The White Sox have remained active in small ways to begin 2025, adding to their infield competition in Spring Training.
According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, the White Sox have signed Josh Rojas to a one-year MLB deal. Financials for the deal have yet to be announced.
Rojas, 30, is a former 26th-round draft pick of the Houston Astros. He is a career .247/.323/.362 hitter who has walked 10% of the time throughout his career. Last season in Seattle, he hit .225/.304/.336 with a 91 wRC+. Rojas also spent some time in the Diamondbacks organization, so Assistant GM Josh Barfield’s familiarity with him likely played a role here.
The left-hander is also a strong defensive infielder, posting +9 Outs Above Average (OAA) last season, good for the 94th percentile of all players. His best position is third base (+6 OAA) with second base not far behind (+2 OAA). He is versatile enough to play anywhere in the infield, but it should be noted that he hasn’t played SS since 2021, instead spending most of his time at either 3B or 2B with occasional outfield time.
Some contenders, including the Crosstown Cubs, were interested in Rojas over the offseason, so his decision to sign with the White Sox likely comes down to playing time considerations. Luckily, the White Sox will have plenty of opportunities for him to get involved, with no infield position locked down in the immediate future. Rojas, Colson Montgomery, Bryan Ramos, Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth, and Books Baldwin, among others, are likely to compete for playing time throughout the season, with the priority going to those prospects that the team is still looking to evaluate. It would appear that Rojas will fill in a super-utility role that allows the White Sox to get creative with matchups throughout the season.
Follow us @SoxOn35th for more!
Featured Image: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports
