The Chicago White Sox are continuing their offseason improvements by adding yet another bat to their lineup. The White Sox have reportedly agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnación. The deal brings the White Sox yet another power bat for their already profoundly improved lineup. Encarnación spent 2019 with the Seattle Mariners before being traded to the New York Yankees, where he finished out the season. Joel Sherman of MLB dot com reported the two sides coming to an agreement on Twitter.
#WhiteSox are in agreement with Edwin Encarnacion on a 1-yr, $12M conrtract,
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 26, 2019
The thirty-six-year-old slugger spent 2019 with the Mariners and Yankees, as mentioned above, totaling 109 total games. Between both teams, Encarnación would hit .244/.531/.344 with 34 home runs and 86 RBI on the season. Encarnación added to the Yankees already powerful lineup. At the same time, they were injury-stricken, he was able to also add a veteran presence to the locker room that would ultimately fall to the Houston Astros in the 2019 American League Championship Series.
With the White Sox signing Yasmani Grandal this offseason, they upgraded their catcher position. They re-signed Jose Abreu as their first baseman and also traded for Nomar Mazara to aid their outfield. Encarnación will allow the White Sox to increase their depth as an offense and just overall aid them in becoming a contender in the American League Central division for the 2020 season.
