Last week, the White Sox organization made a long-awaited splash in free agency as they agreed to terms with starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez. Last month, they signed catcher Yasmani Grandal, as well.
On Christmas Day, the White Sox reportedly agreed to a deal with free agent Edwin Encarnacion. The pact is a one-year deal worth $12 million with a club option for 2021.
Source: Edwin Encarnación to the White Sox. 11 million dollars plus one million signing bonus. Deal pending a physical. It also includes a 2021 club option.
— Yancen Pujols (@YancenPujols) December 26, 2019
Encarnacion, who turns 37 in January, will likely serve as a designated hitter and backup first baseman behind Jose Abreu.
Last season, he finished with 34 home runs as he split time between the Mariners and the Yankees. His 414 career home runs rank 52nd on the all-time list.
Last season, White Sox designated hitters combined to hit 17 home runs in 550 at-bats, so even if Encarnacion has declined slightly, he is still an upgrade.
This move, along with the moves last week, suggest that the White Sox are serious about contending to make the postseason for the first time since 2008.
That is definitely good news for the team’s fanbase. In 2019, the White Sox finished a dismal 17 games below .500. The young talent, even in a bad season, showed great potential. Now, when you add this signing along with the others, you can’t help but be excited, even if the season is still months away.
