January 8: The White Sox officially announced the deal today, and that Rojas will make $3.5MM this year.
January 2: The White Sox are in agreement with infielder Josh Rojas on a one-year deal, according to a report from Scott Merkin of MLB.com. The financial terms of the deal are not yet known.
Rojas, 31 in June, was non-tendered by the Mariners back in November. It was an outcome few would have expected early in the 2024 season. Rojas had been a key piece of the trade that sent closer Paul Sewald to Arizona at the 2023 trade deadline and had hit a respectable .272/.321/.400 (105 wRC+) down the stretch with the Mariners. He followed that up with a torrid start to the 2024 campaign as well, hitting .318/.408/.530 (175 wRC+) through the end of April. Unfortunately for Rojas, the wheels came off completely from there. The rest of the way, Rojas hit a paltry .208/.285/.301 (75 wRC+), including a brutal .184/.265/.272 (62 wRC+) slash line over the season’s final two months while the Mariners slipped out of the playoff picture.
That tough offensive season was enough for the Mariners to decide against tendering him a contract for the 2025 season MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected would’ve earned Rojas $4.3MM. Even so, a weak free agent market for infielders made Rojas immediately one of the more intriguing lower-level free agent options available on this winter’s market. While Rojas has generally been an average to slightly below-average hitter in the majors since becoming a full-time player in Arizona back in 2021, he’s an versatile fielder who has posted excellent defensive numbers in each of the past two seasons. Since the start of the 2023 campaign, Rojas has +8 Outs Above Average at second base and +6 OAA at third base. Defensive Runs Saved is slightly less bullish on Rojas but still rates him as an above average fielder overall, with +2 DRS at second and +5 at third over the last two years. Rojas also has experience at shortstop and in the outfield corners at the big league level, though without the same impressive metrics backing his performance up.
That positional versatility, plus defense, and history as a league-average hitter was enough to make Rojas a sought after role player for a handful of teams this winter, including the Cubs. While the north side’s reportedly “serious” interest in Rojas likely involved him taking a part-time role backing up Nico Hoerner and top prospect Matt Shaw at second and third base, he should have a clearer path to regular reps on the south side of town. The club currently projects to utilize some combination of Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, Jacob Amaya, and Brooks Baldwin between shortstop, second base, and third base in 2025. While Vargas seems ticketed for everyday starts as a recent top-100 prospect who was the centerpiece of the return Chicago received for Michael Kopech, Tommy Pham, and Erick Fedde last summer, Rojas should be able to capture regular reps at whichever of second or third base Vargas doesn’t end up playing.
That should be particularly true against right-handed pitching, as Rojas sports a significant platoon split and hit just .133/.224/.133 against southpaws last year. It’s possible the White Sox will afford him the opportunity to prove he can hit lefties while in the thick of a rebuild, though perhaps they’ll simply platoon him with a right-handed infielder like Sosa in order to maximize his numbers ahead of what’s sure to be another fire sale at the trade deadline this year. For the White Sox, the addition of Rojas provides some stability to an infield mix that was in desperate need of attention this winter and a potential midseason trade chip. Meanwhile, Rojas will have the opportunity to be a regular with the club and could play his way into a role with a contender down the stretch.
With Rojas off the market, a handful of interesting infielders remain available in free agency for teams in need of help on the dirt. Whit Merrifield, Donovan Solano, and Cavan Biggio are among the players available who could provide versatility in a part-time or bench role, while Jorge Polanco, Paul DeJong, and Jose Iglesias are among a handful of potential regulars available in the lower tiers of free agency. One other wild card on the infield market is Hyeseong Kim, who was posted by the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes last month and is available for MLB clubs to sign until tomorrow afternoon.
No way the White Sox just stole this guy from the Cubs. Very solid utility bat, Hoyer better be cooking up something big if we are signing Caleb Theilbar and missing out on a guy that could easily contribute an extra win to the team over the year. We traded for Tucker and haven’t done anything since then. Typical Cubs.
“Solid utility bat”? Better maybe than some of the less-than-solid utility bats already on the roster. Looks to me like another nondescript player who hits just above the Mendoza line. And that comes while he’s in his prime. Hard to see how this fills a need for this team.
He’s clearly better than Vidal Brujan, Gage Workman, and Luis Vazquez so yeah, for the Cubs he’s a decent add
Mendoza line is .200
Josh’s career ba is almost 50 points higher.
