The White Sox are in discussions with shortstop Elvis Andrus and are a “likely” landing spot for him, Jon Heyman of the New York Post tweets. An agreement has not yet been finalized, however. Andrus was released by the Athletics yesterday afternoon.
Andrus, 33, was released by the Athletics yesterday as Oakland continued its shift toward a youth movement. He’s in the final guaranteed year of his contract, though the A’s were surely motivated to cut ties with Andrus due to the vesting player option on his contract. The eight-year, $120MM contract Andrus signed way back in 2013 contained a $15MM option for the 2023 season that vests as a player option if Andrus is both traded (as he was from Texas to Oakland two years ago) and accumulates 550 plate appearances this season. With 386 trips to the plate under his belt, Andrus was on pace to hit that mark, and the A’s, clearly unable to find a taker at the trade deadline (due in no small part to that option), cut ties entirely this week.
The option should now be a moot point, as Andrus has been released from that contract and will be signing a new pact with whichever team he ultimately chooses — be it the ChiSox or another potential suitor. The Sox and any other club need only pay Andrus the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the Major League roster. That sum would be subtracted from what the A’s still owe him, but Oakland is on the hook for the vast majority of the remainder of this season’s $14MM salary. Andrus will again be a free agent at the end of the season.
Andrus’ bat has deteriorated considerably since his 2017 peak, when he hit .297/.337/.471 with 20 homers, 25 steals and standout defense at shortstop with the Rangers. He’s hitting .237/.301/.373 on the season, a tepid output but one that clocks in just shy of the league-average .243/.312/.396 output for hitters in 2022. He’s been about three percent worse than average, when weighting for his spacious home park, by measure of wRC+ (97). Andrus has connected on eight home runs — already his most since 2019 — to go along with 24 doubles and a 7-for-11 showing in stolen base attempts.
Defensively, Andrus has drawn mixed ratings. Defensive Runs Saved (-6) feels that this has been one of Andrus’ worst seasons with the glove, though Ultimate Zone Rating (2.6) and Outs Above Average (zero) feel he’s been average or slightly above. He’s made nine errors (five fielding, four throwing) through 848 innings in the field this season.
The White Sox jumped out as an obvious landing spot for Andrus the moment he was released, as they recently lost shortstop Tim Anderson for anywhere from four to six weeks due to a torn ligament in his left hand. Rookie Lenyn Sosa has gotten the first handful of looks at shortstop in his place but posted only a .118/.143/.235 slash through 35 plate appearances.
Even with some all-around decline in his skills as he progresses into his mid-30s, Andrus would appear to be an upgrade for a White Sox team that has been beset by injuries throughout a generally disappointing season. And for all the injuries and struggles they’ve endured this year, the South Siders are still only two games back of the lead in the American League Central, so there ought to be plenty of motivation to bring in some veteran help at a position of sudden need.
Harrison is just fine… Sosa isn’t quite ready. But Andrus? No
Harrison is a second basemen. How does that help fill the void at short?
Andrus this season is worth 1.3 WAR which would be 4th on the White Sox tied with Anderson.
He’s a clear upgrade on Sosa,Gonzalez, and Garcia and would cost the league minimum.
This is a no brainer. There is nobody currently available who could possibly contribute more.
Makes sense.
Career 31 WAR isn’t bad. I want to criticize the guy for getting caught stealing 33 percent in his career. I want to criticize his low OPS. I don’t like how he complained about his playing time when he’s batting .237 with a below .700 OPS over 300 at bats. But he has a 1.2 WAR this year and over 30 for his career. I respect that.
All that into account … Can’t blame the A’s for cutting the negative vibes out of their clubhouse either though. This dude clearly needs to adjust his playing time expectations at this point and start talking to his family about retirement plans.
you think he’d be complaining if there wasn’t serious money on the line? that is the only issue. and i have mixed feeling about it. and how did you arrive at 33% caught stealing? i don’t think he made the franchise like a lot of rangers fans that point to that one trade, hamilton and cruz and adrian and vlad and berkman and cj and lee did that, but he was really useful in the sense that you just plug him in and play him, everyday. he might just be ok, but he was OK a LOT. and let the FO focus on other things.
I do think that. Professional athletes, especially ones that have been THE guy for the majority of their lives have a hard time accepting the limitations of aging. Andrus was a big time prospect, so you know he was always THE guy growing up. And he has not been the best SS of the last decade, but he has been in the top 10-15. That is nothing to be ashamed of at all. To suddenly look at yourself in the mirror and admit that your time may be passed is a very difficult thing to do if you are used to being on top. It happens to everyone at some point, but for some the denial lasts longer than others.
i think he would quietly go if not spurred on by the players association. i don’t think it’s a failure to recognize his place/role at all. i could be wrong, but watching him play with pure joy for a decade makes me think i know his personality, and maybe i don’t, whatever. appreciate your input!
maybe being allowed to run out there 160 times a year being average has inflated an ego. and a rebuilding club where he doesn’t have a 1600 game reputation told him umm thanks but no thanks.
