After searching the infield market for second base upgrades over the past few weeks, the White Sox announced Thursday that they’ve acquired veteran Cesar Hernandez from the division-rival Indians in exchange for minor league left-hander Konnor Pilkington. Chicago released right-hander Tyler Johnson in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Second base has been a clear area of focus for a White Sox team that lost Nick Madrigal for the season (torn hamstring) earlier this year. Chicago has been hit hard by injuries in the outfield, but with Eloy Jimenez returning this week and Luis Robert on the mend, the infield began to look like a more logical target. The Sox have been connected to Jonathan Schoop, Trevor Story, Adam Frazier and other infield targets, but they’ll go with the solid, switch-hitting Hernandez to step in and solidify the lineup.
Hernandez, 31, is playing the season on a one-year, $5MM contract that contains a $6MM club option for the 2022 campaign. He’s still owed about $1.8MM of that $5MM sum through season’s end, and there’s no buyout on the option, so it’ll be a straight $6MM call for Chicago after the season. Given that Madrigal is expected to be healthy for the 2022 campaign, Hernandez could well be viewed as a rental option for the South Siders, although the $6MM price point isn’t so steep that he couldn’t be kept as a potential utility option.
Hernandez isn’t hitting for average as he typically does, but his 18 home runs already represent a career-high mark. He’s not striking out any less often than he did in 2020, when he batted .283, but Hernandez has been plagued by a career-low .256 average on balls in play that sits 74 points below his career mark. It’s possible, then, that he’s in for some positive regression over the season’s final couple months.
Even if that’s not the case, however, his .231/.307/.431 batting line is a solid enough plug-in to a strong ChiSox lineup. That production is exactly league-average after adjusting for Hernandez’s league and park, by measure of wRC+, which falls right in line with what Hernrnadez has been for the past six seasons.
On the Indians’ side of the swap, they’ll add Pilkington, a 23-year-old lefty whom the White Sox selected out of Mississippi State in the third round of the 2018 draft. He’s spent this season pitching in Double-A and has fared well, working to a 3.48 ERA with a 30.5 percent strikeout rate, a 9.0 percent walk rate and a 43.4 percent ground-ball rate in 14 starts — a total of 62 innings.
Pilkington wasn’t presently ranked among the White Sox’ top prospects, though that’s surely at least in part due to scouts not being able to get a look at him during 2020. He entered the ’20 campaign ranked 17th among Sox farmhands at Baseball America, and FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen tabbed him 21st in the system last year. BA’s 2020 report on the lefty noted that he lacks the “knockout repertoire” evaluators prefer to see but suggested he could still be a fifth starter. That type of profile is also the type that could tick up in the bullpen, of course, so it’s possible that’s where Pilkington ultimately lands. Given his age and success at the Double-A level, Pilkington is a relatively near-term addition for Cleveland.
The 25-year-old Johnson’s release comes after the 2015 fifth-rounder has struggled across three minor league levels in 2021. The South Carolina product has spent time at Triple-A and both Class-A affiliates in Chicago’s system but allowed a combined 23 runs (17 earned) in 16 innings of work.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the trade was close (Twitter link). The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that a deal had been reached. Daniel Alvarez Montes of El Extra Base first reported that Pilkington was going back to the Indians (Twitter link)
Deleted User
This will be the most underrated move of the trade deadline.
He is hitting for more power than ever before and his underlying statcast metrics show that not only is the pop real, but he should be hitting for an even better than average than he is. I bet it all comes together for the next 3 months.
maximumvelocity
Let’s wait for the final deal. But he is an upgrade.
classicmixup
He is not an upgrade over Garcia. Garcia has a higher WAR thus far this year. But the Sox did not give up much.
kevinoc81
He only needs to be an upgrade over Mendick for it to be a good deal.
snoopy369
Garcia is playing lights-out right now, but it’s hard to believe he’s going to keep this up – and at least on Fangraphs, Leury is not outperforming Cesar (Leury has 1.1 WAR and 90 wRC+ to Cesar’s 1.8 WAR and 100 wRC+).
Either way, odds are Leury will find time to play – OF, 2B, SS, 3B, he can play more or less anywhere, and there’s plenty of time off.
