As the dust settles on the Crosstown Classic, the South Siders have come out of the affair on top for the first time since 2021, but there is most certainly an uneasiness with two players coming back who definitely demand some playing time.
Austin Hays and Everson Pereira were injured just under two weeks ago, and both are likely on their way back sooner than later after running the bases on Sunday.
Hays specifically has struggled quite a bit with injury so far this season, but as his second IL stint nears an end, he will almost certainly force the White Sox to move someone.
To make room for Hays, the most likely candidate to get bounced is Jarred Kelenic, the former top pick by the Mariners in the 2018 MLB Draft.
Kelenic has a sub-600 OPS and is a player you would be surprised to see the odd one out of White Sox teams of recent years at a .217/.294/.304 slash, but he just doesn’t provide the defensive flexibility that Luisangel Acuña has. Pereria, among other things, creates issues for Acuña’s future in Bridgeport.
Pereria is coming off a pectoral injury and still needs to clear more hurdles than Hays, but has a .760 OPS and three homers in a short period, even after a recent cold streak. The belief is that, with his extremely high exit velocity, the former top Yankee prospect may have been given up on far too quickly.
He was acquired from the Rays during an offseason filled with depth moves aimed at bolstering a depleted outfield.
Acuña was a part of the package by the Mets that was sent in return for Luis Robert Jr.. There was a hope, in a lower-pressure environment, that Acuña would get valuable at-bats that let him break out into the hitter that he was in his early time in the minors, but at this point, there is no room for the Venezuelan utilityman.
Native to shortstop, Acuña saw more center field action earlier in the year, but rookie Tristan Peters has taken those reps from him. The former Southern Illinois Saluki has dominated defensively, earning marks as a 95th percentile outfielder by Statcast metrics.
Not to mention, Peters’ relatively young age at 26 years old, while hitting at least better than Acuña, leaves him as the clear choice roaming in center most days.
That leaves three guys: Sam Antonacci, Derek Hill, and Randall Grichuk. Let’s start with Antonacci, because the rookie has easily been the best outfielder at the plate by far. He is not going to be replaced by ANY means at this point, but regardless, you have to mention how good the Juco bandit has been. A second baseman, placed into left field for the first time, mere weeks before getting called up, has served alright there, but has hit spectacularly. A look at his Statcast page can tell you how good he is at avoiding strikeouts, which has led him to the top of the lineup most days as a result. At a .286/.377/.408 slash with an OPS just south of 800, the start of his career has been very fun, and hopefully remains fruitful.
For Grichuk and Hill, both have just been flat-out better at the plate. Hill is just about average, and Grichuk has found the power he once had in St. Louis and Arizona, with three homers since joining the team in late April. There is a place for everyone but Kelenic and Acuña. All signs point to both players as being clear DFA candidates within the coming week, barring other injuries or setbacks in the upcoming rehab assignments.
Time will tell if the White Sox front office wants to send Acuña away. There is obviously a connotation of failure in the deal, but I think it’s quite the opposite. Free money was what has allowed the White Sox to go out and give new players chances. The money freed has been essential for players like Hays and others. The DFA would symbolize that at this current moment, the goal is to win in Bridgeport.
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