White Sox manager Will Venable tells James Fegan of Sox Machine that Miguel Vargas is viewed as the club’s primary option at third base. He is playing a bit of first base in camp as well but will mostly line up at the hot corner.
Vargas, 25, became a key piece of the roster last summer. Prior to last year’s deadline. the Sox lined up a three-team trade with the Dodgers and Cardinals. Chicago gave up Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech, Tommy Pham and cash in that deal. In return, they received three minor leaguers, with Vargas being more of a high-profile addition than Alexander Albertus or Jeral Perez.
A few years ago, Vargas was a top 100 prospect. Baseball America gave him the #29 spot going into 2023. That’s largely on account of his huge numbers against minor league pitching, though he hasn’t yet translated that to the majors. He has hit .175/.273/.312 in 591 big league plate appearances thus far.
But over the past three years, he has hit .297/.412/.512 in 996 Triple-A appearances. That was in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League but his 15.6% walk rate and 16.7% strikeout rate in that time were both great and wRC+ still considered him to be 31% better than league average.
Defensively, Vargas primarily played third base on his way up the minor league ladder, though the Dodgers moved him around the diamond. That was partially to improve his chances of cracking their crowded roster but also because his defense at the hot corner hasn’t been especially highly rated. He spent time at second base, first base and left field.
After acquiring him last year, the Sox gave him 36 starts at third and one in left. They overhauled their staff since then, bringing in Venable to be the new manager in 2025. It seems the new skipper doesn’t change the plan and they will give Vargas some run at the hot corner and see how it goes. Obviously, making offensive strides at the major league level is going to be important for Vargas but finding a viable defensive home is also going to be key. Now is a good time for the Sox to experiment, since they clearly have no hope of contending in the near term after their historically bad season in 2024. Vargas is still under control for five years, so there’s some time to come up with a clear answer.
The Sox signed infielder Josh Rojas to a one-year, $3.5MM deal last month. He has played more third base than any other position in his career, over 2,000 innings, but has over 1,000 innings at second as well. He’s also dabbled in the outfield corners, at shortstop and first base.
Perhaps Rojas will end up securing the second base job, if Vargas is at third. He will have some competition from Lenyn Sosa, though Sosa has hit just .229/.257/.347 in his big league career thus far and may get pushed into a bench/utility job. Rookie Colson Montgomery could perhaps take the Opening Day shortstop job. Infielders Jacob Amaya, Brooks Baldwin and Bryan Ramos are also on the 40-man roster with Brandon Drury and Nick Maton providing some non-roster depth.
Elsewhere on the roster, right-hander Prelander Berroa has been diagnosed with a grade 1 elbow strain, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Merkin says “it looks as if” Berroa can avoid Tommy John surgery “in the short term,” with next steps to be determined.
Berroa, 25 in April, came to the Sox as part of the Gregory Santos trade about a year ago. He has a 3.05 earned run average in 20 2/3 innings thus far in his career between the M’s and White Sox. Control has been an issue, with a 17.6% walk rate in the big leagues thus far. However, he’s also shown huge strikeout stuff, punching out 31.9% of major league hitters faced.
Obviously, a Tommy John surgery would be unwelcome, leading to an absence of over a year. The Sox will explore other options for the time being to see if there’s a way to get him back on the mound that doesn’t involve a surgeon’s scalpel.
First post is a first post!
Wishing Vargy the best.
I wish him well, too, but his performance last year leaves me doubting his long-term value to the Sox. He can’t hit and his defense is poor. He gained weight to become “stronger,” but so far this Spring he just looks more doughy. Beyond that, it’s hard to know how strength translates to putting the bat on the ball. Like most of the young Sox players, he has a hard, hard time just putting the ball in play, let alone getting on base.
They can try to keep propping up Vargas, but unless he has chemical assistance Im not hopeful he will make an impact. Id rather see Ramos at third.
Ramos should have been getting more work at 2B over the past 2 years. They should have set up a 2025 everyday infield of Ramos at 2B, Montgomery at SS, and Vargas at 3B. Hopefully Ramos can play some 2B in Charlotte. Hopefully we can either play Ramos every day at 2B to close the season (if Vargas hits enough to stick at 3B) or play Ramos at 3B to close the season (if Vargas plays his way into a June/July DFA).
With the Dodgers, he had an OPS+ of 108. It was with the Sox that he cratered, but he also said he lost 15 lbs over the course of the season. He’s put in the work over the winter and I think it’s too soon to write anyone off after just one season.
