The Chicago White Sox locked up one nook outfield spot final offseason, signing left fielder Andrew Benintendi to a five-year deal.
Right discipline is a query this offseason. And designated hitter is perhaps added to that checklist.
Eloy Jiménez, who was the staff’s main DH and likewise performed 14 video games in proper discipline in 2023, has been talked about in commerce hypothesis. The slugger appeared in additional than 100 video games (120) for simply the second time in his profession. He performed in 122 video games as a rookie in 2019, with accidents hampering him in 2021 and 2022.
Jiménez hit .272 with 18 dwelling runs and 64 RBIs in 2023. He missed most of May after present process an appendectomy.
“I made it very clear that the White Sox are willing to listen on any of our players,” basic supervisor Chris Getz mentioned throughout a video convention name Nov. 17. “When it involves Eloy, we simply had a go to with him within the Dominican Republic as a check-in, and he’s off and operating together with his offseason program. He appears actually good. He appears motivated and decided.
“He needs to maintain that. But Eloy’s potential with his bat, it’s just been lack of consistency mainly because of missed time. Teams are interested. It just has to make sense on both sides.”
As the dialogue continues pertaining to Jiménez’s future and the staff’s plan at DH, listed below are three questions to watch this offseason for the Sox outfield.
1. Where does Luis Robert Jr. have room to enhance?
The heart fielder grew to become the primary participant in Sox historical past to have at the very least 35 doubles (36), 35 dwelling runs (38), 80 RBIs (80), 90 runs (90) and 20 stolen bases (20) in a season.
Robert earned All-Star and Silver Slugger honors for the primary time in his profession and set profession highs in doubles, dwelling runs, RBIs, steals, at-bats (546) and video games (145).
“You look at what he provided on both sides of the ball, he was one of the top players in the game,” Getz mentioned on the GM conferences on Nov. 7.
Robert, 26, mentioned there’s “room to improve.”
“One of the keys for me for the success I had, I was able to recognize pitches in the strike zone,” Robert mentioned by means of an interpreter throughout a Nov. 9 video convention name.
“I think I can really improve with my offense, especially being more disciplined in the strike zone. That’s my goal. And improving on just playing daily.”
2. What needs to be anticipated of Andrew Benintendi in his second season with the Sox?
The Sox are hoping an offseason not spent on the mend will profit Benintendi.
When the five-year, $75 million contract was introduced final January, Benintendi had been bouncing again from a damaged hook of the hamate bone in his proper hand suffered that September with the New York Yankees.
“He had a tough offseason because he had that surgery,” Sox supervisor Pedro Grifol mentioned close to the top of the 2023 season. “(I’m) actually looking forward to watching him come in spring training really, really strong and doing what he’s capable of doing.”
Benintendi performed by means of some proper hand soreness in ‘23, slashing .262/.326/.356 with 5 homers and 45 RBIs in 151 video games.
“His bat-to-ball skills are very good,” Getz mentioned on Nov. 7. “He can put collectively a top quality at-bat towards each righties and lefties. He’s centered on getting stronger and extra athletic to assist him on the defensive aspect. Certainly that can bode effectively for him.
“He was excited to get to the finish line this season and get rolling into his offseason program because he’s determined to be an impactful major-league player, and I believe he has the ability to do that.”
3. What’s the plan for Oscar Colás?
Colás earned a spot on the opening-day roster out of spring coaching because the projected beginning proper fielder.
But the rookie ended the season within the minors after slashing .216/.257/.314 with 5 dwelling runs and 19 RBIs in 75 video games.
He made 59 begins for the Sox in proper — second on the staff to Gavin Sheets’ 61 — and is probably going in line for extra growth at Triple-A Charlotte.
“Obviously the talent remains. Everyone has seen the tools and what he’s capable of doing,” Getz mentioned on Nov. 7. “He’s acquired to discover a solution to play extra below management, perceive how pitchers are attacking him.
“He’s probably best fit in the minor leagues for the time being and using the experience he had at the major-league level to help him in the future. But we certainly haven’t given up on Oscar, just because you don’t give up on talent like that.”
So the Sox are pondering the perfect slot in proper discipline for 2024.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com