The White Sox have agreed free-agent infielder Elvis Andrus to a one-year, $3 million deal pending a physical, according to multiple sources briefed on the matter. The deal was first reported by ESPN. Here’s what you need to know.
- Andrus, 34, hit .249/.303/.404 with 17 homers in 149 games but starred after being signed by the White Sox midseason and hitting nine of his homers in 43 games in Chicago.
- His tenure with the White Sox only began on August 19 after he was fired by the Rebuilding A’s and made to spell an injured Tim Anderson.
- With Anderson healthy and back as a starting shortstop, Andrus is expected to start at second base, a move he said he was willing to make several times last season.
How does this fit work?
At the end of his torrid end to the 2022 season, Andrus told everyone who asked that he loved his time with the White Sox and was ready to move to second base to house Anderson.
“Everyone knows there’s a chance I’ll come back next year,” Andrus said in October. “If that’s my only option to switch from short to another position, I’d be more than happy. For me it’s about playing and winning at this point in my career, being in a winning environment.”
Having hit nine home runs, hit .464 and solidly confirmed defensively as a viable starting shortstop in 43 games on the South Side before coming free at age 34, it seemed like a nice feeling for the most part , before Andrus found an opportunity elsewhere . Andrus has never played a major league game at any defensive position other than shortstop
But with Andrus still looking for opportunities in mid-February and the White Sox still needing the stability of a veteran at second base, a one-year contract was enough to land him in Chicago, where he was one of the team’s best players at the stretch last Year. In addition to defense and punching power, Andrus stood out for his resilience, skillful running and exhilarating play during a tumultuous season on the South Side.
The White Sox had been ready to turn to 26-year-old Romy González, who put in a 20-20 campaign at the minors in 2021 and had support from members of Pedro Grifol’s coaching staff, who worked with him throughout the offseason. Though González has impressive power, he’s battled his way to a .241/.261/.350 line in 42 major league games of his career. The addition of Andrus puts less pressure on a González breakout and allows the Sox to use his versatility around the diamond if they so desire.
What to expect from Andrus?
Andrus’ big finish to 2022 was enough to give him just the third above-average offensive season of his 14 career years with the majors. In the previous four seasons, Andrus had a combined .255/.302/.360 in Texas and Oakland. It’s tempting to write off his time with the White Sox last year as a veteran player going on a heater, motivated by his first opportunity to play with the postseason on the line in years.
However, one of the reasons Andrus was so optimistic about his time in Chicago was that he felt he had regained his power stroke for the first time since breaking his right elbow when he was hit by a punch in April 2018. Prior to that injury, Andrus put in the other two above-average offensive seasons of his career, in 2016 and 2017, and by late 2022 he believed he had regained the momentum that led to his greatest successes on the plate.
“Ever since I got injured and broke my arm it’s been a constant struggle with my approach and my swing and trying to feel like who I am right now,” Andrus said on the final day of the 2022 season Took a few years with injuries and just getting used to my body. But I feel like since I’ve been here I’ve been able to make the necessary adjustments and that approach is kind of a return to driving the ball.
Offense is the big question mark as the complementary elements of Andrus’ game still appeared strong. His defensive stats have remained above average well into his 30s, suggesting he should be able to handle the physical demands of a second base position that now requires more reach due to shifting limitations. Andrus often showed an innate sense of when to take a moment to calm struggling pitchers or offer teammates insight. And while Andrus is no longer one of the fastest players in the league, he was a perfect 11-on-11 baseman for the White Sox last year.
Andrus is at an age and career strain where there is always a question as to whether he can maintain a profile built on defense, speed and know-how. But the end-of-season look he gave the White Sox suggested he still had something in the tank. Appropriately, the Sox are the team that has received the most attention.
“Next year is going to be a fantastic year I think,” said Andrus.
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(Photo: Orlando Ramirez / USA Today)