Chicago White Sox: Three replacements options for Eloy Jimenez
Andrew Vaughn is getting consideration for Chicago White Sox leftfield.
Over the course of the past couple of seasons, the Chicago White Sox have been adamant that Eloy Jimenez is the team’s starting left fielder
Despite a public outcry for the White Sox to move him out of the field and into the role of the permanent designated hitter, the team has been unwilling to make the move. Part of the reason for hesitancy in terms of making Jimenez the permanent designated hitter is that the team was willing to let Jimenez prove that he is capable of playing the left-field position in a full-time capacity.
The other reason for Jimenez continuing to play left field for the White Sox is because of the construction of their roster. Last season, the White Sox roster had James McCann, Yasmani Grandal, Jose Abreu, and Edwin Encarnacion. In an effort to maximize their offensive potential, the White Sox essentially had no other choice than to play Eloy in leftfield.
Entering 2021, the White Sox designated hitter picture was not as clouded but Jimenez still was likely to play left field to allow prospect Andrew Vaughn to be the team’s DH.
With Jimenez now sidelined with the injury, this now allows Vaughn to get a look in left field. Both White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and manager Tony La Russa indicated on Thursday that Vaughn was likely to get to the first look in left field.
Experimenting with Vaughn in left field could certainly improve the long-term outlook for the White Sox. One of the reasons why Jimenez was penciled for leftfield this season is because the designated hitter role needed to be open for Vaughn.
If Vaughn proves that he is able to not only play leftfield but play at a level that is far superior to Jimenez, then it solves the designated hitter issue for the White Sox. The White Sox would have a power hitter in Vaughn that is capable of playing leftfield and allow Eloy to maximize his offensive value to the team as a designated hitter.
If Vaughn is not the answer for the White Sox in leftfield, then the team may need to look at external candidates: