” Grifol said. “The reason you’re being spoken about is because you’re doing great and you’ve got tremendous upside. Just stay focused.”
Here’s a closer look at some of the Sox players who might draw interest.
P Garrett Crochet
Stats: 6-6, 3.02 ERA, 141 strikeouts, 20 walks, 0.93 WHIP in 18 starts (entering Saturday).
What Crochet provides: The left-hander has had a breakout season in his first year as a starter, displaying the stamina and control that elite pitchers possess.
And he keeps improving, earning American League Pitcher of the Month honors for June. He’s second in the majors in strikeouts and seventh in the AL in ERA this season.
The 25-year-old is under club control through 2026. He has already surpassed a season-high for innings (101 1/3 coming into Saturday’s start against the Miami Marlins, with the previous mark 54 1/3 in 2021). And the Sox have taken some steps to monitor his workload, which any interested team would also take into consideration.
CF Luis Robert Jr.
Stats: .235/.313/.515, 10 home runs, 18 RBIs in 35 games.
What Robert provides: Robert can impact a game offensively in multiple ways. He also displays top-caliber glovework in center field. Robert earned his first All-Star selection last season and finished 2023 with 38 home runs.
A right hip flexor strain cost him a portion of this season. But he’s been heating up recently with three multi-hit performances in his last five games coming into Saturday. Overall, Robert has reached base safely in 14 of his last 15 games, going 18-for-58 (.310) with five doubles, three home runs, eight RBIs, eight walks and a .946 OPS in the stretch.
The 26-year-old’s contract includes team options for 2026 and 2027.
OF Tommy Pham
Stats: .270/.344/.373, 4 home runs, 16 RBIs in 53 games.
What Pham provides: The 36-year-old veteran joined the Sox in late April after initially signing a minor-league deal earlier in the month.
He’s given the Sox an offensive boost at the top of the lineup, leading the team in average and on-base percentage. He is batting .385 (25-for-65) with runners on base and .316 (12-for-38) with runners in scoring position.
Pham has 115 career postseason at-bats and shined for the Arizona Diamondbacks during last season’s World Series with a .421 average (8-for-19).
RHP Erick Fedde
Stats: 6-3, 3.13 ERA, 94 strikeouts, 28 walks in 18 starts.
What Fedde provides: Fedde has made a seamless transition back to MLB after finding a groove in 2023 in the Korea Baseball Organization.
He ranks 10th in the AL in ERA. And he’s second among major-league pitchers in bWAR (4.1). Crochet is third on that list (4.0).
Fedde is in the first season of a two-year, $15 million deal. The 31-year-old has shown the ability to chew up innings, ranking ninth in the AL with 106 1/3 innings.
RHP Michael Kopech
Stats: 8 saves, 4.58 ERA, 51 strikeouts, 21 walks in 37 appearances.
What Kopech provides: Kopech leads the team in saves after being moved back to the bullpen during spring training.
Kopech is 1-4 with a 6.91 ERA, three saves, three blown saves, 19 strikeouts and four home runs allowed in his last 16 outings. But he ranks among AL relief leaders in strikeouts (tied-eight with 51) and strikeouts per nine innings (tied-ninth with 12.29) this season.
The 28-year-old is in line to be a free agent after the 2025 season.
SS Paul DeJong
Stats: .238/.285/.455, 16 home runs, 36 RBIs in 83 games.
What DeJong provides: The Sox signed the veteran to a one-year deal in the offseason, and he already has more home runs than he hit in all of 2023 (14 in 112 games).
DeJong’s 16 home runs rank second among major-league shortstops in 2024, only training Gunnar Henderson’s 27 for the Baltimore Orioles.
DeJong has nine home runs, 19 RBIs and a .517 slugging percentage in 32 games since May 31, more signs of a productive bounce-back season.
