TODAY: As noted by Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun Times, Marisnick has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Charlotte, where he will serve as outfield depth for the White Sox going forward.
May 21: The White Sox have announced that they have designated outfielder Jake Marisnick for assignment. The move opens up spots on both the active and 40-man rosters for outfielder Clint Frazier, who’s contract has been selected as was previously reported.
Marisnick, 32, was used primarily as a defensive replacement as he appeared in nine games despite stepping up to the plate just twice during his tenure with the White Sox. Prior to his time on the south side, which began when he signed a minor league deal with the club back in January, Marisnick had already played in the majors for six organizations, with the White Sox standing as his seventh.
A third round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2009 draft, Marisnick made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2013 before being dealt to the Astros at the 2014 trade deadline. That deal would kick off a five and a half season tenure in Houston during which Marisnick primarily played center field, slashing .232/.285/.396 with a wRC+ of 85 during 631 games with the club. Marisnick’s tenure in Houston came to an end during the 2019-20 offseason, when he was dealt to the Mets in early December.
Thanks to his superlative outfield defense, which earned him +39 Outs Above Average between the 2016 and 2019 seasons, Marisnick has found part time roles with the Mets, Cubs, Padres, and now the White Sox since departing Houston, with a .233/.288/.403 slash line that’s good for an 87 wRC+ in 316 plate appearances. Now Marisnick figures to look for his eighth club in four seasons. Assuming he goes unclaimed on waivers, Marisnick will have the opportunity to elect free agency and sign elsewhere, likely on a minor league deal with a club in need of upper-level outfield depth in the minors.
The move opens up a roster spot for Frazier, who returns to Chicago after signing with the Cubs last season. The fifth overall pick by Cleveland in the 2013 draft, Frazier slashed an impressive .267/.351/.485 (123 wRC+) in 447 plate appearances between 2018 and 2020 with the Yankees, but has otherwise struggled with injuries throughout his career. Still, the 28-year-old Frazier showed the ability to be a useful bench bat in 19 games with the Cubs last year, with a .216/.356/.297 slash line that was good for a wRC+ of 97. Going forward, he figures to compete for starts in right field alongside Gavin Sheets and Adam Haseley.
Do they really believe they’re gonna get anything more out of Frazier than they did Marisnick? It’s like replacing one flat tire with another flat tire.
Opposite players. Marisnick was a defensive substitute but moderate to light hitter. Frazier has a potential to hit but is not much on defense…. ChiSox tend to march this way.
Agree- he will DFA when Eloy comes back
This is a great move. Let’s start clearing out all of the dfa’s Hahn collected during the off-season. keysox is right. Frazier will be gone when Eloy comes back. Now maybe the Sox will fill their farm system with prospects, not has-beens
Apparently Frazier has been tearing it up in Charlotte. What’s the harm in seeing what he can do in Chicago?
ItonBallsMcGinty: The harm is that the Sox are trying other team’s garbage on a wing and a prayer, hoping one of them will pan out. Not gonna happen.
Ah, that right the Sox have another piece they can bring up to see in the OF and that player is… umm.. that is… uhhh… Oh yeah no one really (at least in the OF), they already saw what they have in Colas (at least for this season or when the Sox start trading off pieces to set up for their next ‘window to win’)…
Frazier is what he is, a piece to try to see if the Sox can find any kind of combo that can work currently. I mean its probably not going to help as, even with improved play over the last two weeks, they are still 11 games under .500 but it really cannot hurt… Though trying to figure out why Frazier is batting 6th today if the reports are accurate… If anything, Im guessing the Sox are going to try to showcase pieces to see if anyone wants to give them anything for them in trade.. However, since Hahn is still there doing the trading, Im not optimistic.
It is entirely possible however, that the winner of the AL Central, could easily be under .500.
First to 78 wins it.
The fact you’re at a point where giving Clint a chance is “no harm “ says a lot about what level your team is at lol
Remember, Truist Field is one of the best hitters parks in AAA. Eloy and Billy will be back soon, 2 have to go.
Billy Hamilton doesn’t need to be on an MLB roster
No but Billy! Billy! Billy! is fun
I keep forgetting how many teams Jake Marisnick has played on.
Marisnick still has value as a defensive replacement and the short side platoon. As 4th/5th OFs go, there are a LOT worse options.
Brett Phillips, Adam Engel, yeah not so much anymore unless Theo enforces pitcher limits to free up more bench space. Limited room for 5th OFs unless they can chip in elsewhere
Did not know Marisnick left Houston till I seen this.
Did not know Marisnick left Houston till I seen this..
The Sox haven’t had a regular RF since Avi Garcia departed. Another great Hahn decision. Yeah he was due an unjustifiable arbitration salary, but they could have declined it and resigned him for less. Hey Rick,DUH!!
Avi was a sieve in RF. Benintendi signing fills a critical corner OF spot: okay with the Sheets/Eloy, 4th guy late rotation in right.
So I just saw Jake at Connie’s pizza on archer Ave. He just ordered a Connie’s original and was seated by the bar section. I asked him what his future plans are and if he plans on playing baseball any longer. He looked at me shook his head and said “ man I suck balls”. I looked at him and couldn’t agree with him more . End of story !
Hi pharmorlover, as a fan of your work I find this installment of you running into various baseball players a little pessimistic and dark. Usually you conclude on a positive, happy note!
Pharmore’s fanciful anecdotes serve as an adequate barometer of the White Sox fortunes.
Fanciful and fancy!
Dodgers should claim him and DFA Thompson..
The Dodgers might do better acquiring Adam Engel. Engel is a good defensive OF and can run. He’s not the greatest hitter.
I knew Thompson is mired in a slump, but I had no idea how bad it is. His BA is down to .109, and he’s 0 for May. His performance for LA late last year must have built up a lot of equity with the FO, but they need to pull the chain on him before the calendar flips.
And they brought up Clint Frazier who the Cubs cut, good thing they’ve drafted well, Andrew Vaughn, Nick Madrigal, Carson Fulmer and Zack Collins plus the owner is cheap, time for another rebuild
Time for another owner.
The hapless Cubs sure love themselves some Nicky Madrigal. The hot corner! Guess he fills the Augie Ojeda – Doug Dacenzo fanboy quotient
Only the Wilpon Mets would have dealt 12 years of a live arm and a respectable 19yo CFer for one year of a 29 yo backup CFer w/ an OPS+ of 80 and a .280 OBP.
Or so I thought until the Eppler Mets decided a short side platoon DH for two months was worth 20 controllable years including the Giants’ new middle of the order hitter.
As an Os fan, this reminds me of a comment I regularly make on the blogs, when fans speculate about what Elias will do at the deadline. My stock answer is “fleece Billy Eppler.” He got Kyle Bradish and four other solid P prospects for the husk of Dylan Bundy and 2 months of Jose Iglesias. Just pump out of that well until it’s dry. No need to thank him for paying their back up catcher.
I didn’t think he was still playing. If I remember right can field almost anywhere, but couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.