After enduring three losing seasons in their rebuild, the White Sox have made it increasingly clear this offseason they will be trying to win in 2020.
If they add slugging designated hitter and first baseman Edwin Encarnacion after Christmas, there will be no doubt.
While catcher Yasmani Grandal (four years) and left-hander Dallas Keuchel (three) were added with $73 million and $55 million deals and long-term goals in mind, Encarnacion, who turns 37 on Jan. 7, would likely sign for one or two years. Without Encarnacion, the Sox could get by at DH with a mix of first baseman Jose Abreu, catcher James McCann, right fielder Nomar Mazara and possibly catcher Zack Collins.
An industry source confirmed Encarnacion has been engaged in serious discussions with the Sox, who would be looking to give their lineup a middle of the order boost in the DH spot not unlike what Nelson Cruz gave the Twins at age 38. The Blue Jays are also courting Encarnacion, who played in Toronto from 2009-2016.
The Yankees declined to pick up their $20 million option on the right-handed hitting Encarnacion for 2020 after he hit .249/.325/.531 with 13 homers in 44 games for them last season. Encarnacion, who could probably be had for about half that amount for one year, batted .244/.344/.531 with 34 homers, 86 RBI and a .875 OPS in 109 games between the Mariners and Yankees. In 15 seasons, he has slugged 414 home runs. He is a three-time All-Star who has finished in the top 20 in MVP voting four times, as recently as 20th in 2017 with the Indians.
The Sox have also been linked to right fielder Nicholas Castellanos, which seems less likely to happen than Encarnacion. The left-handed hitting Mazara is the likely starter in right, with switch hitting Leury Garcia and 2018 Gold Glove finalist Adam Engel providing platoon possibilities against left-handers.
The DH spot has been a trouble spot for the Sox, even before the rebuild. In 2019, Sox DH’s combined to bat .205 with 17 homers.
Adding a veteran such as Encarnicion to their young mix of hitters including Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson and Luis Robert and veterans Jose Abreu, Grandal and James McCann would emphatically signal the Sox’ intent to make a run sooner rather than later in a vulnerable AL Central.
The Sox are expected to announce the Keuchel signing after Christmas. They also added veteran lefty Gio Gonzalez to their rotation on a one-year, $5 million last week. Encarnacion is mourning the death of his father, which could delay a decision.
