Chicago White Sox are all quiet so far on the free agent front
By Todd Welter
The Chicago White Sox really needs to get right field figured out before 2022.
The outfield was a constant rotation of players last season due to injuries. A healthy Luis Robert has center field locked down. He has enough range to cover the left field as well if the Chicago White Sox choose to start Eloy Jimenez there.
The White Sox have internal options at right field but there are a lot of question marks and those candidates may not help the Chicago White Sox get over the playoff open exit issues.
Adam Engel can play excellent defense but has yet to prove he can stay healthy over a full 162 season.
Gavin Sheets and Andrew Vaughn showed they could roam the Guaranteed Rate outfield but can they both prove to have the range to play good defense in more critical defensive positions over a full season?
Also, can both hit over a full season? Vaughn hit the rookie wall last season at the plate and Sheets only has 179 plate appearances to his name. The Chicago White Sox would be best served to beat the Phillies in signing Nick Castellanos.
Source: The #Phillies have had recent contact with reps for free agent Nick Castellanos. Of note, Dave Dombrowski was #Tigers President/GM when Castellanos was Detroit’s top pick in 2010. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 29, 2021
He will be 30 next season. He had a 4.2 WAR last season, 140 wRC+, and a career-high 34 home runs last season He has been a consistent hitter over the years but some of the numbers leave something to be desired.
Where Nick Castellanos has ranked in various Statcast metrics from 2018-2021
— Fish On First Spaces (@MarlinsSpaces) November 27, 2021
A consistent player...for better and for worse pic.twitter.com/WIWrgG65yr
Plus, he wants a seven or eight-year deal.
Nick Castellanos Reportedly Seeking Seven- Or Eight-Year Deal https://t.co/MPmovqG1CD pic.twitter.com/GZdsMVk88G
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 29, 2021
Castellanos production is worth pursuing a deal but only if he can be talked down to a four or five-year deal. If Castellanos is too expensive or wants too many years, Chris Taylor should be signed. Taylor could also provide a solution at second as he is versatile to play the infield.
Taylor would be a great fit for the Chicago White Sox. The Seattle Mariners are targeting him but they might be out of the running after signing Robbie Ray.
The Mariners will lose their third-highest draft pick in 2022 once they complete their signing of Robbie Ray. If they sign a second free agent who rejected a qualifying offer - say, Chris Taylor - they also would lose their fourth-highest pick.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 29, 2021
Taylor is not a power hitter by any means but he has a career .261/.331/.443/.779 slash line. He posted a 4.5 WAR last season which is phenomenal. He is attractive with his versatility, productivity, and October experience.
I see the White Sox going with the internal solutions and see if Engel can stay healthy. They could make a trade for outfield help that would not be shocking once the lockout is over. I am terrified Hahn might bring back Adam Eaton