White Sox Rumors: After Signing Dallas Keuchel, Chicago Is Turning Its Attention To Edwin Encarnacion

The Chicago White Sox made another splash in free agency over the weekend as they inked Dallas Keuchel to a three-year deal with an option for a fourth but they aren’t finished yet and may add the big bat of Edwin Encarnacion to their roster.

Keuchel and the White Sox agreed to a three-year contract worth $55 million with the option for a fourth which would bring the total value of the deal to $74 million. Their other high-profile signing was with star catcher Yasmani Grandal while the Sox have also added both Gio Gonzalez and Nomar Mazara this winter.

With the Keuchel signing, they have now sorted out their biggest needs in the pitching department and can now turn their attention to their line-up. Chicago did agree to terms with star man Jose Abreu to anchor their order but little seems certain beyond his consistent production.

Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson both had terrific seasons in 2019 but a good 2020 from either is far from a sure thing. Meanwhile, Nick Madrigal and Luis Robert put up excellent numbers in the minors and should get a chance at second base and center field, respectively.

Just like with Moncada and Anderson, a solid season from either Madrigal or Robert is far from a foregone conclusion as they are all young and younger players tend to be inconsistent. So, adding another big bat to compliment Abreu makes perfect sense, especially if that bat is coming from free agency.

Enter Encarnacion

According to Bruce Levine of 670 the Score, the Chicago White Sox are talking to the free agent first baseman/designated hitter about a contract. The slugger turns 37 in January but still regularly posts solid stat lines even deep into his 30s.

He spent 2019 between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners and posted a .244 batting average, a .875 OPS while smashing 34 home runs and 86 RBIs in 109 games. In the two previous seasons, Encarnacion hit 38 and 32 home runs and drove in 107 RBIs in both years.

That sort of consistency bodes well for the former Toronto Blue Jay who sits at 414 career home runs through 15 seasons. He is also affordable. MLBTradeRumors estimates that he should earn a contract worth $8 million for the 2020 campaign.

The White Sox currently have $112 million in payroll committed for next season so they have plenty of room to make this deal work.