The White Sox have actually made a pair significant freelance actions this offseason. Andrew Benintendi was generated on a five-year, $75MM deal to strengthen the edge outfield and also make certain Andrew Vaughn heads to his all-natural very first base setting. Mike Clevinger tattooed a bounceback offer to include some deepness to the rear of the beginning team.
One setting the White Sox have not resolved so far is keystone. The keystone was an enigma in 2014, with 5 gamers logging at the very least 5 looks there. Josh Harrison and also Danny Mendick are gone, with Chicago decreasing a club alternative on the previous and also non-tendering the last. That leaves a triad of in 2014’s options that stand as the leading internal prospects for reps.
- Romy Gonz ález (26 ): Gonz ález made his MLB launching in 2021 with 10 looks, and also he entered into 32 even more video games last period. Between those 2 years, he’s rounded up simply a. 241/.261/.350 line via his very first 142 MLB plate looks. The right-handed player has actually attached on 2 crowning achievement with well even worse than typical strikeout and also stroll numbers. He’s strolled in simply 2.1% of his journeys versus a 35.2% strikeout percent. It was a relatively comparable tale with Triple- A Charlotte in 2014, where Gonz ález punched out a 3rd of the moment en path to a. 198/.281/.339 line over 33 video games. He would certainly strike much better in Double- A the year prior to, attaching on 20 homers in 78 competitions in a pitcher-friendly setting– albeit with a 28.2% strikeout price. Gonz ález has some power upside however major call worries versus top degree throwing.
- Leury Garc ía ( 32 ): Garc ía is a business fave that’s headed right into his tenth period with the club. He’s defensively functional and also has actually plainly engaged himself to several mentoring teams and also the front workplace, finishing in an unexpected three-year freelance offer last offseason. The switch-hitter has simply a. 253/.293/.350 job line at the major league degree, however. Things were also worse in 2022, as he struck.210/.233/.267 over 315 journeys to home plate. It’s difficult to imagine a win-now club checking on him as a day-to-day gamer, although he figures to play a multi-positional function off the bench.
- Lenyn Sosa (23 ): Sosa has virtually no MLB experience. He made his very first major league promo in June and also end up showing up in 11 video games the remainder of the method. The Venezuela indigenous is coming off a superb period in the high minors. He struck well at both Double- An as well as Triple- A, incorporating for a. 315/.369/.511 line with 22 crowning achievement via 536 plate looks. While Sosa just strolled at a small 7.3% clip, he maintained his strikeout price under 16%. One can not be specific he’ll proceed at that rate versus MLB arms till he confirms it at the highest degree, naturally. Sosa rates 10th amongst White Sox leads at Baseball America and also might have one of the most upside of this triad, though there would certainly be a lot of threat for a group intending to complete for a department title consequently the keystone over to him quickly.
The Sox have a couple of various other infield options on the 40-man lineup however none promises to enter the keystone gap. Chicago has actually dabbled the concept of having fun Jake Burger at the keystone. He’s a much better suitable for the edge infield and also just saw 5 innings of MLB activity at keystone last period. Jose Rodriguez and also Bryan Ramos were each included in the 40-man after the 2022 period to maintain them out of the Rule 5 draft; neither has any type of MLB experience to day. Yo án Moncada has actually played second base in the past, however the White Sox have actually released him specifically at 3rd base for the previous 4 periods. It does not appear they’re taking into consideration relocating him back to the center infield.
Given the absence of an evident interior service, it’s unsurprising the club is open to generating aid from outside the company. General supervisor Rick Hahn informed press reporters the other day the club might include at keystone, though he showed they were certain sufficient in Gonz ález and also Sosa they do not think about that a requirement (using Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times). Their early-offseason task has actually appeared to line up keeping that shared self-confidence, because they have actually seen the freelance center infield market primarily run out.
The continuing to be options on the competitive market are headlined by Elvis Andrus, that liquidated the 2022 project with the White Sox after being launched by the A’s. The expert has actually just ever before played shortstop in his MLB job, as he completed there with Tim Anderson wounded late last period. Perhaps Andrus is unenthusiastic in relocating to keystone, though it stands to factor he would certainly have the ability to take care of the setting if ready to kick to the opposite side of the bag. Harrison is possibly the next-best anonymous center infielder. The Sox most likely do not see him as a noteworthy upgrade over their internal options considering they decreased to preserve him on what totaled up to a $4MM choice at the beginning of the offseason.
If not Andrus, that ‘d possibly leave Hahn and also his team wanting to the profession market. Any details profession targets for the Chicago front workplace aren’t openly understood, although a couple of gamers attract attention as speculative opportunities. The Blue Jays have a variety of keystone options and also may be open to parting with Cavan Biggio or Santiago Espinal The Marlins have actually delegated Joey Wendle and also Jon Berti to energy responsibility after finalizing Jean Segura If the Mets certainly complete their manage Carlos Correa, perhaps they would certainly deal old buddy Eduardo Escobar someplace with a more clear course to playing time.
The A’s would most likely think about deals on Tony Kemp That’s most likely additionally the situation for the Cubs and also previous White Sox Nick Madrigal, that shed his beginning work after they authorized Dansby Swanson to press Nico Hoerner to the keystone. Longer- fired profession prospects consist of Ha-Seong Kim and also Gleyber Torres, although the White Sox may need to dip even more than they really feel comfy right into a superficial ranch system to land either of those gamers. The exact same holds true of Nolan Gorman, that debuted for the Cardinals last period however might be offered in a bargain that landsSt Louis prompt MLB aid in an additional location. That’s not an extensive listing however highlights a couple of gamers the Chicago front workplace might sign in on.
Figuring out keystone is most likely the leading concern for Hahn and also his team. Even if the front workplace really is certain in Gonz ález and/or Sosa to tip up, including an expert enhance as insurance policy for that unverified duo makes good sense. The company may not have far more investing ability after the Benintendi finalizing. None of the continuing to be freelance options ought to cost a fortune, however, while a gamer like Espinal or Berti forecasted for a relatively small adjudication income should not be challenging to fit onto guides.
