This is the final 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 second base in 2020. For the third part of this series, it will talk about the free agent 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 free agent route.
Mike Moustakas
Moustakas is intriguing as he is a left handed bat that would add more balance to the lineup. While he is more of a third baseman, he can play at second and play well there. That being said, he is going to be looking for a long-term contract and with the likelihood of Madrigal coming up in 2020, it would be hard pressed for them to sign Moustakas unless he is willing to play designated hitter every once in a while.
Scooter Gennett
Gennett was arguably one of the more productive second basemen in the National League during his term with the Cincinnati Reds, but last year he was injured and never played like what he did before. Gennett is not a very good defender as he is a bat first type player and it would be a considerable jump down from the type of defense the Pale Hose got in 2019. He can DH as well and that's probably where he would benefit the most for the team, but if needed, he can play at second, third, and in left, so he does have some positional flexibility.
Jason Kipnis
Kipnis is clearly in a decline at this point in his career, but he is a veteran bat that has some pop and is left handed, so he does have some value left. It would depend on whether he is willing to accept platooning at DH and at second base for playing time and for a short-term contract. It's hard to imagine seeing him in a Sox uniform.
Anthony Rendon
Bringing Rendon on board would be an interesting story line. He is a third baseman, but he does have a wealth of experience at second base playing for the Nationals. His bat is worth it, but the dilemma of signing him to play third and shift Moncada back to second is an idea, but Moncada's defense was excellent in his first year playing at third base and making him move again would be frustrating to him. Then, if Rendon agrees to play second, what do you do with Madrigal? It would be interesting to see what the Sox do, but it seems unlikely that they would sign Rendon.
Jonathan Schoop
Schoop is another interesting target here as he has power and is a solid defender and more offense is exactly needed. Problem with signing him is that he doesn't have positional flexibility or bring balance to the lineup. It will be interesting to see if the Sox decide to go after him as he doesn't seem to fit in anywhere on the team.
Ben Zobrist
Zobrist is clearly getting up there in age, but the veteran does bring a winning pedigree and loads of experience. Zobrist also provides positional flexibility and probably could fill in at DH every once in a while. He is a shell of his former self, but Zobrist would be interesting to bring on probably for short-term.
Most likely to be the starter: Moustakas. Realistically, none of these player are likely to come here with Madrigal about to be a major leaguer at some point in 2020, but out of all of them Moustakas makes the most sense. If he was willing to DH more than play the field, then the Sox might actually pursue him more as he does bring balance to the lineup and pop.
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