The White Sox have agreed to minor league contracts with outfielder Jake Marisnick (as first reported by Kenny Van Doren of Astros Future) and infielder Erik Gonzalez (as indicated on the transaction log at MiLB.com). Marisnick will be invited to Major League Spring Training and would earn a $1.3MM salary if he makes the team. Gonzalez, presumably, will also be in camp this spring.
Marisnick, 32 in March, spent the 2022 season with the Pirates, for whom he posted a tepid .234/.272/.390 slash in a tiny sample of 82 plate appearances. He’s appeared in the Majors every year since debuting with the Marlins back in 2013 but has never topped the 372 plate appearances he recorded with the Astros back in 2015. Overall, he’s a lifetime .228/.281/.384 batter in 2164 plate appearances, though his .235/.292/.412 slash against lefties is a slight improvement over those career rates.
The signing of Marisnick gives the South Siders a potential right-handed-hitting complement to lefty-swinging right fielder Gavin Sheets (and, to a lesser extent, a complement for fellow lefty Andrew Benintendi in left field, though Benintendi will likely play every day regardless of opponent). In that sense, he could potentially fill a role similar to the one Adam Engel has occupied for the Sox in recent seasons. Engel signed a one-year deal with the Padres recently after being non-tendered by Chicago back in November.
The fleet-footed Marisnick is capable of playing any of the three outfield slots and is generally regarded as a plus defender at each. Statcast ranked him in the 85th percentile of Major Leaguers in terms of average sprint speed this past season and in the 96th percentile in terms of arm strength. Of his 5125 career innings in the outfield, 4231 have come in center field. Marisnick, then, is also a viable defensive-minded backup in the event of a Luis Robert injury. He’s tallied impressive marks of 76 Defensive Runs Saved and 48 Outs Above Average in those 5125 innings of outfield work. That’s the eighth-best DRS mark of any outfielder since 2013 and 12th-best OAA mark, despite the fact that the majority of names ahead of him on the list have played far more innings.
Gonzalez, 31, is another former Pirate (2019-21) but spent the 2022 season with the Marlins organization. He posted just a .189/.268/.216 slash in the Majors, but that came in a sample of only 41 plate appearances. Gonzalez spent the bulk of the season in Triple-A, where he logged a much more palatable .284/.336/.373 slash while appearing at all four infield positions (albeit just one inning at first base).
Since debuting with Cleveland back in 2016, Gonzalez has appeared in parts of seven Major League seasons. He’s a combined .242/.276/.340 hitter but has drawn plus DRS marks at all four infield spots and plus OAA marks at both shortstop and third base. That ability to play anywhere on the infield will give him a chance to earn a bench spot in Spring Training and, if he begins the year in Triple-A, could make him one of the team’s first options in the event of an injury in the big league infield.
I remember marisnick being a decent little player years ago but looks like he’s quite a few years removed from that. Pretty good depth pickup for the sox not an everyday starter by any means
He was an underrated role player with Houston for a while (albeit with a suspiciously good 2017 season). The bat has faded a bit since then, so he’s more of a fifth outfielder than a fourth, but if you want a plus defensive guy off the bench you could do a lot worse
His defense was amazing for the Pirates, saved many a run in the few games he played. If he could just hit a little better.
He has a strong and accurate arm and is more known now for his defense than offense but can surprise many with his occasional offense
Jake was a good role player for the cubs a few years back. He can make some amazing plays in the outfield.
Gavin Sheets will not be the primary White Sox RF in 2023. That honor will be bestowed upon top slugging OF prospect Oscar Colas who could very well be in the ChiSox opening day lineup. Like Sheets, Colas hits left-handed. With two left-handed hitting corner outfielders starting most games, the White Sox would still benefit from a right-handed hitting 4th OF, especially as an insurance policy and short-side platoon option for the rookie in RF.
The defensively challenged Sheets would still be available for emergency duty at either OF corner spot but figures to mostly share 1B/DH duties with right-handed hitters Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jimenez.
Well, Vaughn is the everyday starter at 1st base. Everyone needs a day off of course. Eloy the primary DH. And Sheets will start the year on right. They will bring up Colas if one of two things happen: Sheets doesn’t hit (maybe) or if Colas dominates in the minors (likely). Once up, I agree with Aaron that the RF job will be his to keep.
I think they are counting on Colas breaking camp with the team. It is the only reason I can think of that they refuse to address RF for the 3 billionth season in a row.
Unfortunatley I can think of a few more reasons
Putting young players (especially Latin players) in the starting lineup in April, is not a good idea. Nothing destroys confidence, like going 7 for 59, playing in 40 degree weather. If Colas is playing well, I’d bring him up around May 15th. IMHO
Marisnick made some of the best plays I’ve seen from a Pirates outfielder in a while. He started to turn things around with the bat when the Pirates activated him from the IL, but then got injured again. The Sox don’t have a great answer to a back-up outfielder who can play center, so Marisnick on the depth chart will do.
It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to see the Sox signing rejects from a rebuilding team.
If you have fuzz inside…maybe because you are a White Sox fan
he isn’t a rebuilding team reject, his contract was up and the Pirates didn’t resign him.
Are all W-Sox fans poorly educated?
The White Sox minor league team fielding a similar roster quality to the Pirates.
