Western Courier| August 31st, 2020

Opinions: The uncertainty of 2020

Sports: Potential trades for the White Sox

WesternCourier.com

Monday, August 31, 2020 - Vol. 121 Issue 4

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Pandemic shuts down the party

By Rachel Greene editor-in-chief

Saturday, The Forum, which is usually filled to capacity with music blaring, remained empty and silent.

In a photo posted to their Twitter account, the popular nightclub said, “After reflecting on the number of Western Illinois University students who are self quarantining waiting on test results or who are considering testing over the weekend, we are voluntarily choosing to close this evening. Last night was a good indication that most students are doing the right thing and staying

home as they quarantine.”

The statement, however, marks no indefinite closure for The Forum, continuing on to say, “We look forward to seeing you next weekend and everyone please stay safe.” Whether or not the forum will open this Friday will likely depend upon the rate of infection of Western Illinois University students On Friday, The Forum had a different sentiment in mind, posting a tweet with a photo attached that said, “As per new state mandate everyone must wear a face mask to enter all bars and restaurants. Do the right thing. Neck Up, Mask Up.”

As evidenced by the closure Saturday, The Forum decided the “right thing” was to close the doors to students and members of the public while many of them awaited test results.

While the bar opted to open on Friday night, this statement and closure came Saturday afternoon, following a notice from the McDonough County Health Department. The notice, titled “Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) exposure at local bar,” said, “In the course of their contact tracing investigation efforts, the McDonough County Health Department (MCHD) was informed of a

public exposure to COVID-19 at The Forum in Macomb, IL on 8/22/20 and 8/23/20.”

At the time of the public exposure to the virus, the Forum hosted a two-day event proclaimed on their Twitter account as the “Freaky Tiki Semester Kick Off.” Hidden within the graphic posted on their Twitter is a mask on a tiki that reads, “Please use good judgement.” While this event was intended to kick the semester off, it may have actually kicked the outbreak off, leading to a rise in cases among students reported by Western Illinois University.

While The Forum closing may have pleased admin-

istrators at Western Illinois University due to their stance on any large gatherings, other bars in town such as The Ritz, The Change of Pace and The Cafe remained open to students and the people of Macomb. With campuses and college towns shutting down around the country every day, it remains unclear whether or not Western Illinois University will decide to move classes fully online and whether or not bars will be able to operate this semester in a healthy, safe manner.

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The Forum unexpectedly closed Saturday after cases among the Western Illinois University community rose.

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Opinions on Page 5: The unfortunate loss of Chadwick Boseman OPINIONS 4 | EDGE 6 | SPORTS BACK PAGE

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Monday, August 31, 2020

NEWS

WesternCourier.com

Historical piece of art blooms in downtown Macomb

By Rachel Greene editor-in-chief

On Saturday at 10 a.m., a historical addition was made to downtown Macomb. The Lincoln topiary statue now sits proudly on the lawn of City Hall.

The unveiling of this statue was originally supposed to take place back in April, but sadly the pandemic had other plans. The piece of art, which cost $32,000, was paid for by Macomb’s Noon Rotary Club in celebration of its 100th anniversary.

The piece of art was created

by Western Illinois University Associate Professor Duke Oursler. In a statement released on the Western Illinois

University website, the artist said, "Creating public art has been one of the joys of my life," said Oursler. "Making public art is something that brings folks together to share in our human experiences.

Making a sculpture of President Lincoln, whose impact on our country is evermore relevant as we navigate these trying times, has provided me the opportunity to understand my role as an artist and the role of art and creativity in our society. I am hopeful that this sculpture will create a sense of wonder, interest and curiosity, and will be a source of pride and unity for our community."

During the unveiling, which was invite-only as well as live-

streamed in order to promote social distancing, speeches were made by various members of the community who worked on the project, including Macomb Mayor Mike Inman and the artist himself, Oursler, who gave a speech to the socially distanced crowd via video call. Mayor Inman said, “When a community builds a project, the project builds that community.” In addition, the Lamoine Brass Quintet performed and a lifelike Abraham Lincoln impersonator said a few words from the point of view of the 16th President of the United States himself.

