The Chicago White Sox have done a lot to improve their offense this offseason, but there is still one move they should look to make before the start of the 2020 season.
Nomar Mazara was acquired from the Texas Rangers at the Winter Meetings with the hope that he could be their starting right fielder this upcoming season.
That move is completely fine given that he is a much needed left-handed bat for the lineup and his former top prospect status makes him a perfect change-of-scenery candidate.
However, Mazara has struggled mightily against same-handed opponents in his career with a lowly .633 OPS against southpaws as compared to a solid .799 OPS against right-handers.
His 2019 season showed an even greater disparity with a superb .844 OPS against righties as compared to a .646 OPS against same-handed opponents.
With this being the case, the team should be pursuing a right-handed-hitting complement to him in the outfield to avoid overexposure for Mazara against left-handers.
Obviously, most teams aren’t looking to make 24-year-old former top-prospects into strict platoon players, but the White Sox should at least sign or trade for a right-handed hitting outfielder who could spell him against tough lefties.
There have been many conflicting reports about the team’s interest in Yasiel Puig, with it, unfortunately, looking less likely that they are really pursuing him based on recent reports (NBC Sports Chicago).
Even if they don’t want to sign Puig or Nicholas Castellanos, many other options on the free agent market exist that could fill this role such as Hunter Pence, Cameron Maybin, Kevin Pillar, Domingo Santana, and Joey Rickard.
Theoretically, the team could use Leury Garcia in this role as his .786 OPS against left-handers this past season was actually pretty decent.
Given that he has only a .683 OPS against southpaws for his career, though, it is certainly possible his production would decrease if used largely in that type of role.
While the White Sox could probably get by with having Nomar Mazara playing every day, the team should look to bring a right-handed hitting outfielder to the South Side before the start of the 2020 season to platoon with him.