Hypothetically, let's say the Grandal contract was for 2 years. They got what they wanted out of him and that money and subsequent bad performance was gone in 2022 and 2023.
Would the reallocation of ~$18M per year toward relievers and maybe a better RF have made the 81-81 White Sox a contender, or the 2023 team any different? If the answer is no, how did it weigh the team down?