The White Sox announced on Friday that they’ve claimed outfielder Willy Garcia off waivers from the Pirates and designated fellow outfielder Jason Coats for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Garcia was designated for assignment by the Pirates last weekend to open space for Ivan Nova on Pittsburgh’s roster.
The 24-year-old Garcia posted solid numbers throughout his minor league tenure until reaching the Triple-A level, where he’s struggled to a .245/.290/.388 batting line in 790 plate appearances across the past two seasons. However, Garcia delivered strong production at the Double-A level in parts of two seasons, hitting .285/.324/.467 with 23 homers and 11 steals in 698 trips to the plate. Baseball America rated him 12th among Pirates prospects just last offseason, praising his “incredible” arm and above-average speed. While Garcia’s plate discipline is a major concern, per BA (and he indeed at a near-27 percent clip last year), their post-2015 scouting report noted that improvement in that regard could lead to an everyday corner outfielder.
Coats, meanwhile, will turn 27 next month. The former 29th-round pick made his big league debut in 2016, tallying 58 plate appearances and batting .200/.298/.340 in that brief cup of coffee. Coats did post a huge season with Triple-A Charlotte last season, slashing .330/.394/.519, and he’s delivered reasonably productive results throughout his minor league career. A right-handed hitter, Coats is primarily limited to the outfield corners.
Busy day for the Sox. Wonder if all this is to prepare for a bigger trade.
How Coats gets DFA’d over Avi Garcia is a mystery to me.
At some point, “potential” is no longer a viable excuse.
I’m somewhat fine with giving Avi one more shot in 2017, especially since its not like the Sox are contending this year. That being said I don’t expect anything out of Avi, and didn’t expect anything out of Coats. More importantly, I think Willy Garcia is worth a shot, so good move Sox.
exactly
Blackmail, it has to be blackmail.
Avi is also 2 years younger then coats so finding a hidden gem in him would be a good flip
Because Avi can gain trade value where no team will be looking for Coates at deadline no matter what.
Avi is a bad baseball player. Perfect player to get that #1 pick. But with Kenny Williams still calling the shots, they’ll be no better than they are now.
Well, this pretty much gives us the White Sox opinion of Jason Coats as a viable option in RF for 2017, something I have opined despite some fans thinking otherwise. Chances are still good that Coats may be retained and outrighted to AAA but I’d just assume that the multi-talented Rymer Liriano get an opportunity, along with Willie and Avisail Garcia. All three hold more upside and are younger than Coats.
Another smart move. Hopefully the busy day continues with a big trade or two…
Man you can say that again. I’m sick of reading tweets/reports that the Sox are talking to a team about Q.
Patience…..Hahn knows what he’s doing. With regards to Q, my guess is it still comes down to Houston/Pitt with the possibility of a mystery team. As much as I’d like the Yankees to be a part of it, I don’t see it happening if they’re not going to part with at least one of Frazier/Torres/Rutherford.
It’s 7 above zero in Chicago, and the White Sox don’t need coats? Hardy souls !
Booooo
Too bad Coats ain’t Dave Parka. They could use a Cobra clone in RF and the middle of their batting order.
can’t wait for the sox to trot out an outfield of willy garcia, leury garcia, and avisail garcia.
imagine that outfield defense behind a battery of giovanni soto and geovany soto.
We have to name that outfield The Law Firm.
I’d rather have they had a nice Jewish law firm of Ryan Braun, Kevin Pillar and Joc Pederson in their outfield. Since the White Sox are rebuilding maybe they can switch out the Hebrew Hammer for multi-talented SS Alex Bregman.
Joc is Jewish? Never heard that before…and I don’t think that Bregman is going anywhere, especially to the Sox now that Sale is off the table but it never hurts to dream I suppose
The comment was one of jest and had more to do with the law firm reference than any trade possibilities involving those Jewish players coming to the White Sox. That being said, Joc Pederson and Alex Bregman would be on most any White Sox fans wish list as the team continues it’s rebuild.
Well I did my research and he was born a Jew but now said his religious practice would be best described as “nothing”
Yet another instance in which the idea of the much lauded Pirates minor league system looks kind of average in the cold light of reality. Give Toronto two top 10 prospects for nothing. Let Willy walk away. Rogers…
Has the well run dry after Polanco where position players are concerned?