Hopefully for the White Sox some of these young players figure it out this year.
Mets Era: They won’t, but I congratulate mlbtr for finding SOMETHING to write about this disaster of a team.
I think Baldwin looks like a good ball player. Montgomery might be something. I’ve always liked Andrew Vaughn, he’s been pretty consistent. Hopefully they have the coaching to develop the kids. They’re def a bit of a ways off but they have some hope. Maybe.
Keith Law of the Athletic had an article with 25 rookies who could make an impact. 4 are on the Sox. It shows how bad they are, but also says they have guys who are capable of making an impact. Colson was not among those listed.
Well at least they are ensuring they will still be the worst
I always liked him with the Dodgers and wish he cracked the major league line up. His long stint 2 years ago he was playing injured. So there’s that. Then the trade last year had to be depressing for him. I’m hopeful he turns it around and becomes a big bat.
For those who missed it, “Sad Miguel Vargas” became a meme within about a week after the trade. Easily findable on your search engine of choice. While giving him regular time at 3B is a reasonable course of action, 1B is his best position and if he gets his head turned around, he’s easily capable of outhitting Vaughn. My recollection from the Dodgers was that he made himself into an adequate 2B (if barely so), but was hopeless in the OF.
If Miguel Vargas lives up to his hit tool but can’t cut it at 3B he should have ample opportunity at 1B sooner rather than later. Disappointing 1B Andrew Vaugh only has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining. If Vaughn finally realizes his own hitting potential he will be a solid midseason trade candidate for the White Sox. If Vaughn continues to underperform he will be a DFA candidate later this season or a certain non-tendered one in the offseason.
Vargas still has five years available to the White Sox. He will be in pre-arb status through 2026 and arbitration eligible in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Aaron: As bad as Vaughn is, he will never be as bad a hitter as Vargas. But I agree that Vargas will get a shot at 1B when Vaughn reaches arbitration and is eligible to top the Reinsdorf Line, which is in the $1M/year range.
Wow, I guess just about anybody can have a meme then. I thought you had to be somewhat famous or well known to have a “meme”. Not a somebody just a few baseball nerds would know about.
“While giving him regular time at 3B is a reasonable course of action, 1B is his best position and if he gets his head turned around, he’s easily capable of outhitting Vaughn.”
LOL, that is not really saying much. Pick a higher bar. Vaughn and his warning track power can go, another guy who has been given a a lot of chances and showed little (compared to where he was drafted at least).
I think Vargas showed every bit of what he is (and what the Sox gave up for him), the Sox gave him every opportunity to distinguish himself and failed every time. The upside for him will be that since he was a centerpiece of a Getz trade he will be here as long as Getz is here (another thing I sure Getz learned from ‘The Legend (in his own mind)’ Kenny Williams), even if he hit .198 and plays horrible defense. Cause right now he looks like just another 4A type of player.
The only reason why its not 100% certain is the Venable is the wild card here. Maybe he actually holds guys accountable unlike the last regime, and as a result gives some of these kids some hope they can be good and produce. Then again a lot of the old regime is still in Chicago (including the inept primary hitting coach), so Im not hopeful.
I always found this funny, Sad vargas. Poor miguel, handed a starting job in the mlb, he is just another guy in LA. He could actually be something here but he chooses to pout like a 4 yr old. This is his year, if he doesn’t show up he will never get a starting chance again. So time to put on your big boy pants u crybaby
New year to restart with little to no pressure should help Vargas show he belongs in the bigs.
Deloach and Berroa for Santos will just keep looking worse. Especially, when Santos comes back healthy.
The Sox got a draft pick on that too
Yes, I believe they drafted prep southpaw Blake Larson to conclude that deal. With the White Sox ability to develop unorthodox southpaws and keep them at least somewhat healthy (i,e., Chris Sale, Carlos Rodon, Garrett Crochet, Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith) over the years, Larson may ultimately compete with Smith as the best team selection in last year’s draft.
If Santos
His dad was one of the best defensive and best hitter third baseman in Cuba of all time, Lazaro Vargas.
heaven: Can we get him instead?
Have faith avenger, the kid needs to figure it out and have regular play time, he showed his potential when he debuted with the dodgers. I hope he turns out to be a good big leaguer and have a successful career like his father in Cuba who never played MLB.
