The Chicago White Sox made two significant offseason moves on Friday, bolstering their outfield depth while making some tough decisions with their pitching staff. The team signed veteran outfielder Derek Hill to a one-year deal worth $900,000, providing much-needed stability in the corner outfield positions.
However, not all good news came out of the front office. The White Sox decided not to tender left-handed pitcher Cam Booser, who had struggled to find consistency in the bullpen with a 5.52 ERA. Additionally, first baseman Tim Elko's promising minor league performance – including a .292 batting average and impressive power numbers at Triple-A Charlotte – was undone by a torn ACL that required surgery, leaving him likely out for most of next season.
Perhaps most surprising was the non-tendering of outfielder Mike Tauchman. Despite being one of the team leaders in clubhouse morale last season, his statistics only reflected half the story. While he batted .263 with impressive on-base skills and a strong defensive resume, the numbers didn't quite match the hype. Still, it's unclear what factors led to this decision, as Tauchman was seen as a reliable presence in the outfield.
As for the White Sox's outfield situation, left fielder Andrew Benintendi will likely spend more time at the plate due to lingering injury concerns. This leaves room for Hill and potentially prospect Braden Montgomery to fill out the right field corner. With the moves finalized, the team now has 34 players on its 40-man roster.
However, not all good news came out of the front office. The White Sox decided not to tender left-handed pitcher Cam Booser, who had struggled to find consistency in the bullpen with a 5.52 ERA. Additionally, first baseman Tim Elko's promising minor league performance – including a .292 batting average and impressive power numbers at Triple-A Charlotte – was undone by a torn ACL that required surgery, leaving him likely out for most of next season.
Perhaps most surprising was the non-tendering of outfielder Mike Tauchman. Despite being one of the team leaders in clubhouse morale last season, his statistics only reflected half the story. While he batted .263 with impressive on-base skills and a strong defensive resume, the numbers didn't quite match the hype. Still, it's unclear what factors led to this decision, as Tauchman was seen as a reliable presence in the outfield.
As for the White Sox's outfield situation, left fielder Andrew Benintendi will likely spend more time at the plate due to lingering injury concerns. This leaves room for Hill and potentially prospect Braden Montgomery to fill out the right field corner. With the moves finalized, the team now has 34 players on its 40-man roster.