Shouldn’t the Mendoza line be .215? That was his career average, after all.
Let Mendoza feel good about being able to hit above the Mendoza line. Don’t take that away from the poor guy!
True but he hit below the Mendoza line for 5 of his 9 MLB seasons
You are incorrect. He did not make his debut in MLB until August 2019, and his career BA is .247
All-stars today bat .215..what the heck happened?
Crucial discovery, finished above his own line, who knew? Congrats mister coke bottle glasses
So you’re saying Mendoza had a 50-50 shot of exceeding his own line.
realsox: If he makes it to the Mendoza line, he’ll be a star on this sad sack of a team.
@real A career .247 hitter and he hits “just above the Mendoza line”? Come on do a little better than that…
It’s amazing to see how often Cubs fail and lose in the offseason. How did the franchise for 108 years have the patience and then just go into fail mode. Thank god there is Sunnyside Cannabis around the corner from Cubs Park so fans can medicate each and every day
Bellinger is going to miss Sunnyside Cannabis.
Who’s going to order pizza upsetting Mister Hand now that Cody Spicoli has left?
Royt here dude !
No way Mister Hand!
Should have been. Thank God the Sox got to him before Jed went dumpster diving.
Nobody stole anyone; and nobody would prefer the Sox over your Cubs. It simply meant he only had 1 offer from the Sox.
Sure sure scrub fans – LIES – no proof
One proof per sure – wait till next year
If my team just set the record for utter crappies, I would not be trash talking a team that was four games over .500.
bronyaur: Using the Sox as a barometer for how good another team is sad. So is finishing four games above .500.
But but but, we’re better than the Sox. Pass me another plastic Budseiser bat. Only $35 for 24 Oz of swill
The White Sox signed a major league player!
smh always guddmit scrub fan show up in Sox news
This is a “very solid utility bat?”
baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/josh-rojas-66…
shyzer: The Sox don’t have utility bats. Those players are starters.
@Murphy8
Its been how many weeks since that trade? Did you notice that there were a couple holidays during that time? I’m sure some players, and front office people took time to spend with family. Maybe take a deep breath and count to ten. Still lots of time to make moves.
The guy’s bat was among the worst regulars in the sport the last two months. Someone more reliable would be preferable for a team that thinks it can compete. For a team like the White Sox, with no thoughts of competing and plenty of infield reps that need to be taken, Rojas makes a lot more sense. If he gets back to the point where he puts up an above-average wRC+ against righties and still provides above-average defense, the White Sox can flip him at the deadline.
Doesn’t Rojas pull a wRC+ around 92?
Sorry to hear that for him
Why sorry? Plenty of playing time is what WSox can provide players who will only be bench pieces elsewhere.
Good point! Just hope he doesn’t care about winning!
If he plays well enough he could end up on a contender by June/July.
Rojas was in Seattle. He should be used to a team not caring about winning.
The team cared….. the owner didn’t give a rats @ss!
@cwsOverhaul – you should NOT have to require this joke to be explained to you, get it together…
Advice for anyone on this site… If you think you’ve come up with a sick “White Sox suck” burn, just step away from the computer and go do something outside.
Everyone knows they were horrific last year and probably will be this year too. So – if you think you’re creative or funny, odds are really good that your ‘joke’ is lame and you need to get out.
Aww, who urinated in your Corn Flakes?
Site is full of freakin’ 13 year olds.
13 yr Olds don’t follow baseball now adays
SITE is full people w the mental capacity and maturity of 13 year olds
Have you been on X? They are all there too
We are all 13 at heart.
Big Hurt: When it comes to the Sox’ “accomplishments” last season, people are going to take pot shots at them, even me, a Sox fan. The outrage is more against Reinsdorf and Getz for the “talent” they continually try to shove down our throats as part of their joke of a rebuild.
I blame the school system.
Don’t think there are baseball fans under 40
Perhaps the White Sox fan who is frustrated with people burning his lousy team could use some outside time.
@Rogue – just took my dog for a walk based solely on your recommendation, so appreciate it ;0).
But, baby, it’s cold outside. Burning the Sox keeps me warm. Lame enough for ya?
@Humble – Actually, that’s finally a creative one! 🙂
Sox suck dude
Best way for the South Side Losers to improve is move to Nashville.
The joke is on the south side and keeps them comming.
Just keep the blinders on and enjoy another $&#@ season.
