In this third and final series of Positional Needs: Designated Hitter, we take a look at free agent options to fill that need in the offseason. This isn't a guaranteed route the White Sox will take during the offseason, but this article will look into what the team might do if they do go that way. That being said, let's take a look at some of the options the Sox will look at in the free agency market.
Yoshitomo Tsutsugo
Tsutsugo is an interesting prospect here as he is a left handed power bat from Japan. While he can play as a corner outfielder, it would be better suited for him to be a DH as his defense is a liability. Now there is concern of his play translating to a different style of baseball played as the Nippon League and MLB are vastly different. How his bat will translate is a question mark, but with how he played in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, he could be a big home run threat in the MLB and he might be someone the Sox should pursue.
Marcell Ozuna
Ozuna is clearly not the same player he used to be as he has now become a liability in the field. However, what he still provides is his bat as he can still be productive at the plate. This might be the best career move for him as he can still slug and with having become a liability on the field.
Corey Dickerson
Dickerson is a left handed bat that does provide some pop. There is talks that his defense is suspect at best, but having him be the full-time DH would be something no one will complain about. The DH for the Sox was terrible in 2019, so having Dickerson as an option would be ideal.
Ryon Healy
Healy should not be heavily pursued, he should be a last resort one-year contract type of player. Healy could be a nice pickup for a bench role, but not to be the starting DH though he probably would have produced better than what they got last season. Healy does have some power in his bat which is enticing and attractive.
Edwin Encarnacion
It's no secret that Encarnacion has a ton of power and is still a very productive player. He would be a nice player to plug into being the full-time DH and could compliment Jose Abreu in the lineup. He would no doubt be a better option than what the team had in 2019. This a player to keep a watch on.
Howie Kendrick
Kendrick is not likely to be pursued by the White Sox, but he is certainly an option. Kendrick is getting a bit older and also has never really been all that exceptional fielder, so being a DH might be the future for him. His hitting in the 2019 postseason showed that he still has something left in the tank as he did well with his bat. Maybe a bench player, but not someone to be heavily pursued.
Nick Castellanos
Castellanos is an intriguing choice as he showed his power last year with so many extra base hits and also was able to drive the ball out of the park at a big stadium in Comerica Park (before being traded to the Chicago Cubs midseason). There is speculation that the Sox will pursue him to be the right fielder in 2020, but it probably would be better to make him a DH. His defense is suspect and letting him out there on the field could hurt the team next season.
Most likely to be the starter: Tsutsugo. Hear me out. Let's be real here, whether it's Castellanos, Encarnacion, Ozuna, Dickerson, or Tsutsugo as the every day DH, that should be pretty good to have one of them as the starting DH. Tsutsugo though is the youngest of all them, has some legit power, and is left handed which should help him in a lot of ballparks on the road like Yankee Stadium and should help at Guaranteed Rate Field, plus it will help balance the lineup as the team does not have many left handed power bats. Plus, the Sox would love to have some left handed pop in their lineup for 2020. The only question will be is can he adapt to the MLB play and that's a big gamble. Otherwise, Castellanos or Encarnacion are better options.
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