The White Sox and outfielder Randal Grichuk are in agreement on a major league deal, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. The Sox will need to make corresponding moves to open space for the Paragon Sports International client on the active and 40-man rosters.
Grichuk elected free agency just three days ago after being designated for assignment by the Yankees. The 34-year-old had broken camp on a minor league contract to work in a short side platoon role. He was essentially the last man on Aaron Boone’s bench and took more than two-thirds of his 33 plate appearances versus lefty pitching.
Despite the favorable matchup deployments, Grichuk didn’t hit over his scattered playing time. He batted .194 without a home run while striking out 10 times. He worked one walk and had a .212 on-base mark. Grichuk didn’t perform especially well against left-handed pitching last season either, batting .227/.273/.430. He was among the best hitters in MLB against southpaws from 2022-24, however, destroying them at a .317/.367/.573 clip. He connected on 25 homers, 34 doubles and four triples in just under 500 trips against lefties over those three years.
Grichuk hasn’t played center field in three seasons and has been a well below-average hitter against righty pitching. It’s a limited profile but one the Sox feel comfortable carrying on their bench. They lost right fielder Everson Pereira to the injured list last week with a pectoral strain. Jarred Kelenic was selected onto the MLB roster in his stead and is out to a 1-6 start over three games. The lefty-hitting Kelenic and right-handed Austin Hays — a similar player to Grichuk — are dividing right field work.
The White Sox could create a 40-man roster spot for Grichuk by transferring Tanner Murray to the 60-day injured list. However, they may need to designate someone for assignment given their lack of active roster flexibility.
Backup catcher Drew Romo is the only player on Will Venable’s bench who has minor league options. They’re presumably not going to move on from Hays a month into a $6MM free agent deal. Andrew Benintendi isn’t performing but is signed through 2027 and remains the team’s leadoff man. Rookie left fielder Sam Antonacci is playing too well to option out.
Luisangel Acuña has been ice cold to begin the season, but he headlined Chicago’s return for Luis Robert Jr. over the offseason. They haven’t made the same investment in Kelenic, an offseason minor league signee, or September waiver claim Derek Hill. Hill has decent numbers this season but has struck out 14 times in 44 plate appearances and has only started 10 of the first 34 games.
Why?
Bring up Montgomery and Hagen Smith.
Good bye to Kay and don’t sign this guy
Bring them up in August so you can potentially get a draft pick.
If this guy does anything trade him for a lotto ticket.
Have you looked at Smith walk rate?
Get Montgomery some AAA time June July.
The Venn Diagram of those who yell, “He’s got nothing left to prove in the minors” and “My team rushed this prospect!!” are a single circle.
Why???? We already have Austin Hays who has barely even played since he’s come back. And then Pereira still is coming back, this makes no sense, he can’t play center, unless they plan on releasing Benintendi, this move is pointless
Gee, I don’t know, maybe Hays is hurt, as he wasn’t available to pinch hit on Sunday, Periera isn’t close, and they don’t like any of the AAA options enough to promote them, yet? And if they DFA Benintendi, they’ll just have to go out and sign another free agent every online bro has been screaming to sign for the last 10 years.
This move makes all the sense in the world. Only the wise can see it.
Don’t like this signing, Grichuck lots of ks little walks even at the minor league level years ago. A slight upgrade over Hill in batting talent but maybe not worth it since Hill has built connection with team. Good news is Grichucks best year was with the D backs in 2024.
Grichuk makes sense only if as a trade piece. Which would require a few at-bats to create a market.
Chisox, Grich had two good seasons with the Jays and i really liked him….i am glad he is getting an MLB contract….I think you will enjoy him there in Sox Town…..
He’s been anywhere from replacement level to downright dreadful for a good 8 or so seasons now. I don’t think Sox fans will be too pleased
@jaysfansince1977
Grichuk has one good year in 2018 with a 3.0 fWAR. The next 3 years in Toronto he put up a 1.0 fWAR/600 (1400+ PA’s). He was barely a bench bat.
Nonsense Saint, ne year year hit homers a lot of homers…and the next season he hit for like a 270 average with nearly 20 homers…I don’t care about fWAR…he was better than the guy he replaced….he had K’s yes but so did Jose and EE, he did his job and was very good in RF and played CF too when needed….for 10 Mil a season……
Apparently no one ever looked at his 2024 numbers
The hope is probably that he plays well enough to trade later.
Probably spells the end for Kelenic on the roster, unless they decide to send Acuna down instead
didn’t Hays just go from White sox to the Yankees? and now Grichuk goes from Yankees to White Sox?
That was Austin Slater and that was last season
They have a few guys with no options remaining, so another interchangeable guys to use for a few weeks when needed and can dump I guess.
Doesn’t make sense unless they DFA Acuna or send Jarred Kelenic down.
I don’t get it, either. What does he add to this team?
A potential 800 ops vs LHP