Dogbone
Exactly maximumvelo, it sure is what I expected from our Chisox. I don’t think this moves the needle at all. They may as well kept ol Leury at second base. They didn’t get much and they didn’t give up much.
Now they maybe can focus on what they really need, about 3 new relievers that don’t choke in late innings.
YourDreamGM
Huge upgrade. He got off to a bad start. He’s been seeing the ball well for some time now. Good chance he is 800 to 900 ops going forward.
Bi Soxual
WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW Casablanca Rick kept this cuffed No leaks
BuJoBi
Big Hernandez fan, very underrated, fits in perfect with chw
Yankee Clipper
Hernandez is a solid get for ChiTown. Most underrated move? I guess we will see what the deal is, then what else happens before tomorrow.
philliesphan77
Congrats on getting him, that’s a solid move. I was always a big fan of his as a Phillie.
citizen
meh. even on his walk year he’s hitting below his average.
clearly a rental.
ChiSox_Fan
Now go get Scherzer and move Cease and Keuchel to the BP!
Avory
Cesar’s defense was killing the Tribe’s young staff, and he wasn’t exactly the prototypical leadoff hitter (his OBP was forty points below his career number, and his OPS+ has settled back into career below-average levels).
None of those things will evidently be concerns for the Sox.
jhomeslice
Plus a 6M option for next year. Seems a very reasonable fit for backup role next year as well. If this year taught us anything, it is that good depth is important.
nrd1138
Oooo ‘This guy will only get better’.. Ok, we’ll see. Guessing he will look more like Moncada than Madrigal (with the bat anyway). Got to hand it to the White Sox, they always get players that hurt them in the past and think that translates to the rest of the league…To me its a fairly baffling deal for a team supposedly in ‘win now’ mode.. and that is of course if this guy does not come down with the injury bug every other Sox player has come down with. I would rather have seen the Sox get Escobar from the Dbacks, but I guess that was hoping for too much.
lucas0622
While I thought Cesar would be traded, why in the division?
Sheep8
Because it was the best deal the soon to be Guardians felt they could get
Deleted User
They aren’t interested in Guarding the division
RoyalsFanAmongWolves
It’s because star lord is in AA and he’s a really good second baseman.
braziliancubbie
If Konnor Pilkington was the best they could get, I’m intrigued to know what was the worst.
Selkies
Pilkington has really improved his standing in our system in the minors this year. He has had a very good season and looks like a pretty sure bet to at least make it to the majors.
Personally, I wouldn’t have done this deal for a rental like Cesar Hernandez.
tim815
Execs want talent, and don’t care who wins. If it isn’t them.
BuJoBi
Little surprised by that myself, but after the hou-sea trade it’s clear to see that divisional rivals doesnt mean much anymore.
HalosHeavenJJ
Isn’t Hernandez on a one year deal?
In that case, it hardly matters.
maximumvelocity
He has option. 6 million.
oscar gamble
It must have been what Cleveland felt like was the best return. Their front office is pretty savvy.
Prunella Vulgaris
Cleveland always has good pitching. They must have seen something in the prospects.
chitown311
Here we go!!!
tribe4lyfe
Commence Guardians rebuild 🙁
SanDiegoTom
Didn’t that start when they dealt lindor?
Avory
“Rebuilds” look like the Tigers, Royals, and Twins…when the Tribe’s strength is completely decimated and the team is still over .500, I’d hardly call that a rebuild.
And it certainly isn’t a rebuild when it trades a leadoff hitter whose OBP is 4o points below his career number, possesses an OPS+ below league average, can’t run, and fields his position like he’s carrying around an anvil.
After all these years, you’d think CLE fan would wise up. Nope.
everlastingdave
Nice. He won’t cost as much as Frazier did and he’ll push Leury back to the bench.
leefieux
Tbh, as a Pirate fan, I think our return for Frazier, was underwhelming, but I guess it beat getting nothing (or less in the offseason) for him.
Todd Kemmerer
At first kinda thought it was meh, but looking at trades so far not team is giving up top 10 organizational prospects. Look for gallo and a reliever barely top 15, and pirates came away from a good system #5.