I arrived at 33% caught stealing doing bad math in my head lol. But the real number is 26%. Still not great
Is Elvis Andrus this years Cesar Hernandez for the Sox?
Gee, who could have possibly guessed that Eloy and Robert would have both got hurt?
Oh wait – they both have missed a substantial number of games, in about every year of their professional careers.
They’re 24 and 25 years old and had hamstring and torn pectoral muscle done while playing the game..wouldn’t start labeling them yet.
Eloy is capable of slipping on a hot dog wrapper.
The ChiSox are missing the boat big time by ignoring Didi Gregorius. Should have signed him the minute Anderson went down. Surly he would have outperformed Sosa who is still a year or two away from being a year or two away!
As an aside, of the three contenders for the AL Central crown, the ChiSox are the most attractive in terms of TV appeal for the playoffs. It never hurts to have a big market like Chicago represented, especially since the other Chicago team ain’t in the conversation to make the playoff dance. You can bet the network suits are rooting for the ChiSox to get there.
Okay, back to baseball. Sign Didi today! Good clubhouse guy and a reliable defender at the six. Whatever you get out of him with the bat will be gravy. Perhaps the time off he’s had will do wonders for whatever was ailing him in Philly (Elbow or shoulder?).
Pity the injuries piled up on the ChiSox this year. Their season has played out like an episode of M*A*S*H, only without the laugh track!
JMHO, but if they win the AL Central, they’re gonna be in the ALCS vs. the Yankees. Those of you who fiddle with those on-line gaming sites like Draft Kings, Fan Duel, Bet MGM etc. ought to lay down some serious cheese on the ChiSox to get to the WS while the odds against them doing so remain high..
You can thank me later, right after you drive out of the showroom in your brand new Jaguar!
What the hell are you taking about?
Since when is knowing what you’re talking about a prerequisite for posting on this site? A little serendipity is good for the soul. Still, I do believe the ChiSox should sign Didi today.
You did OK Backup, but you said that “they are the most attractive…TV appeal for the playoffs.” They aren’t even an attractive appeal in their own city. They literally had a game against the best team in the league (Houston) with the best two pitchers (Verlander/Cease) in the league on the mound, on a perfect summer night and they drew 23,000 people to the game.
They have a strong, loyal base but I can’t imagine knowing that the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Astros are playing that too may are going to say “hey, can you switch over to the White Sox game.”
I meant the most attractive among ChiSox, Minnie and Cleveland. JMHO there, and apologies to the good people of Minnesota and northern Ohio.
The third cup of coffee is the one that gets you.
I’m confused. What do you mean?
Andrus > Gregorius
Not even close, Didi clears by a billion miles.
Didi clears by a billion miles… In 2018, not in 2022.
Backup catcher to the backup catcher is a weirdo. I’m weird but you sound like a lunatic.
I think the Sox defense and base running is worthy of a laugh track. And I’m a Sox fan!
I’m a long time Sox fan and this team is an absolute disgrace. Laughable also fits along with frustrating, disappointing etc.
Your post is a bad take without the laugh track
I wonder how many people do not even realize Didi was released…
This will happen. Hahn can’t resist washed up/subpar middle infielders. Usually not at a cheap price either such as this would be. The only thing they do more is sign overused/even hurt FA middle relievers that used to be good at a premium each year (Herrera, Cishek, Kelly, etc)
Yep, the Sox love mediocre position players they don’t have to commit to.
Regardless of what the White Sox may love or may not, Andrus is one of the better IF options available now – he would be even eligible for playoff games. You can be negative early enough in the off-season.
Gruß,
BSHH
@BSHH
Help me understand how I’m being “negative”. I’ve been a loyal, engaged fan of this team since 1983. I’m beyond all the “hope and luck” stuff, because it’s bs. This organization makes the same moves year after year, decade after decade. Where has that gotten them? At some point, if you have two brain cells, you have to question the choices an organization makes when the outcome is entirely predictable. Case in point: all of these non-moves that the front office is forced to make. They completely undermine any effort to win a World Series. Signing middling bench players to play everyday has become a trademark of this organization. Fans who lack knowledge or understanding cheer these kind of moves because love underdogs. The reality is, these players handicap the team against most other teams in contention with formidable lineups. That is my gripe. If that is too “negative” for you, might I suggest a few choice “edibles” while streaming Disney+, since you obviously can’t handle the real world.
Actually, seeing the White Sox struggle doesn’t hurt me that much. But of course I understand your frustration.
However, Andrus is a decent player per se and simply the best option for the White Sox to improve their production from SS now and from 2B later. If you – rightfully – think that Harrison has been a too mediocre player for a team vying for the World Series, the chance to get a better player far beyond the deadline for free should make you less frustrated.
