Southside Showdown
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Chicago White Sox: Season preview of infielders

By Joseph Bermudez

(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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Chicago White Sox Edwin Encarnacion
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Edwin Encarnacion #30 of the New York Yankees celebrates hitting a double during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Edwin Encarnación

The big change coming to the lineup in 2020 is the addition of 414 career home runs, 1242 career RBI, a .352 career OBP and a 499 career slug.

Just like Abreu, Edwin Encarnación does not need an introduction. Yes, he has not played for the White Sox, but due to his 15 years of MLB experience, baseball fans know his name.

At the trade deadline, Encarnación was traded from Seattle to the Yankees. In accumulation, his 2019 was just as dominant as any other year of his career, shutting the critics up about his age. He hit 34 home runs and drove in 86 runs in just 109 games and only 418 at bats. Considering he averages almost 600 at-bats a year, 200 more would have put him way over 40/100.

Entering 2020, the 37-year-old does not have as much pressure on his shoulders compared to his previous years. Then, he was expected to be the guy to hit 35-40 home runs and drive in 100-120 runs. In Chicago, to have better stats than the 2019 DH, all he has to do is hit 20 home runs and drive in 60 runs to double the production out of the DH slot in the lineup.

The White Sox stand to have a player to potentially triple their production at the DH spot for only $12 million.

Moving forward, it may be unlikely that Encarnación stays for another year, but when the question of DH comes up next offseason, it would not be surprising to see him come back on another one year deal. But that is a whole season away so nothing to worry about right now.

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