Chicago White Sox Sign Deal with Former All-Star Infielder
According to multiple reports, the Chicago White Sox have signed free agent infielder Paul DeJong.
Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:
Paul DeJong has a deal with the White Sox pending physical, per source.
@JonHeyman reported the sides were close.
The financial side of things isn't known yet, but we do know that it's a one-year deal.
DeJong, 30, is a former All-Star who is coming off a brutal last few seasons. He Hit .207 total in 2023 playing for the Cardinals, Blue Jays and Giants. He hit 14 total home runs and drove in 37, with nearly all of that damage coming for St. Louis.
He has been a very useful player in the past, making the All-Star team in 2019. That year, he hit just .233 but popped 30 homers and drove in 78. He finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2017 when he hit 25 homers.
Since then, he's slumped, hitting .250 in the COVID 2020 season and then hitting .197 and .157 in 2021 and 2022.
Given that the White Sox are in rebuild mode, DeJong likely has a chance to earn a regular role and will get a chance to rebuild his career.
It will be interesting to see how the team views the infield spots this offseason. They just recently acquired Nicky Lopez in a trade with the Braves. Perhaps DeJong could slot in at shortstop and Lopez could slot in at second base.
The team has openings in the middle infield after letting Tim Anderson go this offseason.
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