Leading candidate for 4th OF role over Hamilton and Victor Reyes IMO.
MARIS-nick should have retired after 2021. He would have finished his career with 61 homers. Just sayin’.
i see what you did there Milty
Both Pirates, Marisnick defense is ok, Gonzalez can not hit.
Both are solid minor leaguers and don’t belong in the major leagues.
Who knew getting to the World Series would be this easy?
Similar player to Adam Engel, without the 2.3 mil arb. number Engel had. Could do worse for a 5th outfielder. At the very worse they have a shortage out outfileders at AAA Charlotte.
The Sox will regret losing Engel, their best center fielder since Jim Landis. His arbitration number would hardly have broken the bank. Marisnick has been around, and it’s telling that he’s been unable to take root with any of the clubs who’ve signed him.
You won’t find a more staunch Adam Engel supporter than me. But he has shown very little ability to consistently hit. Injuries have hurt him, sure, but for someone as fast as he is, he did very little on the basepaths, was just anaverage baserunner , and even his defense suffered last year. It was time to part way.ls.
Yap
Sox need to stay healthy.
Regret not moving Moncada and Robert this winter.
Real- Jim Landis was before Ken Berry.Which one was better?
Landis, but not by much. Berry was solid.
Another ground breaking move by the ChiSox front office. Looking forward to see what’s going to be done at 2B and the bullpen.
Crochet, Bummer, Lopez, Graveman are still a lethal group. If Kelley can pull his head out of his rear, that would be 5 solid arms. Less worried about the BP than I am about how ABs Sheets and Garcia accumulate this season.
You probably should be concerned about the bullpen. Not one Sox starter averaged 6 IN per start. Cease & Lynn – 5.2; Giolito & Clevinger – 5.1; Kopech a horrible 4.2/start. That means you’re using 3-4 bullpen arms every start.
Crochet is coming off TJS, and certainly won’t be ready for the start of the season. Latest on Kopech is he’s unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. Even when those 2 return, you aren’t getting heavy innings from them.
I agree with Soxwin. Marisnick is basically Engel 2.0. Just cheaper. Inconsistent bat and great OF. Just shopping at Costco instead of Macy’s. Seems to be what the Sox are all about this year. It’s going to be interesting to see how it shakes out. The trade deadline might see a purge if it doesn’t work out.
Erik ruined Cleveland’s world series lol
Every year all teams sign players to minor league deals. Clearly none of which are marquee players and aren’t typically relied upon for everyday coverage. You have to have some depth and these two provide that. Hopefully the injury bug isn’t anything like it was last season.
I doubt that Gonzalez ever plays for the Sox but Marisnick could end up playing a significant role for them.
As of now, the Sox, basically, have 2 Major League OFers and one has proven to be injury-prone (Robert). They will have a 3rd one whenever Colas is ready. Most teams have 5 so Marisnick is important. Hamilton is another possibility but still very little upside in the Sox OF.
They only hope that Robert can stay healthy all year as well as show some progress with plate discipline and consistency. Secondly, that Colas becomes ML ready early on in the season.
Otherwise, this OF won’t be much better than last year’s.
The Sox should sign both Andrus, Iglesias, and trade for a great defensive catcher. Winning games 4-3, is better than losing. 7-6.
Sounds like a lot of appreciation for Marisnick from fans of former clubs. Good signing! Poor man’s Engel at worst.
Marisnick is basically a replacement for Engle. Gonzalez and Hanser Alberto will be competing for 26th man on the roster
The White Sox should be ashamed of themselves for insulting their fans by not improving a .500 team. Filling up their minors with has-beens is not improving the majpr league team. White Sox fans should be angry for how the org treats them or neglects them. I guess they are fine being the second class MLB team in Chicago.
(That is for all the dumb comments ChiSoxCity posts on every Cubs story. Keep him out of our comment boards and I will stay out of yours. Seriously, I don’t even care what the White Sox ate doing and prefer to not read any pf their articles. )
^Whining Cubs fan whose Mom yelled down in the basement that his time out is over and he can use the internet.
Your the perfect example of how dumb White Sux fans are. Nonsense responses.
If you were smart you would know to just hit “reply” to link to it and not need the“^”. Of course that is obvious and logical. So, you being a White Sux fan, I can jnderstand how you couldn’t figure that out.
Sox appear like they want to come outta the gate running, playing defense, and with a manager that establishes a competitive attitude in camp. Seems like a good idea given Colas may or may not break camp with the club, they’ll be a starter down for a couple weeks, Sheets bat is overrated, Rick Hahn doesn’t have the same $ to work w as even Jed Hoyer, and Sheets glove belongs at 1B. Would be great to see the Sox build a farm system capable of handling these depth duties but Sox are what they are. Vote of confidence for Grifol and Rick.
Also Chicago weather in April/May as others have commented*
You’re attempt at putting a good face on an organization that signs nothing but minor leaguers, insulting their fans, as bleedinblue so aptly posted, is misplaced. Chicago is the third biggest city in the country. The Sox are the face of the city, and this is what we get. Any way you want to spin it, Hahn has to give us something better than a crapshoot.
LMAO?? Sox are the face of city??? They can’t even sell out their stadium!
The Cubs are one of the most popular MLB teams in the whole country. How can the White Sux possibly be the face of the city?
The Cubs own Chicago baseball. Deal with it.