White Sox reach agreement with infielders Josh Rojas According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, the two sides have signed a one-year deal. Financial terms of the deal are unclear.
Rojas, who turns 31 in June, was not drafted by the Mariners in November. It’s an outcome that few expected early in the 2024 season. Rojas was a key cog in this deal, bringing it closer Paul Sewald Headed to Arizona at the 2023 trade deadline and hit a respectable .272/.321/.400 (105 wRC+) with the Mariners. He followed that up with a stellar start to the 2024 season, hitting .318/.408/.530 (175 wRC+) by the end of April. Unfortunately for Rojas, the wheels completely fell off from there. Rojas hit a paltry .208/.285/.301 (75 wRC+) the rest of the way, including a brutal .184/.265/.272 (62 wRC+) slash line over the final two months of the season. , while the Mariners slipped out of the playoff picture.
That rough offensive season was enough for the Mariners to decide not to offer him a contract through the 2025 season, with MLBTR writer Matt Swartz projecting Rojas to make $4.3MM. Even so, the soft free-agent market for infielders immediately makes Rojas one of the more attractive lower-level free-agent options on the market this winter. While Rojas has been an average or slightly below-average hitter in the majors since becoming a full-time commit at Arizona in 2021, he’s a versatile outfielder who has shown success over the past two seasons. Displayed excellent defensive numbers every season. Since the start of the 2023 season, Rojas is +8 OAA above average at second base and +6 OAA at third base. Defensive run savings rates Rojas a little less favorably, but overall still rates him as an above-average outfielder, with +2 DRS ranking second and +5 ranking third over the past two years. Rojas also has experience at shortstop and corner outfield at the major league level, though there aren’t the same impressive metrics to back up his production.
That versatility at the position, combined with defense and a history as a league-average hitter, is enough to make Rojas a sought-after role player for a handful of teams this winter, including the Cubs. North’s ‘serious’ interest in Rojas reportedly could involve him taking on part-time backup role Nico Horner and top prospects Matt Shaw At second and third base, he should have a clearer path to regular reps on the south side of town. The club currently plans to utilize some combination of Miguel Vargas, Lenin Sosa, Jacob Amayaand Brooks Baldwin In 2025, between shortstop, second base and third base. Michael Kopech, Tommy Vanand Eric Feder Rojas should have been able to get regular reps at second or third base where Vargas ended up not playing last summer.
This is especially true against right-handed pitching, as Rojas has a significant split in the lineup, hitting just .133/.224/.133 against lefties last year. It’s possible that the White Sox could provide him with a chance to prove he can hit left-handed in the thick of their rebuild, though they may simply pair him with a right-handed infielder like Sosa in order to play left-handed in a sure way. Maximize his numbers before the game This will be another fire sale before this year’s trade deadline. For the White Sox, the addition of Rojas provides some stability to an infield package that is in desperate need of attention this winter and serves as a potential midseason trade chip. At the same time, Rojas will have the opportunity to become a regular at the club and possibly play a role in the future contenders.
With Rojas off the market, some interesting infielders could still be available as free agents to help a team in need. Whit Merrifield, Donovan Solanoand Cavan Biggio Is one of those players who can provide versatility in a part-time or backup role while also Jorge Polanco, Paul de Jongand Jose Iglesias One of the few potential regulars in lower-level free agency. Another wild card in the infield market is Kim Hye SungPosted last month by the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes, MLB clubs have until tomorrow afternoon to sign.
