Southside Showdown
Fansided

White Sox: Three free agent second base options

By Joshua Finkelstein

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 09: Brock Holt #12 of the Boston Red Sox throws to first base during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 09: Brock Holt #12 of the Boston Red Sox throws to first base during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 14: Scooter Gennett #14 of the San Francisco Giants completes the double-play throwing over the top of Mark Canha #20 of the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fifth inning at Oracle Park on August 14, 2019, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 14: Scooter Gennett #14 of the San Francisco Giants completes the double-play throwing over the top of Mark Canha #20 of the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fifth inning at Oracle Park on August 14, 2019, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Scooter Gennett

As compared to the previous two options, Gennett is actually headed on the wrong trajectory path if his 2019 numbers are any indication of what’s to come for him in the future.

The 29-year-old is coming off an absolutely brutal year that saw him miss almost the entirety of the season’s first three months with a right groin strain.

Once he returned, he wasn’t anything close to the impactful bat the Cincinnati Reds remembered as he had a .497 OPS in 21 games with the team before being dealt to the San Francisco Giants prior to the MLB Trade Deadline.

Gennett didn’t fare too with San Francisco either and was released before the end of August after only having a .644 OPS with them.

However, Gennett is only one year removed from being one of the best second basemen in the league as he hit .310/.357/.490 with 23 homers and 92 RBI to give himself a 125 wRC+ and 4.5 fWAR in 2018.

If the team were to sign Gennett, it would be a gamble. That being said, it might be one worth taking with Madrigal waiting in the wings just in case.

Madrigal’s presence behind him could allow the White Sox to take a chance on someone with boom-or-bust potential like Gennett.

The addition of Gennett could provide major rewards for the team if he were able to revert back to his 2018 numbers as that’s the type of bat the White Sox could find a spot for in the lineup in addition to Madrigal.

Next. Should White Sox Trade James McCann?. dark

Gennett is likely looking at a very low salary and incentive-laden one-year deal and if the team wants to take a risk that could reap huge rewards, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring him to the South Side.

Home/White Sox News