The White Sox have signed free agent first baseman Jared Walsh to a minor league deal, per the team. The ISE client will head to the club’s spring training complex in Arizona for the time being and eventually be assigned to Triple-A Charlotte. Walsh made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster this season and got out to a hot start, but he was cut loose when he fell into a slump as Texas was nearing Nathaniel Lowe’s activation from the injured list.
Walsh’s return to the big leagues was a welcome sight, as some rather ominous health troubles clouded his future within the game not long ago. The Angels placed Walsh on the injured list with persistent headaches and insomnia early last season, and the slugger detailed his struggles in an interview with The Athletic’s Sam Blum at the time, stating: “It’s been hell. Not knowing what’s going on, not understanding what’s happening with my body….And not being able to get answers, not being able to figure out why I can’t do basic tasks. It’s been pretty concerning for me.”
Walsh also told the Orange County Register’s Doug Padilla that the neurological issues he battled early last season actually had been bothering him for more than a year, meaning he was going through that battle while simultaneously trying to play through thoracic outlet symptoms that eventually necessitated surgery. Walsh acknowledged that he seems to have “found some answers” after multiple visits with specialists, but an exact diagnosis was never made public.
Given all he’s gone through in recent seasons, it’s encouraging simply to see Walsh healthy enough to continue pursuing his big league career. The now-30-year-old slugger broke out with a hefty .280/.331/.531 slash and 38 home runs in 176 games with the Angels from 2020-21. His production plummeted in the years since that breakout, due in no small part to those persistent and worrying health troubles. Since Opening Day 2022, Walsh carries a .200/.263/.352 batting line in 630 trips to the plate.
Walsh had a nice spring with the Rangers, swatting three homers and slashing .250/.365/.458 overall in 57 plate appearances. His 14% walk rate was encouraging, but the veteran’s 33.3% strikeout rate was an obvious flaw. His contact issues persisted into the regular season. Walsh began the season 10-for-30 with a homer and two doubles but went just 2-for-23 with 11 punchouts thereafter. He fanned 21 times in his 60 Rangers plate appearances (35%).
The White Sox have Andrew Vaughn getting everyday reps at first base, but the former top prospect simply hasn’t produced this season (.180/.252/.230, 42 wRC+) and more broadly has not emerged as the high-end offensive force the Sox envisioned when drafting him with the third overall pick in 2019. Vaughn popped a career-high 21 homers last season but is a lifetime .251/.311/.408 hitter since his 2020 debut. He’s essentially been a league-average bat, which doesn’t mesh well with his lack of defensive value and lack of speed. This year’s 27.9% strikeout rate is a career-worst, as are most of his batted-ball metrics on Statcast (e.g. exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate).
If things reach a tipping point, it’s feasible that Vaughn could be optioned to Charlotte himself, with Gavin Sheets sliding from right field to first base and Chicago giving Tommy Pham, Robbie Grossman and/or Rafael Ortega increased reps in the outfield. Walsh could hit his way into that first base/DH mix as well, but for now he’ll get a tune-up at the Sox’ spring facility. It’s been ten days since he was designated for assignment and two weeks since he last appeared in a game.
How many old beat up former all star caliber players have the White Sox signed???
At this point I am just glad when they don’t sign another former Royals player.
This.
They have plenty of room on their DL bus
Not sure about that but the last thing the White Sox need is another lame 1B.
The team actually doesn’t have any MLB ready corner infielders in the high minors.
They definitely don’t need any in the majors right now but Charlotte could definitely use a bat and Walsh needs a place where he can get regular AB’s
I really hope the best for Mr Walsh.
Sending Vaughn to Charlotte might just be a good move.
Send him to the moon. To the moon, Alice
Trade him to the Marlins. They seem to favor that type of player.
There’s no hope for him. His eyes are too close together.
Some good things happening in Chicago. Finally turning the corner
I just hope they aren’t as embrassing as last year.
I don’t know if you’re wearing black-out glasses when you watch the Sox, Aiden, but yeah, they’re even more embarrassing than last year in part because Chrissy Getz stripped the team of three of its best P and replaced them with guys whose careers should have ended years ago.
Hardly, what team are you watching?
I don’t know what corner you see the Sox turning Hotdog because even after sweeping TV, they’re still the worst team in bb.
Jared Walsh had a solid season not that long ago. 1B/RF/DH player.
I’m selfish, I hope Walsh has a nice first half so Getz can trade him at the deadline. Need to keep stocking up on young talent.
I wish him well as neurological issues are scary. Glad they addressed it. I’m probably more concerned with how the thoracic outlet surgery impacts him.
I think both go hand in hand now. The more TOS impacts his ability the more his mental state will suffer it begins to be a vicious circle
It would be interesting to see MIA and CWS make a mutli player trade and see what team improves. May be the most entertaining thing for those fan bases this year.
White Sox currently have last year’s 3rd string catcher Carlos Perez playing first at Charlotte so an upgrade in AAA is probably welcome.
I’ll be personally surprised if he’s in the majors anytime soon.
Yeah, I was also thinking it might be more about filling out the minor league teams than the big league squad too. I wouldn’t be surprised if another high draft pick goes to a first baseman this year.
The White Sox org is pretty short on power hitting right now. I wouldn’t be surprised either.