Nov. 14--PHOENIX -- The White Sox would upgrade at catcher if a viable option presents itself, but the position no longer ranks in the must-improve-now category based on the club's more pressing needs, general manager Rick Hahn said this week at the GM meetings.
The Sox were expected to obtain outside solutions at catcher last offseason but instead stuck with returnee Tyler Flowers as the starter and adding Adrian Nieto via the Rule 5 draft to be the backup. Hahn said the Sox were pleased with Flowers' development. He finished an up-and-down season hitting .241 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs but often was praised for his work with the pitching staff.
Flowers, 28, who signed a one-year, $950,000 contract last December, is arbitration eligible and projected to earn $2.1 million, according to MLBTradeRumors.com.
"It's not an area we feel we need to improve on right now," Hahn said. "We're happy where Tyler is. If there's a potential to get better, we're going to do it. ... But right now we're in a much better position than we were a year ago thanks to Tyler's development."
The Sox also have Nieto, who might return to the minor leagues to receive more playing time next season, and Josh Phegley to serve as backups if they don't find a new face.
The Viciedo question: The fate of outfielder Dayan Viciedo hangs on how the Sox offseason plays out, Hahn said this week while talking about exploring outside solutions for left field and designated hitter.
To Viciedo's benefit, the Sox don't have the same roster crowd they did at the beginning of 2014 thanks to the departures of designated hitters Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko and outfielder Alejandro De Aza. Viciedo could be used in left field, but he also could move to DH/backup first baseman depending on new acquisitions.
"It absolutely depends on what other moves we make," Hahn said. "It's just a matter of figuring out what are the best options."
Viciedo is arbitration eligible and could make $4.4 million in 2015, according to MLBTradeRumors.com. Ongoing defensive struggles and offensive inconsistency have made Viciedo's status with the club a question. But Hahn pointed to his proven ability to hit 20-plus homers and his relative youth at 25 as reasons to keep him around.
"This guy wants to be great; he really does," Hahn said. "He works extremely hard at it. He takes it very seriously. He takes instruction well. It's just a matter of him being able to execute his plan. His plan has improved dramatically in the last few years, especially the last several months. So it's a question of whether he's ready finally to convert on that potential."
Abreu for MVP: Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, crowned the American League rookie of the year earlier this week, finished fourth in AL MVP voting, receiving 145 points, including one second-place vote and six third-place votes. The Angels' Mike Trout was the unanimous winner.
Experience needed? Hahn said he remains focused on obtaining players who would make long-term fits with the team's young core. But he acknowledged some of the Sox's money this offseason also could go to finding short-term fits for veterans to fill out the Sox bench -- and possibly to serve as leaders in a clubhouse that could use some.
"That's another way the free agent money conceivably could be spent ... giving ourselves some depth that insulates us not only against injury but on any given game (allows manager Robin Ventura) to play the matchups to his advantage," Hahn said. "You can win and lose close games that way."
ckane@tribpub.com
Twitter @ChiTribKane
