It has been an offseason of change within the center infield for the Chicago White Sox.
That has been the norm at second base, the place the Sox have had a distinct starter on the place on opening day every of the final 11 seasons.
But it’s a brand new state of affairs at shortstop, at which Tim Anderson was the fixture for eight seasons. The two-time All-Star turned a free agent after the Sox declined his $14 million membership possibility for 2024 on Nov. 4.
The Sox took their first steps to deal with second base and shortstop by buying center infielders Nicky Lopez and Braden Shewmake on Nov. 16 as a part of a six-player deal that despatched reliever Aaron Bummer to the Atlanta Braves.
They signed veteran shortstop Paul DeJong to a one-year deal introduced Tuesday.
“What attracted me to the White Sox was just being from the Chicago area, growing up in Antioch,” DeJong mentioned throughout a videoconference name Wednesday. “Having that major-league deal really helped me decide to come here, and having family connections to the city — my great-grandparents grew up in Chicago on the South Side.”
Ahead of subsequent week’s MLB winter conferences in Nashville, Tenn., listed here are three questions concerning the Sox infield.
1. Are the Sox all arrange the center?
Across the board, the Sox are striving to change into a extra constant defensive staff. That’s particularly essential up the center.
The Sox dedicated 12 errors in 2023 at second base — six by Elvis Andrus, two by Lenyn Sosa and Zach Remillard and one every by Anderson and Hanser Alberto — and 20 errors at shortstop — 14 by Anderson and 6 by Andrus.
DeJong and Lopez ought to assist in that space.
Lopez, who performed 49 video games at second base, 29 at third and 11 at shortstop in 2023 for the Braves and the Kansas City Royals — is tied for tenth in baseball with 31 outs above common for the reason that begin of 2020 based on FanGraphs.
“You look at his defensive ratings or any sort of evaluation, it’s strong,” Getz mentioned of the Naperville Central graduate throughout a Nov. 17 videoconference name.
Lopez made two errors in 277 possibilities throughout 2023 and DeJong had 5 in 385 possibilities.
“I’m excited to work with Nicky Lopez up the middle, he’s always been somebody I’ve enjoyed watching play,” DeJong mentioned.
DeJong was a Gold Glove Award finalist at shortstop in 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He ranks sixth amongst major-league shortstops in defensive runs saved (41) for the reason that begin of 2018.
“I really take pride in my defensive abilities,” DeJong mentioned. “The biggest thing is the fundamentals, it’s not trying to be flashy, not trying to force things. For me it’s about making the plays and preparing, doing my work pregame, talking to the other infielders with our communication.”
Internally the Sox nonetheless have Remillard (34 video games at second, 4 at shortstop in 2023), Romy Gonzalez (28 at second, two at shortstop earlier than surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum in his proper shoulder ended his season) and Sosa (44 video games at second). Shewmake appeared in two video games at shortstop with the Braves.
The prime prospect within the Sox group is a shortstop — 2021 first-round choose Colson Montgomery. The 21-year-old completed the 2023 season at Double A and likewise participated within the Arizona Fall League.
How quickly can Sox followers anticipate to see him within the massive leagues?
“Colson’s a special talent,” Getz mentioned, “and he’ll certainly let us know when he is ready.”
2. What areas will help Andrew Vaughn’s development?
After spending the majority of his first two major-league seasons within the outfield, Vaughn made the transfer to his pure place of first base in 2023.
He established profession highs in doubles (30), dwelling runs (21) and RBIs (80) whereas taking part in in 18 extra video games (152) than his earlier greatest for a season.
His weighted runs created-plus (wRC+) — which estimates a participant’s offensive contribution in complete runs and adjusts that quantity to account for exterior components resembling ballpark and period — was 103, based on FanGraphs. The major-league common is 100.
Vaughn did have 129 strikeouts, the second-most on the staff behind Luis Robert Jr.’s 172, and the Sox are targeted on endurance on the plate.
“He’s a guy that you look at whether it be his underlying metrics or just his surface level production, there’s a lot to like there,” Getz mentioned on the GM conferences Nov. 7. “He’s working his butt off this offseason, getting extra athletic, extra highly effective.
“He’s got pretty strong zone awareness. He has the ability to put together good quality at-bats. He has to get back to being the middle-of-the-lineup type hitter that he can be, and I say that in the sense of being patient with how pitchers are attacking him and taking advantage of pitches that he can drive.”
3. Can Yoán Moncada carry the momentum from his ultimate 2 months of the 2023 season?
Moncada had two stints on the injured listing as again points derailed a bit of his 2023 season.
The third baseman returned July 25 and put collectively a strong ultimate two months.
Moncada slashed .280/.323/.430 with two dwelling runs and 12 RBIs in August. His numbers continued in the appropriate route in September when he slashed .298/.344/.560 with six dwelling runs and 12 RBIs.
The key’s to hold that late-season cost into 2024.
“You look at the last two-plus months of his offensive production, it was very impressive,” Getz mentioned Nov. 7. “So it’s actually constructing off that. Health is vital. He had a again problem that lingered. That appears to be behind him.
“This is a big season for Yoán. We’ve seen him at his best. It’s a matter of him being consistent with it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com