As the offseason rolls on and fans wait for the lockout to end, there has been a reoccurring theme in the Chicago White Sox free agency wishlist. Second base, right field, and pitching depth have dominated the conversation.
There is a good reason for this. After the White Sox traded former first-round pick Nick Madrigal and their trade for Cesar Hernandez flopped, there is a gaping hole in the middle infield. Meanwhile, the White Sox have not had a good right fielder since Adam Eaton, the 2016 version that is.
The starting rotation which was the strength of the team during the 2021 regular season completely imploded in the ALDS. For these reasons, those three position groups have been on the top of the White Sox checklist.
However, there is another position that needs also needs to be addressed. The White Sox need to solidify who their designated hitter will be. This is an issue that has flown under the radar over the past couple of seasons but has never been properly addressed.
The Chicago White Sox could really use a great designated hitter full time.
In 2021, Andrew Vaughn was slated to be the designated hitter. However, injuries to Eloy Jimenez and Adam Engel in Spring Training quickly forced him to learn how to play the outfield.
In 2020, the White Sox added an experienced designated hitter in Edwin Encarnacion. Encarnacion was a three-time All-Star that had racked up over 400 home runs before coming to the White Sox. He made a living as a DH with Toronto for eight seasons. Throughout his 16-year career, he played more games at DH than anywhere else.
The move did not work out as planned. While he did hit 10 home runs in 44 games, he failed to really do anything else. Encarnacion only had 25 hits and batted an abysmal .157. He hasn’t been back in the league since.
In 2019, Yonder Alonso was slated as the designated hitter. Like, Encarnacion, Alsonso was a former All-Star who looked like he could be the long-term solution. He was released before the end of the year after hitting just .178, the lowest mark of his career and just seven home runs.
The White Sox trotted out Matt Davidson in 2018. Once again the results were disastrous. While Davidson did manage to hit 20 home runs, he batted just .228, with 62 RBIs and 165 strikeouts.
As you can see, mediocre production from the designated hitter slot has been a reoccurring theme for the Chicago White Sox. If the White Sox hopes to fulfill their championship aspirations then it needs to be addressed. One of these would be best: