White Sox Offseason Needs: Right Field, Free Agent Edition

This will be a series spanning over three articles over one positional need. This will be the first series as there are some other positional needs the White Sox will need to fill during the offseason, but this third article will cover the need for right field. This one will look at the free agent options as there might be someone on the market who could fill the role in 2021. This doesn't mean the Sox will go this way, but if they were, here are some of the options.

George Springer

This is the top prize on the market. No doubt that the White Sox should be pursuing Springer first here. He's one of the best players in baseball and one of the most dynamic in the game. Springer is speedy, is great defensively, and hits for power, he just fits in with the Sox perfectly. While Springer had a "down" year in 2020, he averages .270/.361/.491 with a .365 wOBA and 134 wRC+. He's a great player to have up top of the lineup, he's also very productive as his bat is very uniquely a threat. The Sox absolutely need to make him a priority signing.

Joc Pederson

Pederson should be a Plan B if Springer is not signed, but his left handed bat is a great asset to have. Some will knock Pederson for his low average, but his career OPS is .806 as he's got pop in his bat and gets on base a lot. He also hit very well in 2020 and that will help his value even more. However, the advanced statistics are even more beneficial to Pederson as he averages a .344 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in his career and in 2020 it was .418 wOBA and 168 wRC+. Not too shabby and not bad for a Plan B.

Adam Eaton

A reunion with Eaton is unlikely to happen as he was a nuisance in the Sox clubhouse, however, he was welcomed and embraced when he played for the Washington Nationals, even helping them to a 2019 World Series championship and that might help his chances at coming back. He's a good fielder, has speed, and pop in his bat, it would seem like a good fit. His 2020 was not very good, though that might be because of a truncated season and injuries, but the last two seasons have been a downward trend for Eaton. His career wOBA and wRC+ are .340 and 112, but in 2019 and 2020 showed Eaton may not be all that great of an option as he was .342 and 107 in '19 and .287 and 75 in '20. That could all be an anomaly, but that does not bode well for Eaton. That being said, the Sox should avoid him.

Marwin Gonzalez

Gonzalez is an unusual option here as he is a utility player, but he was an outstanding hitter for Minnesota. While his numbers were down in 2020, he does offer as a switch hitting option in the lineup making him a very hard out. Gonzalez' career slashline is .261/.317/.413 with a .315 woBA and 99 wRC+, so while respectable, he is unlikely to be up at the top of their list. However, he is a good utility player and would make the team better.

Nick Markakis

Markakis is another player who is low on their priority list, but Markakis has been in the league for a while providing experience and leadership. While he doesn't have that much in his bat, he still has a pretty consistent one as a left hander and is a good defensive player. Problem is he is 37 and this is a team that probably wants someone younger. However, his career slashline is .288/.357/.423 with a .340 wOBA and a 109 wRC+, so he might be worth keeping an eye on as he has been pretty consistent, but the age factor is worrisome.

Yasiel Puig

Puig is a very talented player and would be worth signing, however, there is a lot of baggage that comes with him. Puig is a five tool player and is arguably one of the best players in baseball, but him not able to catch on with a team in 2020 is a pretty telling sign he might be worth the risk. There are rumors about Puig being a distraction in the clubhouse, that would mess with any of the chemistry that's in the Sox locker room now. Probably would be wise to not pick him up.

Josh Reddick

Reddick is probably not likely to be considered for right field though maybe more so as a designated hitter, but he is one of the few unlikeliest players to be picked up by the Sox. Sure, he has pop in his bat and hits left handed, but his numbers don't exact align with what the front office is looking for. Reddick could theoretically thrive at Guaranteed Rate Field, but that's a big if. His numbers and advanced statistics have gone down every season since 2018 and with 2021 being his age 34 season, then it's hard to justify signing his services.

Ryan Braun

Braun is going to be 37 years old in 2021, so that poses as a big risk to sign him. Despite an injury plagued 2020, he has put up good numbers and solid advanced statistics in his career. Braun does provide power in his bat and could be an upgrade from the production the Sox got in 2020. While he is past his prime, Braun might still provide some production. However, this is a very unlikely signing and would more than likely be considered for designated hitter.

Most likely to be a starter: Springer. As mentioned, of this crop of players, Springer should be the one that the Sox prioritizes to sign. Pederson would be an excellent Plan B, but Springer is the best option. It's going to take a lot of money to sign him, but a player of Springer's caliber could bring so much to the team.