The Chicago White Sox announced (via Twitter) a minor league deal for outfielder Preston Tucker. He has been invited to Spring Training, where he will wear number thirty-two.
Tucker has bounced around a bit the last few years, going from the Braves to the Reds and back to the Braves in 2018 after coming up in the Astros’ system. For his career, he has yet to find his stroke, hitting only .222/.281/.403, though he was close to league average with Atlanta before they traded him away the first time. Tucker, 28, was hitting .256/.307/.444 through 62 games when the Braves sent him to Cincinnati as part of the Adam Duvall trade. Atlanta bought him back from the Reds in early September, though he didn’t see much action the rest of the way.
Tucker represents a nice buy-low gambit for the White Sox, who have some at-bats to give in the outfield with Daniel Palka, Jon Jay and Adam Engel atop the depth chart for now. Veterans Brandon Guyer and Leury Garcia have also been brought in to camp to compete for a backup role. Tucker consistently put up monster power numbers in the minor leagues, and he has suffered from perennially low BABIP numbers at the big league level. There’s definitely some late-blooming potential here for Tucker, who finds a nice landing spot in Chicago where, if he makes the team out of camp, he could receive a real opportunity to establish himself early in the season.
Dumpster divin’
I was gonna say that
Dumpsters are an inexpensive source of cheese.
Awful in the field. Bat has potential still.
TC, why did you mention what number he will wear in spring training? Does that information have some special significance? I’ve never seen that mentioned in a minor league spring training signing?
Just curious…..
Just a random point of interest. Y’all aren’t tracking who wears which number?
32 number of times he will be up and down this season between Chicago and AAA Charlotte
Thanks!
Numbers!? I can barely keep up with all the new young players LOL.
Thanks also for a great website!
awww man I thought the Braves still had him signed….he’s got good power IF he gets regular at bats
He cost the Braves Dustin Peterson when they brought him back the second time. That wasn’t a wise move, imo.
yeah I’m not sure why they brought him back later in the season…depth I’m sure but they never played him
Leury wasn’t exactly ‘brought in’ as he’s been with the organization for years. Tucker would also have to beat out Nicky Delmonico in the race to hold the place for Eloy.
Exactly. Guyer and Delmonico have a much better chance of making the club out of ST. Even if Tucker goes .400/.480/.600 in spring he’s headed to Charlotte.
Ya him and Nate Jones are actually the longest tenured on the team
Yep. Leury Garcia has been in the White Sox organization since August of 2013 when he was the player to be named later (all of two days) in the Alex Rios trade. He has also been on the White Sox 40-man roster since September of 2016 and on their active roster with the exception of numerous trips to the DL (IL!) and the associated rehab assignments in the minors. Garcia ran out of option years following the 2016 season and the organization elected to retain him ever since.
Jerry being Jerry. Any other owner would flip out after losing out on Manny. Who is next? Bartolo Colon?
Good luck to Preston Tucker. He had some big,hits for the braves in 2018.
The Sox finally signed him? Hooray! The world is free.
This is huge
Just what the White Sox need, another left-handed hitting LF/DH that can’t field, fans a lot, achieves low BA/OBP numbers with some pop. He’s a one year older version of Daniel Palka with a few less whiffs.
To make matters worse, they, along with Nicky Delmonico are all defensive liabilities in the OF who still profile best in LF, Eloy Jimenez’ position the moment he makes his MLB debut sometime in April. There’s not much room at 1B/DH either with Jose Abreu and Yonder Alonso getting the majority of reps there.
If the front office doesn’t want to sign slugging FA Bryce Harper at least bring in an OF capable of playing RF or even CF better than what Palka, Tucker and Delmonico can offer.
Hey Rick, call the freaking Dodgers and see what it would take to pry Alex Verdugo away. With concerns over Clayton Kershaw and their bullpen depth perhaps you can make a match that they couldn’t refuse. Maybe even start with Carlos Rodon since there’s no way in hades your boss will ever OK an extension or bid on him when he can become a FA in 3 years with Scott Boras as his agent. Perhaps the Astros will listen in on a similar offer for a Tucker with more potential…Kyle!
Good player to go get for the Sox. Really is. Still rebuilding and on the cusp. This guy might break through. He was once a top prospect for a reason. It’s unlikely, but never know. Maybe it all clicks and he turns into something great. If not, solid bench guy at the absolute worse.
He’s a depth piece for AAA Charlotte and an insurance policy in case of an injury on the active roster. The White Sox have added numerous players of this ilk over the past few seasons and everyone one of them has spent the bulk of their time at AAA with an occasional recall to the big club. We are still waiting for one of these former top prospects from other organizations to stick and become a key player for the White Sox.
Daniel Palka has probably been the most impacting waiver claim among position player in the past few years but to my knowledge he was never considered a top-100 prospect or elite talent as a Diamondback or Twin.
Hopefully, this will be the last season in which the White Sox need to take so many flyers on other organizations failed or underachieving prospects. The White Sox do have a fine minor league system but many of their top talents will be playing in AA Birmingham this year with a chance at AAA at some point. By next season, many of them should be finalizing their apprenticeship and hopefully ready to debut with the big league club.
Tucker
A guy whom all the girls want. He’s athletic, smart, and funny. He’s great with little kids. Tucker can be a great friend. Don’t let him go.
— Urban Dictionary