YourDreamGM
Rather have him than Frazier. Less average but lots more power. Defense as good. Only extra value Frazier brings is ability to play left field.
augold5
You have to joking. No sane person would wanter Hernandez over Frazier
Avory
Yeah, that’s complete nonsense. You can’t even compare the two. Frazier is by far the better player.
chitown311
Rick Hahn Executive of the year, confirmed
maximumvelocity
Doubt it. That Eaton deal was not good given what other options are doing. That factors in.
CalcetinesBlancos
At least you got over it lol.
maximumvelocity
I must say, if it’s just Pilkington, it will move the needle in Hahn’s favor dramatically.
nrd1138
Will he still be exec of the year if this team lays a HUGE egg in the playoffs? I mean that is what this team IS aiming for right , winning a World series? I need confirmation because nothing I have seen in the past two weeks, save Jimenez being available for 2.5 games, has caused me to have any optimism for the Sox. Its maddening because I think they could, and should, be so much better, but it just seems like this team just takes a LOT of games off and just wilt against good teams. I mean they looked like they could be turning a corner finally against the Astros after the AS break.. Almost caused me to regret what I have said over the past month, but then as expected, they reverted back to the team that did not show up against the Brewers and now vs the Royals of all teams. Lets hope at this point that they win at least one game in their series against the Indians.. Guardians, whoever…(yes, my level of expectation is that low at this point)
lemonlyman
You misspelled Farhan Zaidi.
DarkSide830
great break for Cesar. very happy for him.
maximumvelocity
Wasn’t expecting in-division move. Let’s see the price, because while an upgrade, he’s not hitting as well as other options, and it’s sending a division rival help.
maximumvelocity
Whatever the final deal is, this was a waaaay smarter move than getting Trevor Story. Better hitter and GG guy at the position.
mjc7171
Story is the more accomplished player. Look at the numbers. Hernandez strikes out at over a 24% clip. He has regressed defensively since winning a gold glove and doesn’t get on base with any consistency.
This is a bargain basement move by the Sox. They might as well have kept Garcia at 2nd.
Aaron Johnson
You realize that a 24% k rate is basically league average? And that Trevor Story has always had a higher to much higher k rate?
maximumvelocity
Story can’t hit outside of Denver and has never played 2b.
And Hernandez is still hitting better than story this year.
Aaron Johnson
Also, this info is incorrect. Hernandez’s K % from 2016-2021. 18.6, 18, 21.9, 15, 21.8, 21.4. Trevor Story K % 2016-2021. 31.4, 34.4, 25.6, 26.5, 24.3, 24.3
MyWhiteSoxAreDirty
I’ll take a 24% K rate for a proper 2nd baseman compared to what they’ve had since Madrigal went down
Avory
Puh-leeze. Let’s not put a gloss on Hernandez that’s not merited, c’mon. He is what he is. He’s a lifetime below average OPS+ hitter, a lousy baserunner, and a meh defender. There’s a reason the Phillies let him walk and he ended up back with the Tribe after his best “year” (a sixty-game season). Yes, he’s crushing LHP this year, but his OBP has taken a definite hit.
nrd1138
At least Hernandez is hitting homers.. I guess that is something.
CalcetinesBlancos
Et tu, Brute?
tothestars7991
I’m hoping no Sheets, Burger, Cespedes, or Stiever
VonPurpleHayes
Cesar sacrificed a lot for power this year, but he is quietly having another very solid season. Loved this guy as a Philly.
Aaron Johnson
Not really though. His xBA is only down from .270 to .250 last year vs this year and his xWOBA is identical to last year. At first glance he’s taken a dip in batting average but it looks like a large chunk can be explained by a really low BABIP. He’s mostly just been unlucky.
augold5
His FB% is way up. This prob explains more of his BABIP than luck
Aaron Johnson
True. His HR/FB rate isn’t sustainable
Joe It All
Exhibit B on why it’s nonsense to say guys won’t be traded within division yet alone to the division leader that teams are chasing. Exhibit A was Graveman to the Astros.
