I think there is a component of people not be ready for the next phase of White Sox baseball. It was a rude awakening for people. You spend years talking about "the core" and the future, what potential lineups will look like, etc......Nicky was in all of them. Obviously not on the same impact level of guys like Eloy, Moncada, Robert, Gio, etc.....but a guy that was in everyone's lineup. There is some shock to the system when you remove that. It wasn't part of the plan.
But we're here now. They built a team that is running away with the division and considered one of the World Series favorites. These are the type of moves teams in those positions make. It's go time. And in my opinion, and the opinion of Hahn and Kenny.....Craig Kimbrell helps the Sox get closer to another World Series more than Nicky does.