White Sox could trade these two players before the MLB trade deadline

The Chicago White Sox have been arguably the best story in baseball this season, as they are sitting at 33-29 and smack dab in the middle of the American League playoff race in spite of being one of the worst teams in the sport for multiple years prior.

Whether or not the White Sox’s incredible run is sustainable remains to be seen, and the fact that Munetaka Murakami is now sidelined for the next month-plus due to a hamstring injury could ultimately upend their postseason push. Right now, however, Chicago has to be respected as a playoff contender.

So, what does that mean for the White Sox’s trade deadline? Will they be buyers? Sellers? Will they do a little bit of both?

Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly isn’t so sure, actually leaning more toward Chicago standing pat with a couple of minor moves here and there. But he did zero in on a pair of players the White Sox could look to move before Aug. 3.

And don’t worry: Murakami isn’t one of them.

Chicago White Sox could move two players before the MLB trade deadline

Kelly feels that Chicago may look to pursue a rental starting pitcher to fill out its needy rotation, but he also thinks the Southsiders could look to cash in on a couple of lower-tier veterans.

“Even if the White Sox fade, general manager Chris Getz probably won’t be inclined to consider offers for some of the budding core pieces of the team, like slugger Munetaka Murakami or RHP Davis Martin. Reliever Sean Newcomb and outfielder Austin Hays are two veteran rentals who could be dealt if the White Sox end up as sellers, but both are rentals unlikely to bring back a noteworthy return,” Kelly wrote.

Chicago signed both Newcomb and Hays in free agency, so it would make sense for the Sox to flip both of them at the deadline.

I actually think a bullpen-needy team might be willing to part with something decent for Newcomb, who pitched to the tune of a 2.50 ERA, 2.85 FIP and 1.028 WHIP this season. He has allowed just one home run and owns a very solid 3.56 K/BB ratio thanks to some much improved control.

Hays has been sidelined since the beginning of May due to a calf strain and barely produced in the 12 games he has played, but he slashed .266/.315/.453 with the Cincinnati Reds last season and is known as a lefty masher, so perhaps a team in need of a platoon bat would be interested in acquiring him, as well.

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