The historical background behind the statue is what community members hope

PHOTO BY EMMA GARCIA

Abraham Lincoln gave remarks and unveiled the statue.

will draw visitors to both the statue and to Macomb. Lincoln actually visited Macomb twice prior to becoming president in preparation for his debates with Senator Stephen Douglas. At the time around 1858, Lincoln’s famed beard was nowhere to be seen. The flowers, which make up his beard, represent something that may not have been present yet during his time in Macomb, but grew with his years of experience after having left. Macomb will now join other areas of Illinois in becoming a ‘Looking for Lincoln” community, drawing tourist and history buffs alike to the town.

The statue itself was created by a 3D printing press and

A whiteboard provides a menu to assist with contactless pickup.

Located on the third floor of the Heating Plant Annex on the south end of campus across from Sherman Hall.

Mail: 1 University Circle, WIU, Macomb, IL 61455 Phone: 309-298-1876 Fax: 309-298-2309 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays E-mail: micour@wiu.edu Member: Illinois College Press Association, National Association College Press

PHOTO BY RACHEL GREENE

PHOTO BY EMMA GARCIA

The Lamoine Quintet performed at the unveiling ceremony.

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is composed of concrete and steel. The flowers that adorn the face of Lincoln come from Sweet Briar Corner Market, which is located near Roseville, IL. The flowers will be maintained through an internal irrigation system.

Even when the flowers do not bloom, the statue will remind those who view it of a time before Lincoln’s beard and therefore before his presidency. It will tell of a time when he was a young politician visiting Macomb to prepare for his career, his future and the future of the United States of America.

PUBLISHING AND CIRCULATION

StAFF MEMBERS

proofreader Mary Kilbourne editor-in-chief Rachel Greene

MC-Kilbourne@wiu.edu

R-Greene2@wiu.edu

photo editor Sara Remar

news editor Rachel Greene

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R-Greene2@wiu.edu

assistant photo editor Sara Remar

opinions editor Allison Young

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AN-Young@wiu.edu

production manager Brandon Trost

sports editor Chris Bean

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CR-Bean@wiu.edu

business manager Janiya Haynes

assistant sports editor Chris Bean

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assistant business manager Nash Miller

edge editor Peyton Finnegan

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advertising manager Tyler Hoffman

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adviser Will Buss WJ-Buss@wiu.edu

The Western Courier is published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the regular school year, excluding holidays, finals week and semester breaks. The WC updates the website weekly during the summer. All content reflects the editorial discretion of the students operating the newspaper and must be interpreted as unofficial university communication. While every attempt is made to determine the validity of advertising contained herein, the advertising in the WC is not to be construed as endorsements of any specific products or services.

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Monday, August 31, 2020

@WesternCourier

NEWS

President Abraham's party plea

By Rachel Greene editor-in-chief

“Pandemic + Parties = COVID Spread” is the title of a video released by Western Illinois University this past Friday.

The video, which stars Western Illinois University Interim President Martin Abraham, calls students out on their behavior over the course of the past week. With cases rising, the president’s statement has a disciplinary, severe tone to it.

In his address to students, particularly those who have not been obeying university policies and procedures regarding COVID-19, President Abraham said, “This is about protecting others as much as it is about protecting yourself.”

In this clip, Abraham publicly hints at the possibility of the semester being cut even shorter than the already condensed Thanksgiving end date for the

first time, saying, “We have become aware of large gatherings of students who are not making smart choices and they are also violating existing policies regarding alcohol and cannabis.

If we are to have a successful semester, this cannot continue.”

It is unclear whether or not the gatherings Abraham is referring to were held on campus or off.

He goes on to say, “Keep your distance. How can you keep your distance when you’re in large gatherings? You can’t, which is why they’re not allowed.” This may reference the recent outbreak at The Forum which happened to be synonymous with the outbreak occurring among Western Illinois University students.

