David Robertson And Nate Jones
Of the 4 players from the White Sox to play in the World Baseball Classic, David Robertson and Nate Jones will be the two to keep an eye on. Everyone already knows what Quintana will bring, and Gonzalez is more of a feel good story than anything. He is not in the White Sox long-term plans, and most certainly will not bring back a top prospect in a trade. Then there are Robertson and Jones.
Last season, Robertson was pitching through injury, a logical reason as to why he saw his outstanding career numbers take a drop. Now healthy, he will be able to show that he is once again a dominant closer. Teams like the Washington Nationals will surely be watching him not only during the WBC, but over the next couple months as well. The tournament could essentially be looked at as a tryout for Robertson. An above average performance will see his trade stock solidify, while another setback might scare teams away.
Nate Jones has also battled some injuries in his career, but when he is healthy, he is truly one of the more underrated relievers in baseball. If David Robertson were to be traded, Jones would most certainly become the White Sox closer. In a league where relief pitching is becoming one of the more dominant assets of the game, it will be interesting to see what Nate Jones brings to the World Baseball Classic. Perhaps with a strong enough outing on a bigger stage, Jones will start to get the recognition he deserves. If he can follow up a strong tournament with a great first half of the season, he could be another current member of the White Sox to see a solid return via trade.
