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White Sox: Don’t Expect Avisail Garcia to Return Next Season

By Etheria Modacure

Sep 4, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia (26) hits a two run single during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Chicago White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins 13-11. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia (26) hits a two run single during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Chicago White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins 13-11. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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White Sox outfielder, designated hitter could be non-tendered in off-season. The young player was traded to White Sox in 2013, hasn’t lived up to hype since trade.

The Chicago White Sox will need to decide if they will retain Avisail Garcia for next season when the off-season begins. Garcia will be eligible for arbitration, and he could command a salary of more than $3 million for 2017.

According to mlbtraderumors.com, Garcia’s projected arbitration for 2017 could be $3.4 million. After a season in which he played in 120 games, it could be hard for the Sox to tender Garcia a contract over $3 million. Garcia finished 2016 with a .245 batting average, 12 home runs and 51 RBI’s.

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This was another poor season at the plate for Garcia as his production dipped in comparison with 2015. In 2015, Garcia finished that season with a .257 batting average, 13 home runs and 59 RBI’s. The Sox most certainly shouldn’t tender Garcia in the off-season as they need better depth in its outfield.

Garcia started 51 games in the outfield this past season. He was actually more valuable in the outfield in 2016, than in 2015. However, in 2016 he had a much smaller sample size. In 2015, Garcia started 129 games in the outfield. His defensive runs saved in 2015 was -11. In 2016 however, Garcia’s DRS was 1. Garcia was a much better defender in 2015, but the Sox will still need a better defender on its bench to provide more depth.

The Sox could tender Garcia for more than $3 million, but with a budget conscious front office, they should allocate those funds to a more established player. Garcia still hasn’t been consistent on offense, and the Sox could use a player that can hit off the bench.

Garcia’s strikeout percentage increased this past season to 25.4 percent from 23.5 percent in 2015. The Sox can’t have a player with this high of a strikeout percentage coming off the bench. While Garcia’s strikeout percentage increased, so did his walk percentage. If there is one positive, its this statistic. In 2015, Garcia’s walk percentage was 6 percent. This past season, Garcia’s walk percentage increased to 7.5 percent. He will need to continue improving in this area if he wants to stay in MLB.

Next: Can Tim Anderson Avoid Sophomore Slump?

If the Sox choose to non-tender Garcia, they can’t sign a player that is worse than him. There will be some decent free agents the Sox could target if they non-tender Garcia. Unfortunately for Garcia, he never lived up to the hype of being a solid young player for the Sox. Garcia is still young at 25 years-old, but he could find himself a free agent in a few weeks.

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