White Sox trade candidate Cesar Hernandez didn’t work last year, what about this time?
The White Sox have been searching for some stability at second base for a while now. At last year’s trade deadline, they made a deal with Cleveland to pick up Cesar Hernandez. The lighter-hitting second baseman saw his power numbers drop dramatically from the 18 home runs he had in 420 plate appearances with Cleveland to only three in 217 trips to the plate with Chicago.
Hernandez isn’t a guy to expect much power from. The 21 dingers he smacked last year was a personal-best by six.
Now a member of the Washington Nationals, Hernandez is having the kind of very average year we should expect. He’s hitting for a good average, getting on base at a decent clip, and starting every day. A quality fielder as well, he shouldn’t cost a whole lot. Could the White Sox revisit this all over again?
If Chicago did reacquire Hernandez, they might want to have a suitable backup option as well. Hypothetically, let’s say they also brought Happ into the mix. He is capable of playing some second base as well.
Hernandez is someone the Nationals shouldn’t get a lot in return for but would absolutely flip at the deadline. In a lesser role—perhaps even as a part-time second base option or bench infielder—he’s someone the White Sox could look at.