As the White Sox continue to address their depth and next moves after the injury to Eloy Jimenez, reports are out that Jake Lamb will be coming to the South Side after a short stint with Atlanta.
The 30-year-old infielder split last season with Oakland and Arizona, playing in 31 games. Lamb signed a minor league deal with the Braves earlier in the offseason, but the Braves released Lamb after choosing Pablo Sandoval to be their backup IF to start the season. There is still no word if this is going to be a major league deal or a minor league one.
Lamb is formerly the All-Star 3B of the Arizona Diamondbacks. After posting a .252/.342/.470 (108 OPS+) slash line in his first three full seasons in Arizona, the injury bug bit Lamb hard. The left-hander has played in just 165 games since 2017, slashing .205/.309/.351 (74 OPS+) over that span. However, during that span in Oakland to end the 2020 season, he posted a .882 OPS in 13 games (PA ABs) in Matt Chapman’s absence, so there is plenty of hope for a low-risk bounceback from Lamb.
Looking at the current White Sox roster, there is one hole outside of LF that hasn’t gotten a lot of focus: a backup 3B. Leury Garcia has not played 3B all too often throughout his career, and Danny Mendick would be lined up to see a starting role if Moncada was injured at any point in the season. With the move, the White Sox are likely using Jake Lamb as an insurance piece on Moncada as well.
And, before you ask – no, Lamb has never played the OF in his career. The 30-year-old is not likely coming on to take any ABs away from anyone in the OF. Folks, you wanted depth – you’re getting it.
More details to come as they become available!
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