3. Let Edwin Encarnacion walk in free agency
The White Sox gave 37-year-old veteran slugger Edwin Encarnacion $12 mil this season to be the teams primary DH. And while he did provide 10 home runs his .627 OPS and .377 slugging were both career-lows. His 29.8 percent strikeout rate wasn’t great but what was more concerning was his walk rate falling to 8.8 percent – the lowest he’s posted since 2011.
Going in to his age-38 season it’s hard to justify paying Encarnacion another $12 mil on his club option to stick around. Of course, this is a career .260 hitter with over 400 home runs and a .846 OPS since 2005. He’s about as proven and consistent as a veteran hitter can be, but clearly the White Sox didn’t have much confidence in him to produce, limiting him two postseason at-bats.
The White Sox also have top prospect Andrew Vaughn, a 1B who projects as a .300 hitter with 30 home run power and great patience at the plate. The former No. 3 overall pick back in 2019 is projected to make the big league roster in 2020 and would provide the White Sox a batter who will take his walks – their 7.9 walk rate was the worst of any playoff team this season. If Encarnacion is willing to take less money to come back to the South-Side that may make him a more attractive hitter, but with his age and his lack of production this season (albeit small sample size) it makes more sense for Chicago to address the DH spot internally.