The Chicago White Sox will probably be trying to find outfield depth after AJ Pollock declined a participant possibility and have become a free agent Tuesday.
Pollock had a $13 million possibility, in response to spotrac.com. Instead he’ll obtain a $5 million buyout, in response to ESPN’s Buster Olney, who had the initial report.
“Not shocking if you look at the free-agent market right now,” Sox common supervisor Rick Hahn mentioned of the transfer in the course of the GM conferences Tuesday at Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World. “There’s not a ton of right-handed-hitting outfield bats.
“Also it gives him the opportunity to pick the ideal situation for him going into next season. He’s a veteran player and he’s earned the right to that.”
Pollock, 34, slashed .245/.292/.389 with 14 homers and 56 RBIs in 138 video games after the Sox acquired him in an April 1 commerce with the Los Angeles Dodgers for reliever Craig Kimbrel.
“He was a true pro for us,” Hahn mentioned. “Worked extremely hard. Obviously didn’t have the year that any of us, including him, envisioned, but his future remains bright and it was good to have him.”
The Sox have been hit exhausting with accidents, notably within the outfield, with left fielder Eloy Jiménez and middle fielder Luis Robert lacking prolonged time.
Pollock, who began opening day in proper area, was utilized all through the outfield. He made a team-high 77 begins in left and was second on the group with 35 begins in middle. He additionally made 11 begins in proper.
One of his highlights got here throughout Game 1 of a May 22 doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
The Sox and New York Yankees have been tied at 1 heading to the ninth inning. Pollock was the primary batter up for the Sox, going through reliever Aroldis Chapman.
Pollock bought forward within the depend 1-0. He hit Chapman’s second pitch, a 95 mph fastball, over the left-field wall to provide the Sox the lead in a recreation they gained 3-1.
Pollock’s choice comes a day after the Sox declined their $5.5 million membership possibility on Josh Harrison. The infielder slashed .256/.317/.370 with seven homers, 27 RBIs and 50 runs in 119 video games in 2022.
“Josh is absolutely tremendous in the clubhouse,” Hahn mentioned. “And he was the participant we mainly anticipated him to be. Solid contributor offensively and defensively at (second base) and good within the clubhouse.
“Ultimately comes down to resource allocation, and we do have some internal options and perhaps there’s a way to balance the lineup a little better by an addition at that spot. We’ll see.”
The group’s estimated 2022 payroll was $196 million, in response to Fangraphs.com. As for 2023, Hahn mentioned, “The candid answer is we’re not sure yet.”
“We’re still going through a budgeting process internally,” he mentioned. “My general expectations are that it will be somewhere in the vicinity of where it was in 2022. But I don’t have a firm number in hand just yet.”
Asked if it’s extra probably that the Sox would flip issues over by way of trades than free company, Hahn mentioned, “I think that’s probably the more likely path.”
“Part of it is the position we’ve placed ourselves in contractually with some of our commitments,” he mentioned. “We clearly made these commitments as a result of we imagine within the expertise that we dedicated to, and a part of the objectives for subsequent 12 months is to get a few of the guys that underperformed that we anticipate again to their accustomed ranges. A giant a part of our enchancment will come from that space, we hope.
“I wouldn’t read into us closing off any avenues. In an effort to be as transparent as possible, I expect more likely to be active via trade than free agency. Just my expectation. If it turns out to be the opposite, tell me in March I was wrong.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com