2019 Chicago White Sox: Who will it be in right field?

What will the Chicago White Sox end up doing out in right field?

The list of candidates for the right field job for the 2019 Chicago White Sox is starting to look a bit like Chicago’s mayoral race did before it narrowed down into a runoff.

Or like the 2020 field of potential Democratic nominees for president, if national politics is more your jam.

Either way, it’s long.

Right now, it’s a list that includes Ryan Cordell, Adam Engel, Jon Jay, Leury Garcia, Brandon Guyer, and Jose Rondon, according to the Daily Herald. Blake Rutherford could be in the mix down the line, although the former New York Yankees number-one draft pick, acquired in the Todd Frazier trade, likely won’t be on the big club until 2020.

Manager Rick Renteria told the Herald that he will use the number of choices to play the matchups in the Sox’ favor throughout the season.

Palka played 43 games in right field last year for the Sox, slugging 27 dingers and driving 67 runs with a .240 batting average. He told the Daily Herald that he plans on improving his defense in the outfield.

Jon Jay, who some believe the Sox signed in order to lure Manny Machado to the South Side (whoops), hit three homers and drove in 40 RBIs while splitting time between Arizona and Kansas City last year. He appeared in 143 games.

Finding a steady right fielder may not seem urgent for a team that’s not expected to contend in 2019, but it’s a key part of the rebuilding effort, especially if Rutherford is not the right fielder of the future.

Even if he is, he’s only 21 this year. So one or more of the above players may still serve as the regular for a while, unless Rutherford is ready to start daily in 2020.

That’s not to say a platoon can’t work. Perhaps Renteria will be best served playing the matchups. Still, add RF to the list of questions a Sox team in transition must address this year, if not next.