(670 The Score) Despite fortifying their roster this offseason, the White Sox still have a clear hole in their lineup as the start of spring training awaits in mid-February.
That would be at designated hitter, where they let Edwin Encarnacion walk after he struggled mightily in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The White Sox are currently in line to fill the role by committee. They can use the DH spot to lighten the workload for some of their everyday position players, and top prospect Andrew Vaughn, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 amateur draft, should get an opportunity there as well.
That is, unless the White Sox make one more high-profile addition. They could potentially do that by making a serious pursuit of 40-year-old designated hitter Nelson Cruz, who remains a free agent. Cruz has spent the past two seasons with the American League Central rival Twins, who want to retain him on a one-year deal, Radio.com Sports insider Jon Heyman said. But indications are that Cruz would like more than a one-year deal, and Heyman believes he'd be worth a two-year deal for the White Sox.
"He's a great fit for the White Sox," Heyman said on the Mully & Haugh Show on Wednesday morning. "To steal somebody from the Twins would be huge, because to me, those are the two favorites in that division. They're both very good teams. I think that would be a big move for the White Sox. The White Sox have already done a lot. They've improved more than just about anybody. Obviously, the Padres and Blue Jays have done a lot as well.
"Nelson Cruz would be a great fit for the White Sox. I don't see anything wrong with a two-year deal for him. He's still very good."
Cruz is a six-time All-Star, and he hit 37 or more homers every season from 2014 to 2019. He's also coming off a superb 2020 season, when he hit .303 with 16 homers, 33 RBIs and a .992 OPS in 53 games.
