Chicago White Sox nearing deal with Paul DeJong

The Chicago White Sox appear to be on the verge of adding their new starting shortstop.

Reporting earlier this off-season had the White Sox being interested in veteran shortstop Paul DeJong and it would seem that the two sides are nearing an agreement.

DeJong hit 74 home runs throughout his first three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals but the veteran shortstop has not registered an offensive season with a wRC+ over 100 since 2019.

The Chicago White Sox appeared to have found their new starting shortstop as the team is nearing a deal with Paul DeJong.

The Cardinals moved on from DeJong this past season when they traded DeJong to the Toronto Blue Jays at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline in August before the Blue Jays released him later that month and he finished the season with the San Francisco Giants.

In 400 plate appearances between the three teams last season, DeJong slashed .207/.258/.355 with a wRC+ of 66. DeJong remains one of the best fielding shortstops at the Major League level as he recorded 9 outs above average last season.

It would seem that DeJong will open the 2024 season as the team’s starting shortstop with the recently acquired Nicky Lopez being in place as the team’s starting second baseman. Of course, the expectation is that the White Sox’s top prospect, shortstop Colson Montgomery, will be ready for the Major Leagues at some point next season. Once that happens, it would seem that Montgomery would take over at shortstop with DeJong moving to a reserve role.

The White Sox’s signing of DeJong likely all but confirms that Tim Anderson will not be returning to the team. Anderson’s $14MM club option was declined by the White Sox last month and it seemed likely a reunion this off-season would have been a last resort for both sides.