Chicago White Sox 2020 Season Preview: Does The Contention Window Open in 2020?

By: Will Farlow 

The Chicago White Sox are finishing a chapter of the organization's history as they finish a rebuild phase heading into a new area with hope of contention for many years to come. GM Rick Hahn and his staff started it back in 2016-2017 with the Chris Sale, Adam Eaton , and Jose Quintana trades. Now those prospects from those trades and more can help the White Sox put their franchise back to its winning ways. The 2020 MLB season will be unique as due to the Covid-19 pandemic it is a 60 game season. Here is my takes on the 2020 offseason, the 2020 White Sox roster for opening day, and whether 2020 opens the window of contention for the Southsiders.  

2020 Offseason 

New Faces and Contract Extensions

The Chicago White Sox hit the ground running in the 2020 MLB off season by bringing in key veterans that could help the youngsters and bring the team toward success. The most notable of these was resigning team leader Jose Abreu who is a key part in the White Sox clubhouse. The Chicago White Sox started the off season with signings and trades such as the ones listed below. 

C Yasmani Grandal – 4 years 73 million (highest contract in team history)

Resigned 1B Jose Abreu – 3 year 50 million

Trade w/ Texas Rangers: White Sox acquire OF Nomar Mazara for prospect OF Steele Walker

LHP Gio Gonzalez 1 year 5 million

LHP Dallas Keuchel – 3 years 55 million

1B Edwin Encarnacion – 1 year 12 million

RHP Steve Cishek – 2 years 6 million  

Following these smart free agent signings by the White Sox, Rick Hahn made some contract extensions to key Sox players part of the team's long term plans.

3B Yoan Moncada – 5 years 70 million

RHP Aaron Bummer- 5 years 16 million

OF Luis Robert- 6 years 50 million

​2020 White Sox Roster entering Opening Day 

The White Sox announced on Thursday July 23rd their official 30 man roster for Friday's Opening Day game against the Minnesota Twins. Sox fans will notice a key infield prospect name missing from the list. Nomar Mazara is on the White Sox roster but temporarily on the injured list. White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech is not included due to his opt out of the 2020 season. 

Here’s the #WhiteSox 30 man #OpeningDay roster: pic.twitter.com/o89LCLOjZZ

— Mike Berman (@MikeBermanNBC) July 23, 2020

2020 Outlook 

Projected record: 38-22

The Chicago White Sox have not had a winning record since 2012 and are looking to get back to their winning ways here in 2020. The White Sox feature a greatly improved lineup along with a rotation and bullpen that should continue success from last year. I am looking for players like Reynaldo Lopez and Dylan Cease to improve for this rotation along with Giolito continuing where he left off in 2019. The lineup should put up a lot of runs and be fairly effective on defense as we look for continued growth from Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada and new center fielder Luis Robert. The new veterans like Yasmani Grandal , Nomar Mazara, Edwin Encarnacion, and Chesler Cuthbert should make an immediate impact to the White Sox line up to add with star veteran first baseman in Chicago Jose Abreu. I have the Southsiders taking first place and a division title in 2020 being able to lead over talented division rivals Minnesota and Cleveland. I saw great growth and development from this White Sox team during the offseason and spring training games making there future starting here in 2020 to be very bright.