The White Sox knew they had to address their power and run-producing voids, and they did so. Their additions were highlighted by the signings of All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal (28 homers, .848 OPS in 2019) and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (34 homers, .875 OPS) in free agency this offseason. The White Sox also acquired Nomar Mazara from the Rangers and will count on him to provide consistency in right field, which was a really unproductive spot for the team a season ago.
Beyond them, the ascensions of center fielder Luis Robert and second baseman Nick Madrigal to the big league team will help give the White Sox the deeper, more dangerous lineup that they've been seeking. Such improvements were a must for the White Sox as they look to dethrone the Twins, who finished 28.5 games ahead of them in winning the AL Central in 2019.
The White Sox's infield features a pair of youngsters who will be looking to take the next step after strong 2019 seasons. Shortstop Tim Anderson hit .335 to win the American League batting title and had an .865 OPS in a breakout campaign. He has the raw hitting ability, power and speed to continue to be a force, and he'll look to improve on his defense that has been unsteady at times.
Third baseman Yoan Moncada was the best player on the White Sox in 2019, hitting .315 with 25 homers and a .915 OPS. He also settled into his new position quickly and effectively. Moncada himself and some across the game believe he has MVP-caliber ability moving forward. A key for Moncada was cutting down on his strikeouts. After having an MLB-worst 217 strikeouts in 2018, he cut that figure to 154 last season. He'll look to keep building off that progress.
Jose Abreu will continue to man first base. He was rewarded for his consistency with a three-year, $50-million contract extension in November. Abreu hit .284 with 33 homers, an AL-best 123 RBIs and an .834 OPS in 159 games last season.
Second base will feature a little more uncertainty for the White Sox early on. Danny Mendick and Leury Garcia project to fill the role when the regular season opens, but the 22-year-old Madrigal -- the team's first-round pick in the 2018 amateur draft -- is expected to be called up soon after service time considerations are no longer a concern. Madrigal has an uncanny ability to put the bat on the ball, as he struck out just 16 times in 532 plate appearances across three levels in the minor leagues last season. Madrigal also has strong on-base ability, posting a .371 mark in his minor league career.
The lefty-swinging Mazara projects to receive most of the starts in right field as of now, but the White Sox could look to add a quality defensive player who hits right-handed to complement him. Mazara has averaged just shy of 20 homers annually in his four-year MLB career, over which he has a .754 OPS.
Adam Engel and Garcia will be the primary backups in the outfield. Engel is a strong defensive player but a light hitter.
Garcia is the do-everything utilityman, so he'll also get playing time in the infield. Mendick projects as an infield reserve too. The White Sox are looking to add another player to the mix who can play second base, shortstop and third base. They will monitor external options as spring training progresses and other teams' depth charts become clear.
The White Sox have the luxury of some day-to-day flexibility with their lineup. Encarnacion will be the primary designated hitter, but Abreu and Grandal can also fill the role when Renteria wants to lighten their load or Encarnacion needs a day off. Grandal could also play some first base to spell Abreu, with McCann handling catching duties in those instances. Zack Collins, a first-round pick in 2016, is aiming to factor into the catching/first base/designated hitter mix, but with so many other options, he may land at Triple-A as the everyday catcher with an uncertain future.