G13
He has 6 mil option for 2022. I hope it didn’t cost my sox much in return. Just need a decent option for 2B and wait for Robert and Grandal to return. Micker Adolfo looks like he might be close to ready to take over RF if need be, he has nice power numbers in AA and AAA this yr.
sss847
kind of underwhelming, but hopefully that means the Sox aren’t overpaying. Baseball Trade Values has Hernandez equivalent to Lency Delgado. very comfortable if that’s the 1 for 1 swap.
YourDreamGM
A great defender who will have a 800 ops doesn’t move the needle for you?
augold5
Not a great defender. He has been terrible at 2B this year.
Avory
And “terrible” is being kind.
This is huge for the Tribe’s staff, getting Cesar out of the infield and praying Amed as well (or moved to 2B at worst).
brownies24
Any word on who it’s for yet?
Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey
I think Escobar would have been a better fit for them, but Hernandez is fine as a cheap alternative who at least gives them league average offense. The main problem I see with Hernandez is that he’s having a pretty rough season on defense.
nrd1138
I think you could have just stopped at “I think Escobar would have been a better fit for them”
I completely agree with this, I think the Sox are missing the mark if they really are trying to win it all this season.
Brownsfan83
Nope it’s pilkington
CalcetinesBlancos
I was hoping Pilkington would reach the show with the Sox at some point because I like his name, but I don’t think any Sox fan will be shedding tears over this deal.
sportingdissent
I’m shedding tears for the deals they won’t make because they settled for hot garbage.
augold5
Escobar would have been the better move. Sure Hernandez is showing better power, but his OPS is still in line with career averages and his OPS+ is below average. Biggest difference this year is the FB% and is LD% is down. I give this a C+ still depending on what the CWS give up.
YourDreamGM
It’s not what he did. Buy what he is going to do. I watch Cleveland a decent amount and he is trending up.
augold5
Keep dreaming
Juan Uribe Profundo
Hey, he’s better than Leury Garcia. Cesar Hernandez is also tied for the team lead in HRs with 18. Nobody on the White Sox has more HRs this year than him.
nrd1138
So he has that going for him… which is nice….
mjc7171
This is not a trade that gets you to the world series. Minus the home runs… his number are similar to Garcia. This is a bargain basement move that is synonymous with this ownership/front office.
Plus this guy strikes out a ton, has regressed defensively since he won his gold glove and does not get on base consistently,
This trade only shows me Sox are not serious about winning, only window dressing (the perception of winning).
Ebenezer Reisndorf has his dream scenario… low payroll and fans going to the park in larger numbers. So why spend, when they are coming anyway.
canyon2129
Very underwhelming to be sure. If they can’t pull the trigger this year, then it does remove all doubt about ownership intent. What a waste.
CalcetinesBlancos
Neither was Escobar.
nrd1138
I think Escobar helps a LOT more than what Hernandez does. I mean the big move would have been for Frazier, but not sure if the Sox would have had enough gumption to provide what the Pirates likely wanted them to part with to get him. Still if you really want to win it all then you have to pay… I get the hesitancy of the Sox to pull the trigger, but people need to stop making it sound like the Sox just pulled off the trade that will get them to the promised land.
User 355748524
I disagree with you on Hernandez’s offense, especially with him barreling the ball more then recent memory. I do, however, agree with you on his defense.
Bottom 10th percentile in fielding (OAA) could make anything short of a offensive breakout moot in value for this year.
That becomes all the more important to the team when this could be his only year appearing for the White Sox, lest they activate his club option.
Aaron Johnson
I’m still confused when you say this guy strikes out a ton. It’s just not true. His K rate is league average this year and is almost always pretty well below league average. Theres a lot of stats you can poke holes in, but K rate certainly isn’t one of them
Bi Soxual
I like Caesar over Escobar power & speed better glove weaker.Caesar can turn any fastball
mike127
Stop it! If the Brewers, today, offered Escobar for Hernandez straight up, Reinsdorf would send the yacht right up the coast.
You are only saying that because it happend. Very defensive.
