This is the second part of a three part series that talks about an offseason need for the White Sox. In this series, it will be talked about how the Pale Hose will need to fill the need of designated hitter in 2021. For the second part of this series, it will talk about the stop gap options and who are the options that fit best. This does not mean they will go this direction, but it is an option. Let's take a look at some players the club will take into consideration if they go the stop gap route.
Yermin Mercedes
Mercedes is a bat first type of player and it could be useful to have him become the Sox DH in 2021. He is productive at the plate with some thump as he hit 17 home runs and drove in 62 runs for Charlotte in just 53 games in 2019, but he was also able to get on base a lot with .386 OBP. His average and slugging percentage weren't anything to scoff at either as he hit .310 and slugged .647. Mercedes did get a taste of the majors in 2020, but not much action. He will have a chance in the spring to earn that role.
Zack Collins
It's unfair to call Collins a stop gap option as he is a future piece of this club. Collins went through the moves last season after spending time with the Sox and at Schaumburg and was included on the postseason roster. That being said, being a stop gap option is exactly what he would be for 2021 before finding a player who could fill the role more full time. Collins is the future at catcher for the team, but his bat is too valuable to be left on the bench and plugging him in at DH works perfectly in the lineup. His power would be useful to the Sox on a daily basis so this move would make sense for both sides.
Eloy Jimenez
Yes, yes, another player that would be unfair to be called a stop gap option as he is also another future piece for the club, but it could be beneficial for Jimenez to make that move as it might allow the team to have a better defensive outfield and still keep his bat in the lineup. Jimenez has already expressed that he does not want to be the DH, but the problem is that his defense is a liability. Who knows, he could become the full time DH in the future, but even for one season, it's not a bad idea.
Nomar Mazara
Mazara had a pitiful 2020, let's just leave it at that. However, the Sox feel like he has untapped potential and that might be a good enough reason to keep him around. He is a contender to be non-tendered and that's not a good thing, but the team could still decide to keep him and use him as their DH while pursuing another right fielder. Mazara has unbelievable power and possibly having him DH might be the best course of action as he seemed to hit his stride late in the season. Besides, the production from him can't be as bad as Edwin Encarnacion provided for the Sox in 2020. It might be something to consider. Maybe Mazara deserves a second chance.
Nicky Delmonico
Ok, Delmonico probably is not a serious candidate here. That being said, he needs to show a lot of improvements in camp and have an outstanding spring training to prove that he could be that stop gap option. However, unlikely that is and how much of a long shot he might be, Delmonico at least should be given an opportunity to prove he's the guy. It's also unlikely the Sox go the stop gap route, so that makes his chances very close to zero. In 2020, Delmonico slashed .150/.227/.150 with three RBIs in six games (22 plate appearances). His advanced statistics doesn't help his case either as his wOBA was .184 and his wRC+ an abysmal 11. While he has a chance to earn a bench role as he hits left handed and has pop, his bad numbers and terrible defensive skills, however "versatile" he might be, hurts his chances to even make the club out of camp. It's an extremely long shot for Delmonico to make the team, let alone be the stop gap option.
James McCann
McCann is currently a free agent, but the only reason why he's considered a "stop gap" option is because he would return to the team if this was to happen. The only way that the Sox could get him back and get him the lineup on a consistent basis is to have him and Yasmani Grandal split time at catcher and DH. The team should've cut ties with Encarnacion last year and done that those two players as having both of their bats in the lineup would've done more damage. McCann has hit well the last two seasons and is probably going to look into ways of being a full time catcher somewhere, so it might take more money to retain him. That being said, finding a way to keep McCann and get him regular at bats and playing time, this would have to be the best way.
Most likely to be the starter: Mazara. So, this could go multiple ways. Mazara might get the chance as a stop gap option if the Sox decide to go that route. The hope was that McCann will stay and being able to get both Grandal and him in the lineup. On the other hand, it might be wise to use Collins and/or Jimenez in a more realistic sense, but if they keep Mazara and go the stop gap route, Mazara will be the DH (that is if he isn't non-tendered). The hope is McCann does stay.
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