The Chicago White Sox new acquisition didn’t have to be sold a story on why he should sign with the White Sox.
The Chicago White Sox have been one of the more active teams on the free agency market this offseason. However, it wasn’t the headliner moves you would think they would make if it wasn’t a rebuilding season. The Chicago White Sox biggest acquisition this offseason was signing versatile utility-man Josh Rojas to a one-year deal.
Excited to join the Chicago White Sox
The White Sox signed Josh Rojas to a one-year $3.5 million deal to come in and be their starting third baseman. Given the White Sox needs at both shortstop and second base Rojas could figure to see time at those infield spots as well.
The 30-year-old Rojas had a down year with the Seattle Mariners last season which ultimately led to them not tendering him a contract for 2025 and making him a free agent. In 142 games for the Seattle Mariners last season Rojas had a total of 95 hits, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 8 HRs, 31 RBI 10 stolen bases, for a .225/.304/.336 for an OPS and OPS+ of .641 and 91.
Rojas at the plate did show some promise with finishing in the 89th percentile for Chase percentage at 22% meaning he doesn’t chase out of the zone. As well as being in the 84th percentile for squaring the ball up, Rojas showed some offensive prowess at the plate. As for his defense Rojas measured in the 94th percentile for his range at third base.
Even though the Chicago White Sox were the worst team in baseball last season and would figure to have a hard time getting decent free agent names to sign with them, Josh Rojas proved to be the exception who said during his interview:
“They didn’t really have to sell me too much on what the organization has as talent.”
Josh Rojas is correct that the Chicago White Sox organization has a lot of talent coming down the pipeline with being ranked as one of the best farm systems in baseball. Rojas added in that he made sure to do his part and research the White Sox org to see what he was getting into by adding:
“I kind of did all that research myself before I met with teams and looked at rosters. It was kind of a new opportunity for me to kind of play GM and see where the team is going and what direction they’re heading.”
Been there done that
The Arizona native, who made his Major League Debut with his hometown team the Arizona Diamondbacks knows how it feels to struggle as the Chicago White Sox did. While with the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2021 season Rojas would experience the feeling of being on a 110 loss team which is what the Diamondbacks had as their record.
Speaking to what he thought lead to the Arizona Diamondbacks being so bad Rojas shared his thoughts:
“It’s not a lack of talent when you lose that many games,” Rojas said. “In Arizona we had a lot of injuries. We had a lot of ballgames where we’re winning games and [then] teams just put together crazy innings. When you’re in a situation like that, it just feels like you’re finding every way there is to lose games.
“It’s a growing experience when you have a season like that. You grow closer. You learn what you have to do better. You learn what not to do, and a lot of times teams come out on the other side successful.”
Sadly that wasn’t the case for the Chicago White Sox in their historically awful year with them just having young and inexperienced talent.
How will Josh Rojas be used by the Chicago White Sox?
By the Chicago White Sox signing Josh Rojas, he figures to be the starting third baseman. Josh Rojas has a leg up on other White Sox infielders on the roster competing for spots in the infield with Rojas being a finalist for the Gold Glove award at third base last year and has shown he can be a productive everyday player. With his versatility Josh Rojas could see time at both shortstop and second baseman Brooks Baldwin and Lenyn Sosa will also be looking to compete for.
Signing Josh Rojas can only benefit the Chicago White Sox who need to bring in valuable assets in the hopes they have solid seasons so they can flip them at next years trade deadline. Josh Rojas was looking to sign a two-year deal this off season which is what he was projected to according to Spotrac. That wasn’t the case however, given the down year he had for the Mariners, Josh Rojas had to settle for a one-year deal which isn’t a bad thing for him.
Looking to re-establish his market in the hopes to get a longer deal next year the Chicago White Sox will be getting a player in Josh Rojas eagar to bounce back and prove that he is still the solid player at the plate as he is defensively. If Rojas can just live up to his career numbers and still be the same player defensively than the Chicago White Sox have a solid player on their hands that could net them a decent prospect at next years deadline. As well as providing a much needed veteran presence signing Josh Rojas will prove to be one of the better moves then Chicago White Sox would make this offseason.
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