Bi Soxual
I said I LIKE’. Caesar over Escobar just my opinion of the 2b landscape!!! You STOP IT acting like Escobar is Joe freaking Morgan!!!
augold5
Your opinion is wrong. Unless you like worse players for your team
augold5
Caesar hasnt had a SB in 2 years and has a negative dWAR. Also Escobar is the better hitter in every metric. Same SO%, 107 vs 97 OPS+
Lookat Me
He won the gold glove last year at 2nd base!
augold5
Look at his defensive metrics this year. They are below average, bo where near GG quality.
sportingdissent
and regressed this year to a pile of mush
Avory
He was never worthy of the gold glove last year; people need to stop citing it like it means anything.
Nicky Lopez was by far the better defender last year. The sixty game pandemic season was Hernandez’s best with the stick and it nabbed him a gold glove. Big deal.
This year he has been horrible on defense. At least the Sox can benefit from batting him somewhere besides leadoff, where his sub .310 OBP was killing the Tribe.
ChiSoxCity
This is SOOO Chicago based sports teams. Settling for marginal upgrades, or no upgrades at all, while every other playoff tram makes blockbuster moves. I’m sick of it.
maximumvelocity
This is a good trade. Hernandez is a pretty significant upgrade over Garcia, especially with the glove, and it cost them peanuts. And I’m a Hahn critic.
ChiSoxCity
Adding Hernandez makes them marginally better for the playoffs. The problem with that is other playoff bound teams are adding SIGNIFICANT talent. Even the Yankees, who stink, get Gallo. Meanwhile, we get Mazara, Eaton, Hernandez…. The Sox have just as much need for improvement, moreso in some cases. Why can’t they ever get players that make the most sense like these other teams? Bryant going to the team with the BEST record in the MLB? That’s a move the Sox would never make a 100 years.
maximumvelocity
I would have rather had Frazier or Escobar, but among the guys remaining, Hernandez is a pretty solid get.
I’m much more concerned with the bullpen, and go think that is where they need to make a splash. But I’m not going to criticize this deal.
ABCD
The problem is the Sox don’t have the significant prospects in the minors to get the blockbuster guy.
The Sox may struggle in the postseason. They may not. That’s the fun of it.
ChiSoxCity
You’re right about the bullpen. Outside of Liam and Kopech, no one in that bullpen can be trusted, especially in high pressure situations. All the more reason to add offensive firepower to a lineup that can’t generate runs against quality pitching. It’s going to be a short playoff appearance for the White Sox (again) if Hahn doesn’t get creative before the deadline.
sportingdissent
Garcia might be better. Not really am upgrade. Best case is it’s a wash.
nrd1138
I think the Sox need to trade for some heart and there aint enough in their org that gets that done… This team and specifically certain players that disappear A LOT. You cannot lose 3 of 4 to the Royals without wondering whats going on (and yeah yeah I get the Royals took it to the brewers fairly well in their last series, but the Royals are where they are at for a reason.)
Whifff
Yep. Jeff Blum didn’t do anything……oh wait. Never mind.
nrd1138
If you are basing this trade on what Blum did 16 years ago…. Wow I have some swamp land for you.. I mean it could turn out to be amazing property. though right?
Iago407
Hope this means they’ll be putting more money in to relief pitching before the deadline passes. Solid, if unspectacular move that didn’t require a spectacular solution the Sox couldn’t really afford to pay regardless.
maximumvelocity
If it’s just Pilkington, even I will give Hahn props for the deal. Soft tossing lefties grow on trees.
cwsOverhaul
Just getting some sort of upgrade for 2B is fine. It is not a postseason difference maker. Have to believe Hahn is prioritizing bullpen (and maybe 1 surprise impactful bat one wouldn’t expect) when it comes to a willingness to trade better prospects.
sportingdissent
The problem is it isn’t an upgrade. Guy has been horrible defensively and is a below average hitter by all metrics. I can’t wait for Larussa to play Leury anyway.
jhomeslice
I’ve seen a couple posts about his terrible defense. How bad can he be a year after winning a gold glove? I know guys defense can fluctuate a bit, but not usually that much in a year.
Avory
It was a sixty-game season! He had his best offensive year! Like it or not, that influences GG winners. GG is subjective, often goes by reputation.
Trust me, he was OK last year, terrible on defense this year. There’s not a metric that doesn’t support this.
nrd1138
Ill say this, maybe a change of scenery changes this kid and he hits .300 and plays stellar defense and 2nd, but this kid was already on a team that should have been contending and was performing like he has.. the ceiling is not high in my expectations.