@cfs The joke is on your attempt at spelling ‘coming’.
Okay big hurt feelings
When you have nothing to say then go to the spell checker.
Keep it up and enjoy your summer.
This guy Big Hurt is a scrub fan
We know the trick how scrub losers play trick – Pretend sox fan but want more attention – Scrub fan aka Big hurt – Get out of that LIE loser cub fan
Na he is a Sox fan. He knows that his summer will suck because he will be stuck with the kids and can’t use the ‘I have to watch the game excuse’
@Big Hurt: Advice for you – learn how to do sports banter. This is what fans do. If you want to revel in your hurt feelings, find a new hobby. When you get trash talked, send it back twice as hard.
Or, counter point, stir it up and get out of the way and watch the turds come out of the woodwork. This was a fun social experiment ;).
Yet , it is ok for a Sox fan to trash talk?
Sure it is. When all you have in life is trash that’s all you want to talk about.
I don’t get it
White Sox kind of having a fun little off-season.
Not necessarily silent either, Getz is much more active in the off-season than his predecessor(s).
Being ‘more active’ means nothing if you are replenishing your 4A talent of has-beens or failed prospects.
I get that Getz is not awash in cash, but his moves remind of the movie Major League. I wonder if that is where he is getting his GM instruction from at this point. Maybe they will have a cardboard cutout of Reinsdorf in a showgirl outfit and every time they win they’ll peel a section off.. That should guarantee another major league record in losses.
Then again, maybe if they LOSE they peel a section off, it may guarantee them a MLB record in victories
The entire point is that they FINALLY convinced Reinsdorf to commit to an overhaul of the player development system. The analytics department is no longer just Gil Gunderson sitting behind an old Commodore 64 and a Rhesus monkey with an abacus.
Does the Rhesus run on c batteries and smash those cymbals ad infinitum?
Reinsdorf only did that because Getz costs less than a monkey with an abacus..
If this guy was 2.1 WAR with Seattle is he like 6.5 WAR with the White Sox? Yeesh.
Why would he be?
Do explain.
Um no
Poor guy…
An ok bench player at best.
Why would anyone willingly play for the White Sox? That’s like jumping off a bridge.
Well they needed to upgrade the offense.
And the defense, pitching, special teams, power play and full court press.
Strunk Flugget: Because players like Slater know that if they play well they will get flipped in the summer. That’s what the Sox have become, a place for formerly decent players to work their way back to an actual major league team by playing for a minor league team playing in the majors.
Money and opportunity.
Everyone’s gotta eat! How do people not have empathy for ball players? It’s like some commenters have never had to look for a job before
The pay ain’t bad, I hear.
There might even be an opportunity to rediscover his completely lost bat.
Think about it.
Post of the year
Its one of only 30 employers. If you play baseball at the highest level, any of the 30 beats playing at the level below. Pays better, too.
I would have played for the worst team ever if it got me to the bigs at least once.
A career OPS+ of 92 and meh defensive evaluations. At least he’ll get some money and plenty of playing time with the woeful Sox. He already had career earnings of $7.5 million, which just shows that there’s plenty of gold in them thar hills. If he plays halfway decently he might get flipped to a contender at the deadline.
He’s a ok bench player at best, he shouldn’t be blocking Ramos or Vargas.
Vargas is blocking Vargas.
I’m giving him til the trade deadline to see if he’s just another AAAA.
Indeed. Until proven otherwise, Vargas can’t hit. He better take accountability or he’ll be out of mlb a lot sooner than he imagined. Personally, considered minor leaguer Perez the potential prize in Fedde deal. Vargas was just a reclamation project whose name was recognized as a past over touted prospect in LA.
@Lindor’s Bodyguard: Thanks for the laugh on that one
@Chemfinancing: At least that would explain his performance on the field.
Freaking Dodgers fleeced the sox
Vargas is blocking Vargas as effectively as the Bears line blocking Caleb
I have doubts Vargas will make the team, but I agree about Ramos, who handled 3B defensively surprisingly well and seems to have the best bat of the new wave of prospects so far.
Rojas should platoon more with Sosa at 2B, then spell occasionally at 3B & RF against better RHPs. He played well in 2021 in front of Barfield, so he’s a natural pairing with the Sox & could fetch a decent relief prospect at the deadline, ala DeJong.
