'By no means is this over': White Sox ready to turn page on 1st half

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The White Sox had a rough 92-game stretch in the first half of 2023 during Pedro Grifol's managerial debut. But those subpar results are in the past and can’t be changed, as Chicago gets ready to open the second half in Atlanta.

“I can tell you it’s been educational,” Grifol said. “Not only for myself, but for our staff. Things that are going to make us better down the road, all the way from practice schedules to meetings to just evaluating ourselves as a team. By no means is this over.

“We still have baseball to play, and we have some meaningful games that I believe are still in front of us. We have to continue to work, work hard. And do our thing.”

Here’s my look at the White Sox at the All-Star break, with potential roster changes on the horizon:

What we learned in the first half: Luis Robert Jr. is a superstar/top-five talent in the game
This point was pretty much known simply by watching Robert Jr. effortlessly cover from left-center to right-center, launch long home runs and swipe a base or two prior to 2023. But after a rough April, the All-Star center fielder has put it all together on a consistent basis over the last 2 1/2 months. Robert Jr. ranks second in the American League with 26 home runs, has done less chasing of pitches out of the zone and has stayed healthy, something with which he previously struggled. The 25-year-old has been one of the true bright spots on this scuffling team.

Likely Trade Deadline strategy: Sellers, or so it finally seems
At 38-54, Chicago is off to an unexpected start, but the American League Central being just as poor has provided a season-long glimmer of hope. General manager Rick Hahn will almost certainly make moves to change the look of the White Sox, most likely involving players with low-control contracts, in an attempt to solidify the organization for the future. The club starts the second half with a nine-game road trip against the Braves, Mets and Twins. This should be the last-ditch opportunity for the players to change that course, but the championship window, following a much-ballyhooed rebuild, is heading toward a reshaping.

Key player: Tim Anderson
Since 2019, when Anderson won the batting title, the White Sox shortstop has been the team’s driving force. Battling injuries, Anderson has a .223/.259/.263 slash line this season and hasn't homered since July 15, 2022. So, it's more than a coincidence that the offense has struggled. Anderson works daily to get things right, leaving the White Sox to decide whether to explore the trade route now or in the offseason. They could also play out ’23, pick up his $14 million option for ’24 and count on Anderson bouncing back just as he did after a difficult 2018 season.

Prospect to watch: Oscar Colás
The No. 2 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, broke camp with the team as the potential right fielder of the future, but was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on May 2. The numbers weren’t the only issue for the 24-year-old left-handed hitter. He needed to work on plate discipline and pregame approach, not to mention handling the inherent pressure and failures of being a rookie. That developmental snag was no surprise to the White Sox. Colás worked hard in Charlotte and returned to the big leagues on July 4. He’ll have the rest of the regular season to show if his adjustments match his overall talent.