The deadline has passed for all 30 teams to add players to their rosters in time for postseason eligibility. Monday, August 31st was the final day, prompting a flurry of activity across Major League Baseball as contending teams scrambled to add last-second roster reinforcements. The White Sox, who have largely been carried by their offense all season and figured to be in the market for pitching, made a pair of surprising moves and added to their outfield depth. The first, and more controversial move was a reunion with 38-year-old outfielder Tommy Pham, who played for the team in 2024. But the team also added a former division rival to the mix in outfielder Jake Cave.
Jake Cave and the Rockies walk it off! pic.twitter.com/MdsaS5guHa
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 2, 2024
Jake Cave brings experience with Twins, Phillies, and Rockies to White Sox organization
Cave, 33, was originally a 6th-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2011, but didn’t make his big league debut until 2018 with the Minnesota Twins. Cave’s rookie season ended up being his best year at the plate, and his offensive production never quite lived up to his 13-homer, .786 OPS season from 2018. Cave stuck with Minnesota through the 2022 season, though he was relegated to mostly being a fourth outfielder and defensive replacement for the majority of that time. After modest offensive seasons with the Phillies in 2023 and the Rockies in 2024, Cave found himself unable to land a big league deal, playing in the Mexican League in 2025 before landing a minor league deal with the Rays this season. He’s posted a .712 OPS with three home runs in 36 games for Triple-A Durham this year.
Cave will be headed to Triple-A Charlotte and is unlikely to serve as anything more than a depth piece for the White Sox, but the team felt it was worth adding another experienced player at a position that’s filled with young players. Tommy Pham hits right-handed and is more of an option to replace Randal Grichuk or Brenton Doyle in the lineup in the event of an injury, whereas Cave could be an option from the left side in case of an injury to Tristan Peters or Sam Antonacci. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Whether we actually see Cave in the big leagues by the end of 2026 remains to be seen, but there’s nothing wrong with White Sox GM Chris Getz adding depth at a very low cost. Now that the deadline to add external players before the Postseason has passed, the White Sox will rely on internal options to get them through the season’s final stretch. Will it be enough to reach October? Only time will tell.
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