2023 AL Central Preview: Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox needed a win this offseason. After coming into the previous season heavily favored to win the division, they limped away with a .500 record and owner Jerry Reinsdorf had to fire his friend as manager. So it was important for the front office to generate some positivity going into 2023.

At first, the Sox seemed to be doing what was needed. The early offseason featured some good things, like signing Andrew Benintendi and installing Pedro Grifol as manager. Benintendi, of course, is a known quantity and generated goodwill on his own. Grifol, on the other hand, was a bit more mysterious, though quotes like this from Ned Yost surely helped:

“He understands what made baseball…