“Take these policies and procedures seriously. They exist to protect our university community and others,” said Abraham. These policies and proce-

Interested in writing

NEWS? contact

Rachel Greene

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dures have been posted online in conjunction with the “Protect the ‘Necks” training and pledge that were posted on Western Online for all students and student workers to complete. The training, which consists of 73 pages, is designed to “Raise safety awareness about COVID-19, provide the latest safety guidance and inform the campus community on guidelines, protocols and procedures implemented on campus to keep people safe.” As evidenced by the need to publish the video, it appears that President Abraham feels that students are not necessarily following all guidelines to the extent necessary to have a successful, oncampus semester.

Visit wiu.edu/coronavirus for information, policies, COVID-19 dashboard and more.

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OPINIONS

Monday, August 31, 2020

WesternCourier.com

The uncertainty of 2020 COVID-19 has changed everything this year and that will most likely continue for the next couple of years as well. Everyone is tired of hearing about it, but it’s all we ever talk about now.

For six months the news has been talking about the virus like it is the second coming of Jesus Christ or like we’re all going to be in The Walking Dead, needing to fend for ourselves because anarchy

has ensued. Some anarchy has happened, and it has changed the way the world works and the way we need to cope with our problems. The world leaders don’t know what to do, governments across the world don’t know what to do and citizens are lost without their leaders to look up to. It is a time in world history where everyone is just as confused as the next person and it’s not the best feeling for a sense of

security. Through the lack of security and normalcy, riots and protests have broken out in support of BLM or Antifa or against it and the lack of freedoms due to the pandemic. A portion of Seattle called CHAZ tried to secede from the union in June and most people were not aware or not upset from that, which is a bit concerning. At this point in time, it seems like some simply don’t care what happens and others are in a frenzy trying to control the flames that are spreading everywhere.

Some people are not happy with the situation going on and hoped that by the time school rolled back around we would have some sense of

semblance of a plan for the kids going back to school and for resuming normal societal function, but that hasn’t happened yet. We are living in a time of limbo, waiting for the other shoe to drop. A sense of limbo cannot last too long before something drastic happens, and no one wants to see what will happen when it does.

We are not going back to the society we had last year and we will all need to adjust to it. All of us need to re-prioritize what is important to us and what we can and cannot live without. For some of us, school is not a priority because they simply lack the money to continue their edu-

cation or don’t see the next benefit of it. A lot of the jobs we are going to get degrees in will not be around in the 1020 years due to automation.

Many people have lost their jobs that will never come back and no one knows what is going to happen next, which can be a bit exciting if you put a positive spin on it. Due to no one knowing what is going on, there is a lack of expectation for everyone, which means that you can do whatever you want and find out where you are going to land when the proverbial shoe drops. Change the nature of the script you are in and write your own story. You only live once so make the most of it.

Introducing the Staff My name is Allison Young and I am the Western Courier ’s Opinions editor! This is my 7th semester here at the Courier! I started off as a writer for the pinions section and worked my way up to being an editor after my first two semesters. My major is communication with a minor in marketing and I will be graduating in May! My last few years at Western have been spent by being on the cheerleading team. I cheered for three years and chose not to continue this year for personal reasons. I loved being a Leatherneck cheerleader it just took up a lot of my time!

Some of my interests include spending time with friends, journaling, shopping online,

photography, and I am wanting to get into traveling to different places. A fun fact about myself is that I was stuck on a cruise ship during quarantine. So, my seven day vaction turned into 10 days.

I can't say that I had many complaints about the situation though! The cruise came up with a whole new itinerary with things to do. They had plenty of food and beverages to last the rest of the trip! After college I do not have a specific job that I am looking to do but I want to pursue a career in the business/marketing field. I have loved being a Leatherneck the last few years and I am sad that it will be coming to an end in May.