I feel the Wsox are in a similar spot like the Dbacks back in 2021. I’m not expecting the White Sox to go to the World Series in two years(which would be good for baseball) but I’m not ruling out a rapid turnaround since that’s been the norm in todays game.
Smart people too like Barfield from the Dbacks and the Giants pitchlab guys- wouldn’t it be a hoot if they got back to the playoffs before the Cubs
Before Barfield and Bannister were hired they were decent at developing pitching, now 1.5 years later they seemed to be above average at developing pitching.
That staff has real promise
So does he start at shortstop or third? They don’t really have a good answer at shortstop but I’m skeptical Rojas can handle the position. Intrigued to find out the plan for him. Maybe moves Lenyn Sosa off second?
Bench player, he shouldn’t be blocking Ramos or Vargas.
I am guessing he’s starting and gets dumped at the deadline for some younger guy in the minors they don’t want to give a full year of service time.
Yeah. I’m thinking probably platoon at third with Vargas. He really not a good hitter so I’m not sure what he brings to the White Sox. Another 1.3 win player I guess.
I think at this point, Getz just wants to look busy in his office to cover up the fact he has no clue what he is doing (which is apparently how ‘the Chairman’ wants it).
Rojas really surprised us with his stellar defense at third last year, so hopefully that continues for the Sox. Ms fans are not angry about losing him and Polanco, so much as we’re mad about not having a back-up plan. Pretty stupid to cut loose two solid infielders without a plan to upgrade.
The best way to end up on a winner is to sign with a guaranteed losing team and get traded at the deadline.
100% if not injured he will be traded
Nice p/u by the White Sox. Someone will overpay at the deadline… probably the Cubs.
Go Cubs!
why why on earth cub fan show up here – Go to Dodger or Mets or Brewers tweet – getta out of here lol
Thank god somebody picked him up for the mariners were inclined to resign him
Hope someone will pick up Polanco for that very same reason…
Oh boy! The Sox signed another guy that can’t hit. We fans are just over the top about this!
Would have liked him for the Cubs, but he’s going to get more run with the White Sox. Hoyer will continue to keep Mastrobuoni for now it seems…
Cubs will get him at the deadline. Don’t worry
Half the salary is more up Jed n Tommy Nickels comfort zone
wow another scrub rat fan
You saying Hoyer is the Mastrobuoni of his own domain?
Happy for Josh. Has a good shot at 500 abs on that team.
Big blow to the M’s offense losing out on 2 WAR.
I still want that 1/2 game from 1972 dang it.
That’s like 4th best of all position players lol….sad
Smart move by him. One of the very few — maybe only — teams he could sign with that could more or less guarantee he’ll play nearly every day. And if he does well he’ll be on a playoff team by August, and a free agent again in a year.
Another teams reject. Story of the White Sox attempt to lose no more than 99 games.
good pickup by the ChiSox.
the bar is not terribly high on the Southside to rise above the incumbents. hope he does well there.
So the White Sox think they can fix a 31 year old’s lack of contact? I mean what team was Getz watching last season? I mean, he knows he still has ‘dead stick’ Thames mismanaging the hitting instruction on this club right?
The White Sox are just another ‘4A’ team for the majors where retreads will gladly cash their checks for doing almost nothing on the field.
Well they need to add offense in the first place.
If Rojas gives them another 91 OPS+, it will be a substantial improvement over what the White Sox received from their second basemen last season. Besides, he also improves the defense, which will help the team develop their large pile of young SPs already on the 40 man while they wait for the positional prospects to get promoted. They will be arriving much sooner than most fans think. The team’s rebuild much more closely follows the rapid teardown strategy than a prolonged tank job.
The only reason prospects will move quickly thru the White Sox system is that there is no talent ahead of them blocking their way. There’s also no instruction, so they will arrive unprepared to survive at the major league level.
Rapid turnarounds have been the norm in todays game, the Dbacks lost 111 games in 2021 and went the to the World Series two years later which seemly came out of nowhere at the time.
Like this and the Stassi moves actually. Buy time so Colson, Teel and Edgar can progress more gradually. 2026 should be fun!
Adding Rojas is a savvy move to shore up the defense and support the development of the team’s pile of young SPs. No, the bat won’t be league average but a .640 OPS will be miles better than the alternatives at second.
“A savvy move to shore up the defense and support the development of the team’s pile of young SPs.” That’s what they said last year about the signing of DeJong to play short and Lopez to play second. And DeJong and Lopez are now both gone, though they would likely be improvements over the guys the Sox have signed this off-season.