Guyerbassist
*sigh* last night the gallo deal, today this… What a time to be a Cleveland/Texas baseball fan right now…not
Avory
The sky is falling because Cesar Hernandez got traded?!?
Cleveland has a winning record. How close is Texas to one?
Tribefanforever!
Should be able to get more than a AA prospect imo!
BeeVeeTee
This was not a bad move made by the White Sox. Honestly, I was paying attention to Konnor Pinklington since the White Sox drafted him where he had a lot of potential. However, last year’s pandemic stopped a year of development for Pinklington so it was probably the best for him to go somewhere where he can be a potential starting pitcher in a rotation in the next two to three years. There was no room for Pinklington on the White Sox in that time frame.
Jim Carter
His average is 16 points below Garcia, and he has zero stolen bases on the season. I still see a hole at 2nd base for the Sox. I hope they can do better with a couple of relievers, and I don’t mean someone with an ERA north of 3.
maximumvelocity
Average? Seriously?
His slugging is about 100 points higher, his ops+ is 12 points higher and he is a better defender.
This is an upgrade.
sportingdissent
He’s the worst defender at 2B amongst qualifiers this year. not an upgrade.
classicmixup
agreed
Jim Carter
The White Sox don’t need a slugger. They have Jimenez, Robert and Grandal to take care of that. They needed an on base machine…like the one who isn’t coming back. Personally, I’m sick of the strikeout/home run crap.
ChiSoxCity
Grandal? Robert?? Do you watch baseball, like ever? Both are hurt, both struggle to hit the ball, let alone hit HRs lately. Grandal started hitting better before he got hurt, but are seriously going to rely on Grandal to provide run production in the playoffs? Lastly, Eloy is ALWAYS a health risk. Having them back is CRUCIAL to any hopes of winning in the playoffs, but the Sox cannot, and should not put all of their hopes in just those three to win a championship. They clearly don’t have enough pop or contact hitters in the lineup to hit quality pitching in the playoffs. They are dogmeat right now. Am I the only objective White Sox fan on these boards that sees this?
nrd1138
Im sure Ill get lambasted but I trust Mendick and heck of a lot more than Garcia as he comes up clutch an awful lot when he is in there, he looks mundane and pedestrian but Mendick can still surprise you. Garcia looks like garbage.. When I see him or Moncada come up with guys on and 2 outs I can turn it off as I know a commercial break is coming up fast.
PutPeteinthehall
Decent player to fill a hole
Polish Hammer
As stated above, the move was expected but to load up a division rival to succeed and carry that momentum forward is just plain asinine. Fan of Hernandez, sad to see him go but it made sense. That said, return is underwhelming.
Windowpane
For Cleveland it’s clearing a roster spot for Ernie Clement and/or Owen Miller. The FO knows they aren’t a play-off team. For the Sox, this gives them a leadoff hitter who can immediately give them a 1 run lead in the first inning. Hernandez is always a threat at the plate. Downside is his defense has been bad this season.
Diatribefan
Clement has been on the team for awhile now, and Miller can’t hit major league pitching
Windowpane
So??? Yeah, Miller hasn’t hit in 59 abs. 59 abs. LOL!
dazedatnoon
ya….don’t think he will be leading off with TA7 in the lineup.
Avory
Cesar Hernandez shouldn’t hit leadoff even in a sorry lineup like Cleveland’s. He sure as hell isn’t hitting leadoff for the White Sox.
Monkey’s Uncle
Solid move for the Sox. Not an earth-shattering, headline-grabbing move, but filling a big need with an adequate replacement without giving up too much.
Very Barry
Excellent!! Now we can put all the Kris Bryant nonsense to bed. Let’s get back on with finishing off this World Series ring. Pilkington has been a disappointment. Expected more out of him since he was a 2nd round pick. He is a distant memory now.
CalcetinesBlancos
He was a 102nd round pick actually.
Faith in the Padres
So guess the Guardians need a new defender at 2B?
Enzosrevenge
Thank God Padres didn’t sign Gallo… P l e a s e …call the Orioles…give them Gore +++ get Means and be done with this.
