Major League Baseball spring training is officially less than a month away, and the hot stove is as freezing as Chicago in January. With many quality free agents still on the board, and many highly coveted trade targets yet to be moved, baseball fans are beginning to get restless. Many teams still have holes on their roster, and the White Sox are no exception.
For what feels like the 200th year in a row, the White Sox have needs in right field and at second base, among other places. When asked about the White Sox starting right-fielder during his last media session, new GM Chris Getz said bluntly, “We’re looking to add.”
While the White Sox have since signed Brett Phillips and Rafael Ortega to minor league deals, let’s say for the sake of this exercise that they’re looking for a more impactful addition to the club.
Here are five remaining free agents that could make sense.
Adam Duvall
Perhaps the most logical fit available, Duvall was tied to the White Sox last offseason before inking a one-year deal with the Red Sox. Despite turning 35 in September, Duvall put up a very productive season at the plate when healthy, still showed enough athleticism to play some center field in Boston, and has experience at all three outfield spots as well as first base.
Though he’s a right-handed hitter, Duvall has nearly identical numbers vs. righties and lefties in his career, so he should be a reliable bat that can be in the lineup daily. At this stage of his career, he may prefer to play for a contender, but the White Sox should absolutely be interested in adding Duvall to a lineup that lacks much pop.
A highly-coveted trade deadline target around the league, it’s somewhat surprising to see that Pham has yet to find a home this offseason. Jon Heyman of the NY Post reported back in November that Pham has “a considerable amount of interest” from teams, and with six consecutive seasons of at least 15 home runs, Pham has shown that he still has something left in the tank at 36 years old. He’s been a highly respected leader and teammate in several different clubhouses, something that Getz and the new front office have stated is a priority for the White Sox.
While he’s not the best defender in the outfield, he has an above-average arm and is athletic enough to stay out there. He may have lots of interest from contending teams, but should he decide to take on a mentor role for a young clubhouse, consider the White Sox a good fit.