In hindsight Dejong and Lopez delivered as promised for a team not planning on contending. Dejong found his bat and fetched a prospect, Lopez was a good locally based team ambassador who grew up a Sox fan and a Gold Glove finalist. If you’re going to continually be mired in mediocrity like the Cubs or the Angels, might as well tear it all down.
Let’s start the bidding at, 122. Do I hear 123, 124, 125, 126…
Rojas is a solid pickup for the Sox. I thought the Brewers would have snagged him
Wouldn’t have minded him, but would prefer Moncada.
Have you noticed, there is not a single rumor on Moncada. That in itself speaks volumes. He will be lucky to get a non roster invite.
The White Sox just went from a 41-win team to a 41.25-win team. Makin moves!!
Sox win 50 easy next year
MrShowtime – A scrub rat fan – he knows collapses every year
Feeling good now?
So much wrong with this statement who knows where to start…
Good pick up by the Southsiders. He’ll see some starting time. Possibly flip him at the trade desdline to a contender if performance is there. Hoyer was recovering from a heavy New Years Eve and Getz was able a make a move for a player he was interested in.
Merrifield looked cooked last season. Biggio was terrible between 4 organizations. Solano was solid and i would be surprised if the Padres don’t eventually re-sign him (though he would be a nice fit on the Mariners too).
All of the names listed (except maybe Solano) are looking at minor league deals with invites to spring training. With the White Sox signing Rojas as potential mid-season trade candidate maybe they should consider DeJong or Polanco too
Would be funny if they brought Dejong back. He’d be like aw shucks, this place. And to think I had to move my stuff, carrying that big TV down a 5 floor walkup. Could have just kept my stuff here or at Jake from State farm’s living room
I hope Rojas becomes a solid contributor for his new team. He is truly a gamer.
A gamer you say. What’s his jam? Fortnite or COD?
The problem I have with these kinds of signings is that they are repeating the same failed formula as last season. I’d rather see them use all their home grown players every day to see if they can actually cut it as a major leaguer. They wasted a good opportunity for this last season by chasing washed up talents. Commit to your guys for better or for worse. I think they could surprise some people if they are allowed to play instead of being jerked around.
move Robert out of CF hoping he won’t get injured. Judge and Trout are both to move out of CF.
I was afraid that the Angels would sign him to a major league deal, so good on you White Sox.
The CWS shouldn’t be signing anyone over the age of 28…I’d much rather see Chase Meidroth getting the at bats then this guy.
Give Chase development time than call him up at the trade deadline
This is one of those ” How do I really feel about this” Moment. Once again Hoyer proves inept at losing a player he supposedly wanted to the White Sox no less. But also rooting for the Sox at least he’ll probably get a shot to start. I can’t help but think in the back of my mind that this guy is really no better than Mastrobuoni so WHY did Hoyer want him? Just another confusing moment to stash away in the Jed exit interview I would hope. Wave goodbye to Tanner Scott. The one guy who could make a difference should sign somewhere soon but it isn’t going to be in Wrigley.
Solid place for him to resurrect his career. He should get plenty of ABs
Can’t believe anyone -fan, blogger, or team- thinks Cavan Biggio is a viable MLB option for any on-field aspect of the game
Rest of the Sox are like, “buddy, we’re right there with ya” 65 WRC rest of 2024. “Keep that up, you’re one of us Let’s toast!”
Gotta hand it to Chris Getz- cornering the market on…Chris Getzes. Wonder if when he wakes up in the morning and opens up the medicine cabinet, he seizes the day by greeting a counter full of Chris Getz bobbleheads obtained from the US Cellular field overstock collection, all nodding back at him in unison as he chants his daily Stuart Smalley affirmations
Career options: back up infielder for the Cubs, or batting cleanup for the Sox? His response: “yes”.
As Elvis famously said: “love me, tender” “love me not, White Sox”. Thank you, I’m here all the week, opening for Kevin Hart at the Chicago theatre. Try the veal.
Rojas’ 133/.224/.133 split against southpaws came as much relief to….Southpaw, the White Sox genial but mute, furry Green extraterrestrial animal mascot
Yet another Sox acquisition whom I’ve never heard of. The beat goes on. The beatdowns begin on Opening Day and continue all season long. 121 gets smashed to smithereens. The theme for the upcoming season should be “125 for ’25.”