The White Sox received seven prospects for Adam Eaton and Chris Sale, including intriguing pieces such as pitchers Dane Dunning and Reynaldo Lopez. But the highlight pieces were Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and Yoan Moncada.
None are supposed to make the team. The White Sox intend to go with veterans Miguel Gonzalez, Derek Holland, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon and James Shields as their rotation, with all but Rodon possible trade candidates. Giolito probably will be at Triple-A with Lopez and Carson Fulmer (eighth overall pick in 2015) with Kopech at Double-A with a chance to move quickly.
Giolito began last season as Baseball America’s top right-handed pitching prospect. But there was always a scouting undercurrent who questioned his toughness and saw him more as a mid-rotation type, and then Giolito was not very good in six games (four starts) for the Nationals last year (6.75 ERA, 12 walks, 11 strikeouts in 21 ¹/₃ innings).
Chicago general manager Rick Hahn said, “Nothing happened at the big league level to change our view of his upside.”
White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said he is trying to get Giolito to be able to throw early-count curves for strikes, and said he believes “he can dominate games if he has command.”
Kopech, who regularly throws more than 100 mph, wowed scouts with 100 mph-plus stuff as the best pitcher in the Arizona Fall League. Still, there are scouts who believe a lack of refinement will lead the righty to being a Robb Nen-type power closer.
“It was part of the conversation that the fallback would be back end of the bullpen,” Hahn said. “But we see a three-pitch mix that makes us feel he is a starter.”
As for Moncada, his strikeout woes were worse even than Aaron Judge in the majors last year (12 in 19 at-bats for the Red Sox, including his final nine). Still, Baseball America has him as its No. 2 prospect due to electric foot and bat speed that moved White Sox third-base coach Joe McEwing to say, “Your eyes tell you he is pretty special.”
Chicago recently released veteran second baseman Brett Lawrie, opening a job for Moncada if he begins well at Triple-A.