*Photo from the Connecticut Post*
The windy city is filling out the middle infield. Shortstop Paul DeJong and the Chicago White Sox have agreed to a one year contract, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The White Sox have confirmed the deal.
DeJong was given $1.75 million in his contract. The White Sox have been aiming to improve their defense all over the field, up the middle included, and DeJong certainly addresses that goal. He could be the replacement for Tim Anderson, who was non-tendered by the White Sox earlier in November.
White Sox GM Chris Getz said of the need for defense that "In setting out to really improve our defensive play, it will allow our pitchers to attack the zone and be more efficient. We need to become more athletic, and that speaks to the improved defense we hope, and obviously running the bases, taking extra bases, those types of things."
DeJong spent 2023 with 3 different teams in a bit of a rollercoaster year. Combined between all 3 squads, DeJong had a .207/.258/.355 slash line with a paltry 66 OPS+, well below the league average of 100. He hit 14 home runs and 13 doubles, driving in 38 runs in 112 games.
The St. Louis Cardinals, who DeJong had spent his whole career with, were the team he started the year with. At the trade deadline, he was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he had just 3 hits in 44 plate appearances before he was released after 13 games. He then signed with the San Francisco Giants, where he didn't last a month before being released again.
DeJong has played for the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Giants over 7 big league seasons, making his debut in 2017. He has a .229/.299/.417 slash line with a 92 OPS+ in his career. He's hit 116 home runs, 120 doubles, and 4 triples to go with 344 RBI's in 729 games. He has 9 hits in 42 at bats over 14 playoff games.
If the White Sox don't make any more additions, DeJong is slated to start at shortstop for the White Sox on opening day with Nicky Lopez alongside him at second base.
Comments
Post a Comment