Chicago White Sox Rumors: Team Must Sign Yoenis Cespedes

Outside of the Chicago Cubs signing Jayson Heyward, the free agent market for outfielders has been slow to develop this offseason. However, things are finally starting to pick up, and the other team from the Windy City, the Chicago White Sox, appears to be involved. The White Sox are rumored to be among the favorites for free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, and Chicago needs to make sure they end up signing Cespedes at any cost.

The White Sox scored the fewest runs in the American League in 2015, and that needs to be remedied in 2016. Chicago traded for Todd Frazier earlier in the offseason, but that move alone is not going to turn the White Sox into contenders in the AL Central. Trading for Frazier was a great move, but signing Cespedes on top of it will completely change the look of Chicago’s lineup.

In 2015, Cespedes was a catalyst for turning the New York Mets from a below-average offensive team into one of the best in the National League over the final two months of the season. The White Sox need a game-changer capable of carrying a team on his back, and Cespedes can be just that. He has a skill set that few players in baseball possess, and investing a substantial contract in a player like Cespedes will be a worthwhile venture for the White Sox, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2008.

In addition to Frazier, the White Sox have also added Brett Lawrie and Dioner Navarro this offseason. Putting Frazier, Cespedes and Jose Abreu in the middle of the batting order would give the White Sox an enormous amount of power and undoubtedly solve their offensive woes, especially with spark plugs like Lawrie, Adam Eaton and Melky Cabrera in the lineup as well.

There are obvious downsides to Cespedes, as his defense can be problematic and his work ethic is sometimes questioned. But his talent is undeniable, and he showed the type of impact player he can be with the Mets last season. Even with Frazier added to the roster, the White Sox need a game-changer to jump-start their offense in 2016, and that’s why Chicago needs to make sure they’re the ones that sign Cespedes.

Bryan Zarpentine is a Featured writer at www.RantSports.com.  Like him on Facebook, follow him on twitter @BZarp and add him on Google.