Jim Carter
Any Oriole aside from Mullins would just stink up the Padres.
Faith in the Padres
I’ll talk to preller but you may have to take Hosmers contract and send them Mancini in return for Gore and Campusano plus other prospects to round out the deal. I’ll see what I can do.
leprechaun
Now let’s get some relief help and land Kimbrel and move Hendricks to the 8th and Kopeck in the 7 th. That’s a 3 headed monster that no team in baseball will want to see in the playoffs
sufferforsnakes
Glad he’s gone. Hasn’t hit for squat besides some HRs, and his defense has gone down dramatically this year from last.
At least I can enjoy this final season of Indians baseball not having to watch him be frustrating as all h***.
tomyo10
He wasn’t great this year on defense. He won a gold glove last year but this year he’s not even good. His average is way down. But his power is up and a lot of those HR’s we’re clutch. Put him into that lineup, he’ll be a great addition.
Aaron Sapoznik
Cesar Hernandez has a similar profile to long rumored 2B upgrade Eduardo Escobar who was dealt to the Brewers yesterday. An advantage with Hernandez is that he has primary played 2B with the Indians in 2021 while Escobar was mainly at 3B with the Diamondbacks. Another perk with Hernandez could be his 2022 team option, something Escobar did not possess.
augold5
Every Offensive metric is in favor of Escobar, and Hernandez’s defense has been bad this year. This is not similar outside of the fact that they are both IF options.
muskellunged
Good, smart move to acquire a better than average veteran rental. HRs are welcome on this team.
sportingdissent
An average veteran has an OPS+ of 100. this move does not qualify.
muskellunged
Which is exactly what his ops+ is playing for Cleveland. Thanks for your input, however.
augold5
His OPS+ is 97 or 3% Below Average
muskellunged
If you include the 2020 half season, it’s a combined 100.
baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernace02.shtml
Avory
You’re kidding, right? His lifetime OPS+ is below the major league average, but you want to cling to the idea he’s not that guy?
Huh?
muskellunged
I value recent performance over past, and I also think his performance as an American League hitter is relevant. He will benefit from hitting in a more hitter friendly park alongside a better lineup.
He improves the White Sox in ways that you cannot measure with statistics. Switch hitters make a managers job easier. The team is desperate for some LH pop. His addition strengthens the bench by moving Luery Garcia there.
Your point is well taken however, obnoxious sounding as it was. Looking forward to the White Sox win the division and into the playoffs. Well have to agree to disagree, and see how Hernandez fares down the stretch, to know who’s clinging to what!
sportingdissent
So in the large sample size of this year, he’s below average. But if you add in a small sample size from the year prior, he’s average. And if you add in the years before that, he’s above average!
Thank you for showing us what regression looks like.
His defense this year has been terrible. He’s old and has clearly regressed. We’re a worse team today with him on the roster. Leury is a better option.
muskellunged
Leury will be on the playoff roster, the player Cesar will be replacing on the roster is Mendick. Having a switch hitter in Garcia to come off the bench is a big benefit. That said, since you brought up ops+, Leury’s is 87 this year, 78 for his career. So who are you crappin’?
sportingdissent
The White Sox are so freaking cheap. Went out and got a bench quality player to replace the bench quality player at second base. Yeah the division is trash, but they’re easily the worst team going to the playoffs and it didn’t need to be this way.
raef715
been interesting to watch him go from a 1 homer 19 steal guy in 2015 to a 18 homer, no steal guy now- his k’s and base running always annoyed me when he was in Philly but seems like a sensible move for what the Sox need.
SayHey24
Be nice if Amed Rosario was right behind Hernandez heading out the door.
Floopjack
Amed may yet be traded, as well, but he doesn’t have much value, so it also may be better to continue to develop him in CF.
ChiSoxCity
Keep your eye on the ball, Sox fans.