@WesternCourier

OPINIONS 5

Monday, August 31, 2020

The unfortunate loss of Chadwick Boseman

The year 2020 has been a repeated kick in the groin, and right when you think the pain will subdue, it only surprises you and hurts far worse. For me, like many others, that shock was waking up Saturday morning to learn that Chadwick Boseman had died of colon cancer; just another layer of bad news that no one was prepared for. At 43 years old, Boseman was an embodiment of what an actor, most importantly a black actor, aspired to be.

Boseman was the true epitome of a character actor, in my opinion. He brought characters to life from Jackie Robin-

son in 42, to funk legend James Brown in Get On Up. Boseman was on his way to have a similar career trajectory as the likes of Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. It’s unfortunate that Boseman’s life ended the way it did, but just as surprising learning that he had been battling colon cancer for four years.

Black Panther is a movie that is cherished and praised for its excellent depiction of a black utopia that’s prosperous without colonization. The fact that Boseman was battling cancer during this entire process, in retrospect, makes it much more emotional to watch. I honestly

couldn’t imagine holding such high expectations from people, while also secretly battling a terminal illness, but Boseman did not publicly complain once, further showing the kind of person that he was.

Regardless of what this does to Black Panther 2, Boseman’s legacy has already been left on this Earth for generations to come. He’ll always be T'challa; he’ll always be the first Black Panther.

The year 2020 has been complete and utter nonsense.

Bad news after bad news just makes paying attention to what’s going in the world seem hopeless. Kobe Bryant, COVID-19, racial tensions, police brutality, "Karens" an election and now this? If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that the unexpected can easily happen within the blink of an eye.

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Chadwick Boseman was well known for his role in the movie Black Panther along with several other films.

Contact Allison Young

AN-Young@wiu.edu

E2 EDGE

Monday, August 31, 2020

WesternCourier.com

The surprise we didn't know we needed The spring and summer months were long and hard this year, especially for those of us that were inside due to the Illinois Statewide “stay at home” mandate. Things were unpredictable and the majority of the public was struck by anxiety for the majority of the spring and summer months because of this.

On Thursday, July 23, Swift fans woke up to some of the most exciting news of the summer; Swift announced that she would be releasing her eighth album at midnight on July 24. In shock and surprise, Swift fans took to social media outlets to express their happiness about the album titled “Folklore,” and in addition to the album coming out, Swift also released a music video for one of

the songs on the album that same night.

At 11 p.m. I quickly took to YouTube to watch the official viewing party for the newest Swift music video for the song “Cardigan” off of the Folklore album. The music video was absolutely breathtaking, opening to Swift in a cabin-type room, which came into a forest as she climbed into a piano.

She repeated this throughout the song, eventually ending back in the cabin that she started in.

I personally loved the album. Swift is able to blend so many emotions into each and every song, making it so that anybody listening could relate to it.

The way that she is able to do this is spectacular and I think I listened to this album on repeat for a week

The cover art for swift's album Folklore.

when it first came out. I just couldn’t get enough of it.

“Folklore” gave not only Swift fans a taste of change in the middle of this pandemic, but all music lovers alike. Obviously, not everyone is a big fan of Swift, but when someone as big as her drops an album, people are going to stop and listen to it, especially now.

The album allowed people to stop worrying about everything going on in the world, even if for a few minutes and allowed them to get lost in the music.

This is something that is more and more desperately needed in today's world, even if there wasn’t a global pandemic out there.

This album was a breath of fresh air in the midst of a global pandemic and brought ease and excitement into our lives that were in need of something positive. Swift’s timing could not have been better.

Taylor Swift released her eighth album at the age of 30.

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Monday, August 31, 2020

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Spotify versus Apple Music savannah Osborne Courier staff @savozzy

Spotify and Apple Music are the two most known names when it comes to streaming music. When looking at the numbers, Apple Music has an estimated 68 million active users and Spotify has 248 million active users. Each app has many different pros and cons, and as far as which one is better all comes down to personal preference. So, which one is the best option for you?