Gruß,
BSHH
Elvia wants to play 5 nights a week, no openers, his name in lights, with plenty of peanut butter and banana sandwiches in the dressing room.
Being the second best position player on the As by fWAR and the fifth best by wRC+ (min 100 PAs) he has a legitimate grievance. It’s a bit unfair to paint him as a prima dona when A’s are obviously just trotting out scrubs to field a team as cheaply as possible.
Being the best of a bad lot, still means you’re bad. If he’s not generating $15MM of value, he has no grievance.
I get Oakland’s side of things too. It’s not in their best interest to let that option vest. But, being benched purely for financial reasons isn’t really great optics. It’s just hard to fathom a person in Elvis’ situation not complaining. And honestly more attention should be brought to Oakland barely fielding a major league team while just this year being allowed to partake in reaping the benefits of revenue sharing.
Good point MuleorAstroMule.
Now that Elvis is gone the Oakland fans will stop standing in line for tickets to see if the A’s can go on a run and make up those 8 games to finish in 4th place in the AL West. TV sets will click off as A’s fans won’t be able to watch the man with the “the fifth best by wRC+ (min 100 PAs)” anymore. If they’d only kept him and finished in 4th place, A’s fans would be talking about the 2022 season to their children and grandchildren. A parade for Elvis after the season was a guarantee.
Well, look at it this way – Elvis is now da man with da Sox. Dare fans are jubilant. They’re so stoked that half of the people on the southside will be up all night tonight.
Pretty funny how the A’s started playing better and winning more games when they stopped playing “their team leader in fWAR” lol
You’re reading comprehension is pretty terrible. The only point I was making was, from a human being standpoint, anyone would complain about that situation and it doesn’t make them an entitled princess. It makes them human.
If you’re a better hitter and fielder than Chad Pinder you’re going to question why you’re being benched for Chad Pinder.
The assumption that I’m an idiot who is unable to see Oakland’s side of things just because I didn’t elucidate on that is pretty dishonest and more than a little unfair.
So maybe chill out with the ridiculous hyperbole. This comment can apply to most of these replies. Cheers.
It’s been two days.
Andrus didn’t want to be benched with a 97 OPS+ because the A’s want to manipulate his contract
Made sense considering Tim is down a few weeks and Lenyn isn’t quite there yet (even though this is an extremely small sample of his hitting). I think everyone is rooting for Lenyn to succeed, but maybe needs some time at AAA. Andrus is a stop gap till Tim gets back.
Called it oin the andrus released comment section. Makes a lot of sense. Good job oin the sox fo listening to me and doing the logical move
Understandable with Anderson out.
Man the Sox are full of 20th century icons at shortstop with Jackie Robinson, Elvis, and Lenin. Looks like next year they will have to draft Neil Armstrong.
Better get it done so he’ll be ready for Elvis night next week at Guaranteed Cellular Field.
A’s fan here, all I gotta say is he’s a middling late order bat who might hit some homers, with extremely bad shortstop defense. No matter what the metrics say, during his time in Oakland he absolutely did not pass the eye test. Especially with future SS Nick Allen outshining him defensively, Allen made Elvis’s defense look particularly awful.
If he wanted to move to say, 1B, 2B or LF or even as a strict DH, he might have more value than at SS. He’s not the worst hitter this season, so, there’s that.
He will give Benetti and Stone good TV stand up for Elvis night at the ballpark.
There’s no reason for the White Sox to even try anymore. I mean if you can’t even sweep the Astros, you should give up.
Perfect match.
Elvis has entered the building.
“With 386 trips to the plate under his belt, Andrus was on pace to hit that mark” – FALSE
He was never going to average 3.7 AB’s for the rest of the season.
Small sample size on Sosa, but he definitely appears overmatched so far. Understandable given he only had 23 AAA games under his belt when he got called up. I’d be ok with Elvis as a low-cost option for the rest of the year.
Elvis would never wear White Sox with his blue suede shoes.
Leury Garcia getting hurt last night probably means Andrus on the south side in time for tomorrow nights game in Cleveland.
I’m surprised that the White Sox didn’t sign Gregorious or Simmons to minor league deals when they were released but now its a desperation move and Andrus has been the better hitter this season
Just looking at his offense throughout his career and this year is his third best going by Ops+. I know he’s never been known for his stick but that’s kinda surprising to me.
Can Elvis slug HRs? Nope. This is a nonmove.
The Sox can still end up winning the division, but guess what. Any division where you can slip on a banana peel and win a division playing .500 ball ain’t worth a damn. Championships bust. So this year is a bust just like the previous two years. In a year or two when the front office tears the roster down, they’ll say they tried, and blame it on “luck”.
*Championships or bust…