Hernandez is not an upgrade, he is a fill-in. Decent move by Hahn, but he needs to do more if he wants this team to go deep into the playoffs. My prediction is, the Sox win 91 games and get sent home by a WC team.
nrd1138
Well you cannot trade enough for Heart and I’m not seeing any on this Sox club lately…. But hey these guys have fun right? I mean they had a lot of fun losing to a doormat like the Royals 3 out of 4… I’m sure Moncada has no issues sleeping at night like he does when he is up to bat… Until someone in that locker room takes the bull by the horns and challenges these guys I’m not sure anyone should expect anything more than making the playoffs only to get swept out. Its really weird because you would think guys like Kopech, Lynn, and Anderson would not let this happen, but yet here the Sox are.. At this point I just hope they win at least 1 game vs the Indians. in their 3 game set. That is where my expectations are at this point with the club..
Avory
Tribe fan here. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
The White Sox are quite good. Enjoy the ride.
Bi Soxual
Morisi “White Sox not done,in for Pitt Rodriguez Bal Fry”
Jim Carter
NO NO!!! Orioles players are worthless aside from Mullins.
BeeVeeTee
I wouldn’t mind if the Sox nabbed Mancini from the Orioles.
someoldguy
I’m sorry but “positive regression” is an oxymoron… The term is progression..
Oddvark
Regression to the mean. Look it up.
someoldguy
I know what they say but you can’t regress to go forward.. it a bastardization of the words.. regression.. is back progress is forward… the term is progress to the mean because you aren’t at mean you are below it.. so you must go forward to get to the mean.. you may have regressed away from the mean if you were at the mean .. but you still progressed to return to the mean..
birdsfan415
rip Johnson 🙁
minoso9
Good pick up. Hernandez can bang but strikes out too much. He may be more motivated playing for the Sox and against the Indians/Guardians this weekend. It should be an interesting series. I would love a Sox sweep.
Enzosrevenge
Why does Tingler still have a job? Double ditto Rothschild. Let’s go Padres!!! Where the heck is Balsley… Pitching!!
The Baseball Fan
Great deal
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Meanwhile, back in Detroit…..
Al Avila is considering considering getting up off his and doing something…maybe.
and Chris is still going over the NHL drafts in his head…….
Jak9498
Dolans trying to get the payroll down. It’s just drastically too high right now. They’re getting ready to trade the spring training semi to the Twins for some $3 steaks.
Avory
So, SO clever. Really, just brilliant. No, honest, I couldn’t stop laughing.
IronBallsMcGinty
Decent pick up for the Sox. Certainly not a flashy trade by any means but a solid switch hitter can definitely help out down the stretch. Curious to see who gets sent down. Hopefully they find someone to tighten up the bullpen.
YourDreamGM
A for Chicago. Guy got hot at right time. Being playoff bound I expect him to keep it up and glove to improve as well. Much cheaper to get than Frazier. Chicago fans are looking at the past. Going forward they will be happy with Hernandez.
C for Cleveland. They got a prospect that happens to be a pitcher with potential to be useful. Fair enough.
MadSkillsUniversity
Nice move. I suggest we keep him for next year as well because as my as I like little Nicky, he is injury prone, unfortunately. Just heard that we also got some RP form the Cubs – great. now we need one more RP, and Roberts back.
jessaumodesto
Congrats WhiteSox tu just got the best 2nd baseman in the game today!
Polish Hammer
The game? The one being played on 3rd and Main Street?
SupremeZeus
Slight upgrade. Hahn doesn’t have many prospect/assets to execute major franchise changing trades.
48-team MLB
“Guardians” just won’t do. It should have been either “Spiders” or “Dragons.”
groundhog5150
Sneaky smart move.
jhomeslice
Neither Hernandez or Tepera are headliners but they are both solid adds. Dude has 18 homers, narratives about him being equivalent to Garcia or Mendick are just nonsense.
I don’t think these 2 trades are enough to make a big difference, but with how little they gave up, you would hope the Sox are not done.
Vince Camp
I have t-shirt I got some years ago that says “just one before I die. Well I guess I’ll never get to see the Cleveland Indians win a World Series. Maybe the Guardians,but never the Indians. I suppose we mailed in and made it final that it’s over today. Well anyway there were too many rivers to cross and mountains to climb given the many tradgedies of this season. Now that Hernandez is gone this makes the offense even weaker. Whose going to make up for those 18 homers? Outside of Reyes and J-Ram this is a minor league offense.