He had a LOT of regular playing time with the Sox last season and probably more than he should have given the other guys who were available to be seen and see what they could do.
Can he sing? Dapper in a white suit?
Can’t wait to see this experiment crash and burn by May; should be no worse than Andrew Vaugnh or Jake Burger at 3B
Reynaldo’s: At least Burger can hit. Vargas is a complete disaster on both sides of the ball.
I laugh at people holding Vaughn as a ‘gold standard’ here…
I wish Vargas all the best, but the bottom line is he has never produced at all at the major league level, and to date he’s best remembered for that Sox futility meme from last year. The pressure won’t get any lower, so this really is Vargas’ big chance.
Good luck, Miguel. You were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Always liked ya and you will make it.
fox471: If he can’t make it with the Sox, who are masquerading as a major league team, where there is no pressure to succeed just as long as you’re willing to play for minimum wage, then you’re nothing more than a AAAA player. So far, that’s all Vargas is.
Lotsa Dodger fans wishing him well. That’s a good sign. He must be a good egg, eh?
The White Sox will be interesting if nothing else. I’d like to see Meidroth and Montgomery open the season as the double play combo. Vaughn and Vargas at the corners i guess. Maybe Gallo will have a monster spring and find his way into the lineup as well
They should play the service time game with those guys. And I hope Gallo makes it in and drops like 20 bombs the first half and gets dealt
If Montgomery is hitting this season like he did(n’t) last.. Yeah Sox fans will likely be waiting (and one can argue the staff down in AAA is better than the inept coaching they still have with the major league club from last season). How Thames kept his job, I dunno.. He must be paying Jerry to be here.
Another reminder that top prospects often fail.
Look at that roster… it is terrible. The farm has some really good players, but they may be a year or two away.
A new manager, a new way of thinking. Maybe they win 60 games? I think it’s more likely they may break last season’s record in losses.
Of course the white sox want to give a guy with a sub 400 OPS a starting job
just another Dodger fan wishing him well…never really saw much to believe the hype though it seemed like he believed it. kid went full in w the earrings and hair like he was Manny Ramirez out of the gate. if he can focus on the game I hope he does something. never really saw his inadequacy in the field… forever grateful for the return of Edman and Kopech for him and a couple of prospects
Gary Scott got 175 at bats on the north side. Let’s see how many Vargas can get.
Gary Scott reference!!!! Who had him in the forgotten player pool?!
But but but he’s the next Santo. As in, “Oh noooo!”
That Sox culture is fun.
122 losses here we come. Reinsdork, great job hiring this new manager. Great way to destroy his career.
The number of guys that have no business accruing MLB service time because of this organization is astounding.
Interesting to see how many Dodgers fans are in this thread wishing him well. I’m one of them. He was liked here. I think the hit tool is there. If you look at the human side of things, you go from arguably the best team in the majors, to the worst. Definitely some culture shock there. I think his first full season in Chicago will go much smoother.
Vargas hitting profile looks similar to Matt Mervis, AAAA player.
He doesn’t seem to do anything above MLB average. Average to below average contact, average power, average speed, average to below average defense.
Getz really blew it giving away Kopech, Pham,& Fedde for a lottery ticket that doesn’t grade high in any tool.
Pham was a negative-WAR player, Fedde was a regression candidate waiting to happen who was significantly out-pitching his peripherals, and Kopech refused to listen to coaching until after he was traded.
A faded former Top 100 prospect and 2 decent teenage middle infielders is about right for a return. Maybe the Cardinals could have thrown in an extra projectable bullpen arm, but otherwise I’m fine with the return on that trade.
I think the Sox got exactly what they deserved for those players. The question is can the player prove the Dodgers wrong for letting him go for so cheap….
As for Kopech not listening to coaching until after he was traded… It would have helped if the coaches in Chicago had anything useful to say or offer him. Katz has his nose buried in his tablet to actually help anyone. I saw Grifol talking to Kopech while Katz was obviously staring into his tablet.. I mean how helpless Kopech must have felt to get tutelage from a guy like Grifol?!
Still trying to decide if I will view him as the primary third baseman. I’m thinking I’ll just go cheap and get the audio subscription this year, which would mean no viewing at all. I figure going cheap this year is one similarity between me and Jerry Reinsdorf.
Vargas showed flashes with the Dodgers but never really got any consistent playing time. Time to put up or….
It takes a lot to be a downgrade from Yoan Moncada.