Chicago White Sox Get César Hernández From Cleveland Indians; Fill Void At Second Base
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 22: Cesar Hernandez #7 of the Cleveland Indians celebrates as he rounds the … [+]
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The White Sox are set to acquire second baseman César Hernández from the Cleveland Indians, the team confirmed Thursday.
The move, which comes a day before the Friday afternoon deadline, will address a roster hole for the White Sox created when Nick Madrigal went down for the season with a hamstring injury.
“César Hernández provides our club with a valuable combination of a power bat in the middle infield and Gold-Glove quality defense,” said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager in an email statement. “Adding a player like César gives Tony a strong and proven option at second base for the stretch run of the season and hopefully into October.”
The White Sox have had Danny Mendick and Leury Garcia as stand-ins at second base since Madrigal’s early-June injury, but they have been clearly in pursuit of a new infielder since losing Madrigal. In late June, reports had Eduardo Escobar headed to Chicago from the Diamondbacks, but trade talks fell through, and Escobar was dealt to the Brewers on Wednesday.
Hernández, a nine-year veteran with the Phillies and Indians, is hitting .231 with 18 homeruns and 17 doubles this season. Mendick and Garcia have a combined five homers, so Hernandez will provide added pop to a White Sox lineup that sits near the bottom of the league in homeruns.
Defensively, Hernández was a Gold Glove winner in 2020, and he has a lifetime .918 fielding percentage. Last season, his six defensive runs saved was second among American League second basemen.
It’s likely that Hernández will be a short-term rental for the White Sox. He has a $6 million club option for 2022, but with Madrigal expected to return next year, that option probably doesn’t get picked up.
In exchange for Hernández, the White Sox are sending left-handed Double-A pitcher Konnor Pilkington to Cleveland. Pilkington is 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 starts. The White Sox also released right handed pitcher Tyler Johnson to make room on the 40-man roster.
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