(670 The Score) The White Sox have addressed their need at second base.
Chicago acquired switch-hitting second baseman Cesar Hernandez from Cleveland on Thursday morning, the teams announced. In return, Chicago traded Double-A left-hander Konnor Pilkington back to Cleveland. The White Sox had been looking for an answer at second base since Nick Madrigal underwent season-ending hamstring surgery in mid-June.
Click here to get your White Sox tickets
Hernandez, 31, is hitting .231 with 18 homers, 47 RBIs and a .738 OPS in 96 games this season. Hernandez has played really well lately, hitting .268 with six homers and an .898 OPS in July. He also won a Gold Glove in 2020.
“César Hernández provides our club with a valuable combination of a power bat in the middle infield and Gold Glove-quality defense,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. “Adding a player like César gives Tony (La Russa) a strong and proven option at second base for the stretch run of the season and hopefully into October.”
Pilkington, 23, has a 3.48 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 62 innings across 14 starts at Double-A this season. The White Sox selected Pilkington in the third round of the 2018 amateur draft. He wasn't ranked among the White Sox's top 30 prospects entering this season, according to MLB Pipeline.
Hernandez's contract includes a $6-million club option for 2022, so he could fit into the picture for the White Sox beyond this season.
The White Sox’s addition of Hernandez came after the NL Central-leading Brewers acquired All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. The White Sox had previously shown serious interest in Escobar.
To make room for Hernandez on the 40-man roster, the White Sox released right-hander Tyler Johnson.