The White Sox have signed free-agent second baseman Johnny Giavotella, according to an announcement from Birmingham, their Double-A affiliate. Giavotella will begin his White Sox tenure in Birmingham.
The 30-year-old Giavotella had been available since the Marlins released him May 3, which came after he batted .214/.389/.250 in 36 plate appearances with their Triple-A team. He also spent nearly all of last season at Triple-A (with the Orioles’ affiliate), where he hit a solid .306/.368/.441 in 379 PAs.
While Giavotella hasn’t been a factor in the majors lately, he did see extensive action at times with the Royals and Angels from 2011-16. In all, the righty-swinger has taken 1,344 trips to the plate at the game’s highest level and hit .255/.294/.359.
With his new organization, Giavotella will begin as minors depth for a club missing its star second baseman, Yoan Moncada, who landed on the disabled list last weekend on account of hamstring tightness. The White Sox have since turned to Jose Rondon, Leury Garcia and Yolmer Sanchez at the keystone.
Get that OBP up, that’s what is killing his OPS. I don’t remember him being a solid defender at second when with the Halos. I assume his chances of becoming an everyday player is pretty much over. If he can get more reps at third and maybe even left field, he could be a decent utility player
From the numbers posted in this article Johnny Giavotella’s OBP is pretty good, especially the .389 mark in AAA prior to his release. His SLG of .250 killed his OPS this season not that it’s a priority metric for a typical second baseman.
Giavotella is strictly a depth piece for a White Sox organization that currently has zero 2B prospects in their top-30 list. Yoan Moncada is their core second baseman unless the White Sox opt for top college hitting prospect Nick Madrigal with the #4 pick in next months MLB Draft. That would allow them to consider shifting the muscular Moncada to 3B and a little further down in their batting order in the future while Madrigal could become their leadoff hitter and a potential Gold Glove candidate at 2B by 2020 or so.
In the short term the White Sox do have an outstanding glove man capable of playing 2B in Yolmer Sanchez who is their current third baseman and also hitting better with the White Sox than most expected. If the White Sox do select Madrigal they could expedite a move of Moncada to 3B where he debuted briefly for the Red Sox in September of 2016 when they needed help there down the stretch. Sanchez’ bat plays better at 2B while Moncada’s should play anywhere if he reaches his full potential. As for Sanchez’ long term potential with the White Sox, he would make for an excellent utility infielder done the road with his ability to play 2B, SS and 3B who also switch-hits and can steal a base. He could also become a potential trade asset for another contender looking for a similar player.
Madrigal is a little guy at 5″7″ but size didn’t prevent Dustin Pedroia and Jose Altuve from winning AL MVP awards at 2B. Madrigal has a 65 grade hit tool which is far and away the best among any draft prospects. He also runs well and played mostly SS at Oregon State so his defense at 2B is not an issue. In addition to his solid bat Madrigal is also one of those rare players who walks more than he strikes out which would look mighty good setting the table in a future White Sox batting order that will feature the likes of Moncada, Luis Robert and Moncada hitting behind him.
Oops! Make that Moncada, Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez hitting behind Madrigal.
He’s part of the tanking this year. Nothing more , nothing less
Yep. It would also take an injury or two at 2B or a potential trade of Sanchez for Giavotella to even have a chance of getting to the South Side in 2018.