Let’s talk about Apple Music. Although it has less than half the users Spotify does, it is slowly working its way up in the charts. When referring to price and availability, Apple offers a three-month free trial and then a $10 monthly fee after your trial runs out. So why not give it a shot? Worst case scenario, you can always cancel your subscription if it wasn’t up to your standards. You also get a better music selection with

Apple having over 60 million songs, in comparison to Spotify’s 50 million songs. Even if you don’t know what song you want to listen to, you have the option of the “For You” section which generates songs based on your preferences and gives you songs you would normally listen to. They also offer offline listening, meaning that you can download albums and songs without needing internet connection. Apple Music offers a lot of benefits, however there have been some complaints.

The majority of the complaints pertain to the app being difficult to navigate through. Apple has worked on certain bugs and problems with the software to allow it to become easier for

users, however, they haven’t quite succeeded in doing so.

Now that we have a better understanding of Apple Music, let’s talk about Spotify. Spotify subscriptions can be broken down into two categories: Spotify Free and Spotify Premium.

Premium will cost you $9.99 per month, and you are allowed a one-month free subscription to start off. Although it may not offer as many songs as Apple Music, the app offers a lot more customized playlists and actually understands your music likes and dislikes. They have a “Made for You” section, which is similar to Apple Music’s “For You” feature, however they give you six different playlists called your “Daily Mixes.” This

allows your music choices to be broken down into different categories and genres, giving you a playlist for any mood you might be in. This is Spotify’s most liked feature and all users tend to enjoy the playlists they provide for this section.

Overall, the app is very easy to navigate and has not had many issues with user interaction. However, there have been some complaints regarding the sound quality, because free users receive 160kbps, where Premium users get 320kbps music streaming. Also, their old lyric feature which has recently been changed so you can no longer view the lyrics to a song you are listening to.

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The Apple Music logo is on the left, the Spotify logo is on the right.

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Prices and rates for Spotify and Apple Music.

E4 EDGE

Monday, August 31, 2020

WesternCourier.com

Aaliyah's legacy lives on Wendy hernandez Courier staff @justagirlw_

Aaliyah Haughton was born on Jan. 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 12, she signed a contract with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson’s Blackground Records. At just 15 years old, she rose to fame after her first debut album Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number, which was released on May 24, 1994. This album debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 74,000 copies in just a week of its release. Aaliyah became the fresh face of R&B and continued to impact the music industry until her last album named after Aaliyah was released on July 7, 2001.

On Aug. 25, 2001, on her way back to the U.S. from the Bahamas, Aaliyah had just finished shooting a section of her music video Rock the Boat when all of sudden during takeoff, their plane crashed near the runway and a fire erupted which ended up killing her and nine of her colleagues. Her sudden death impacted many. She was only 22

and although she was very successful for her age and for a short span of time, she still had a lot more to come.

When she passed away it became very hard for her fans to find her music in apps such as Spotify, Google Play and Apple Music. The reason behind this issue was due to the fact that most of her music was owned by her music label Blackground Records. Because her uncle was the owner of that label, he had all the royalties. It has remained a mystery as to why her uncle would not allow companies to stream her songs and many theories have been speculated throughout the years.

In August 2019, an account that appeared to belong to Hankerson tweeted out saying that her music would be released on Jan. 16, 2020, and would be available on plat forms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Prime. Many fans were upset when no music was released and went out on a Twitter

" Aaliyah" is the self-titled third and final studio album by American R&B singer Aaliyah.

rage and began a hashtag #FreeAaliyahMusic in order to express the frustration and the injustice to Aaliyah’s legacy.

On Aug. 25, 2020, on Aaliyah's 19year death anniversary, her estate tweeted out a picture that stated “To Our Loyal Fans: We are excited to announce that communication has commenced between the estate and various record labels about the status of Aaliyah’s music catalog, as well as its availability on streaming platforms in the near future. Thank you for your continued love and support. More updates to come!” Many media outlets shared the news and fans began to express their excitement by tweeting out how Aaliyah's music will soon be on top of the charts once they are allowed to stream her music throughout all platforms.

