The White Sox have announced that Andrew Vaughn would be among the players tendered a contract before today’s 7 p.m. CT deadline. Along with the first baseman, pitchers Garrett Crochet, Justin Anderson, and Steven Wilson also received contracts. Fellow first baseman/outfielder Gavin Sheets and right-hander Enyel De Los Santos weren’t as lucky as they were both non-tendered, becoming free agents.
Entering this offseason, the White Sox had nine arbitration-eligible players. Nicky Lopez, Jimmy Lambert, and Matt Foster have since rejected outright assignments to Triple-A and elected free agency, leaving the team with just four returners after the moves.
| Name | Proj. Salary |
|---|---|
| Andrew Vaughn | $6,400,000 |
| Nicky Lopez | $5,100,000 |
| Garrett Crochet | $2,900,000 |
| Gavin Sheets | $2,600,000 |
| Enyel De Los Santos | $1,700,000 |
| Jimmy Lambert | $1,200,000 |
| Justin Anderson | $1,100,000 |
| Steven Wilson | $1,000,000 |
| Matt Foster | $900,000 |
Vaughn, 26, is projected to earn $6.4 million in arbitration, though his low defensive value and overall lack of production have raised questions over whether he deserves that amount. After all, he slashed .246/.297/.402 with a .699 OPS in 619 plate appearances, yielding a 97 wRC+ and -0.2 fWAR in 2024. It was a step back for a second-straight season as the former third overall pick in 2019 continues to distance himself from the lofty expectations originally placed on him.
In-house, the White Sox don’t currently have many options to serve as a replacement. Tim Elko is in Triple-A Charlotte, but he isn’t quite knocking on the door as an everyday player. Miguel Vargas and Bryan Ramos will both be fighting for time at third basemen, though one if not both of them could have potentially gotten increased reps across the diamond. Instead, Director of Hitting Ryan Fuller appears ready to tackle Vaughn’s offensive approach as the team gives him one last chance.
Sheets, 28, also could have factored into the mix but he is now out of the equation. In 139 games, the former second-round draft pick slashed just .233/.303/.357 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, an 88 wRC+, and -0.9 fWAR. Though he could be considered valuable as a situational lefty bat, his poor offensive output in 2024 diminished that notion and has led him to the open market.
On the pitching end, De Los Santos with his projected $1.7 million salary for 2025 is out. The 28-year-old appeared in 15 games with the White Sox in 2024 after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees on August 17. In that stretch, he posted a 3.63 ERA with nine walks, 13 strikeouts and one hold.
Following these moves, the White Sox 40-man roster decreases to 37.
Follow us on social media @SoxOn35th for more White Sox news and updates.
Featured Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