Aaliyah's music has been held for many years but her fans continue to show her love and support even after her death. The dedication these fans have to keep her legacy alive is unthinkable and many music artists wish to have die-hard fans like hers.

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The late artist posed for a photo that appears in Rolling Stone.

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Adjusted College Football preseason top 10 Christopher bean assistant sports editor @cre_bean

This weekend starts the first week of college football. Yes, you read that right. College football will be played this year. Yes, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about the season, like what happens if an outbreak occurs, or what if a conference decides to pull the plug on the season? Well, hopefully we won’t have to worry about that. With that being said, with the Power 5 starting less than two weeks from today, when Miami takes on UAB on Thursday, Sept.

10. The SEC will begin their schedule at the end of next month and will only play conference games. With the Big 10 and Pac 12 deciding to postpone their season, let’s readjust the top 10 with the teams playing this fall.

No. 10 Oklahoma State Cowboys: The Cowboys start the top 10 simply because they have one of the best players in the country in junior running back Chuba Hubbard.

The only reason Hubbard is

not in the NFL right now is because you have to attend three years of college before you can enter your name in the draft. He was sensational last year, rushing for over 2,000 yards on 328 carries.

Hubbard has the eighth best odds to win the Heisman. If he can do what he did last year, not only will he be in New York in December, but his team could potentially be in contention to win it all.

No 9. Texas Longhorns: Another Big 12 team at No. 9. Head coach Tom Herman is entering his fourth year as the leader of the Longhorns. He is under a lot of pressure to do well this year, especially now with only a certain amount of conferences playing this year. Luckily for him, he has senior leader Sam Ellinger, who is entering his third year as starting quarterback. Along with Oklahoma State, Texas is another favorite to win the Big 12 this year.

No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting

Irish: Yes, the Irish are playing this year. After all, they have touchdown Jesus. Even though the Irish have never once played in a conference, this year is a lot different.

Since the Irish play six ACC games a year, the ACC invited them to play in their conference this year. Like the Longhorns, the Irish are lead three year starter, senior quarterback Ian Book. Book had a bit of a down year last year even though they won 11 games. They lost their two biggest games and failed to make the playoffs after going 12-0 in the regular season in 2018. Book is 20-3 as a starter and will look to improve on that in his final season.

No. 7 Auburn Tigers: The Tigers are the first SEC team to crack the top 10. Last year the Tigers relied on one of the best defenses in the country. This year they will rely more on sophomore quarterback Bo Nix. Nix was only a true freshman last year, winning nine games and beating arch rival Alabama. With Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa both getting drafted in the top five of the draft, Nix has a good chance to replace those two as the best quarterback in the SEC West.

No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs: The

Bulldogs have lost a lot of talent since their 2018 title run when they lost to Alabama.

They will have a decision to make at quarterback after Jake Fromm went to the draft. It will be between two transfers: former Wake Forest QB Jamie Newman and former USC QB JT Daniels. Both had success at their former schools and at least one of them will need to step up with an offense that doesn’t have a lot of experience.

No 5. Florida Gators: The Gators are my favorite to win the SEC East and finally overcome Georgia, who has dominated the East over the last several years. Head coach Mike Mullen is entering his third year and is looking to win his division for the first time in his career. Mullen and his team are my favorites to win the East.

No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners: Year in and year out so far in Lincoln Riley’s four years as head coach he has had to replace his Heisman winner/ candidate at the quarterback position. And he has successfully accomplished it year in and year out. This year it will be Spencer Rattler replacing Jalen Hurts.

No. 3 LSU Tigers: The defending national champions come

in at No. 3 on my list. They have lost a lot of players who went to the NFL and they will have a lot to replace, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know what it takes to win.

They still have that championship DNA, and we’ll see how they respond off the championship hangover.

No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide: After a disappointing 11-2 season, yes, I called an 11-2 season disappointing, but that’s expected when you missed the playoffs for the first time since college football began its playoff.

Obviously, the Tide lost a lot with four players going in the first round of the draft, but they have Mac Jones throwing to arguably the best duo in college football Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith.

No. 1 Clemson Tigers: The defending runner-ups and champions from two years ago, are led by arguably the best player in the nation; quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The junior has only lost one game in his career and is aiming to continue to add to his amazing career. Clemson has become a dynasty, and with another national championship, they will pass Alabama as the best program in the nation.

Potential blockbuster trades for the White Sox COURIER STAFF

The Chicago White Sox have been the forgotten Chicago baseball team over the last decade. With the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016,and racking up multiple winning seasons, the White Sox were left in their shadow.

Back in 2017, the Sox decided to blow things up and try to reset the franchise by trading away multiple key pieces. In return, the White Sox brought in multiple elite prospects, but rebuilding takes time.

However, now, it seems like all that time has paid off.

The Southside ball club is one game back of the Cleveland Indians for first place in the American League Central Division. They have had a magical season so far, throwing no-hitters and setting offensive records left and right. And with the new

expanded playoff format, the White Sox have been given over a 98 percent chance of making the playoffs. The Sox have one of the best young teams in all of baseball with a great chance to build a core over the next few years that can compete for not one, but multiple championships. However, the question everyone is asking is, should the Sox trade away some of their high-end prospects to get a piece that could help their title chase this year?

The answer is yes, but only if it is for the right price and right player. As of right now, the White Sox still have a relatively deep farm system despite most of their highend talent reaching the bigs.

All the players on the Major League club will be off limits, but anyone on their minor

league rosters could potentially be on the move. The one thing the Southsiders could use is another starting pitcher. Some of the names the Sox have been connected to have been Lance Lynn, Trevor Bauer and Brandon Woodruff. Let’s take a deeper dive in what the price tags might be for some of these players.

Lynn is currently on a two year deal making $8 million a year, so if the White Sox were to trade for him, he would not be a one year rental, and it would also make his price tag a bit steeper.

Lynn has been the second best pitcher dating back to last season according to WAR ranking, sitting only behind Jacob DeGrom. The Rangers need to boost their poor farm system so dealing away Lynn for prospects makes sense.

However, they're not going to give him away for pennies.

Many other teams are interested such as the Yankees, Twins and Braves. If the Sox want to get in the bidding war with those teams, any

potential deal would have to start around Michael Kopech or Dane Dunning. While getting two years of Lynn would be nice, I don't think the White Sox will be able to out bid teams closer to contention for the top pitcher on the market.

Next on the White Sox wishlist is Bauer. Bauer has been superb this year with lots of life on his pitches. The thing with Bauer is that he is only on a one year deal, so he would be a rental if a club traded for him. The media claims the Reds are looking for a big return if they are going to deal Bauer. I personally don't think it would be a good idea to trade a top end prospect unless you knew there was a good chance to resign him in the offseason. In a normal year, it would make more sense to trade for a rental like Bauer because you would be able to get plenty of starts out of him. However, in a shortened season, if the Sox were to trade for him, they would be getting less than 10 starts from him, and I don’t

think that's worth what the Reds are skiing for.

The last guy the Southsiders have been linked to is the Brewer ’s ace Woodruff.

Woodruff is under team control for the next four years, and has been quietly popping up in trade rumors. This is the one guy on my list I would be willing to give up a substantial amount for. I would be willing to build a package around Andrew Vaughn and Jared Kelley, the Sox’s second round pick this year. Woodruff is in the prime of his career and a proven ace under team control. The Brewers would receive two elite prospects with a couple fillers to go with them, and both teams get better in my opinion.

Final stretch of the 2020 season is underway, and it will be interesting to see what happens come the trade deadline on Monday afternoon. Like I've said since 2017 though, 2020 is going to be a special year for the White Sox. In Hahn we trust, Happy Trade Deadline!