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Garcia back with Chicago White Sox, but next season?

It's hard to not get wowed by the great size, the standout speed and the seemingly effortless athletic ability.

Unfortunately for Avisail Garcia - and the Chicago White Sox - the obvious tools have made the consistent failure all the more frustrating.

Acquired from the Detroit Tigers on July 30, 2013, in a three-way trade that sent starting pitcher Jake Peavy from the White Sox to the Boston Red Sox, Garcia initially looked like a keeper.

In 42 games after joining the White Sox in '13, the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder put up a .304/.327/.447 hitting line along with 5 home runs, 21 RBI and 3 stolen bases.

Garcia looked like the answer in right field for the long-term future.

But early in the following season, after hitting 2 home runs in an April 8 win at Colorado, Garcia tried to make a diving catch in right field the following day. He tore the labrum in his left shoulder and missed more than four months.

Still just 25 years old, Garcia has not seemed like the same player since the injury.

He rejoined the Sox on Tuesday after missing 13 games with a strained left knee, and Garcia went 1-for-4 in a 9-1 interleague win over the Philadelphia Phillies at U.S. Cellular Field.

Attacking instead of picking, according to manager Robin Ventura, White Sox starter Carlos Rodon (4-8) got the win after pitching 6⅔ scoreless innings and scattering 3 hits.

Jose Abreu sparked the Sox's 11-hit attack with his third home run in as many games, a 2-run shot in the fifth inning.

For the season, Garcia has a .240/.309/.380 slash line with 9 home runs and 36 RBI in 88 games. Those are decent numbers for a reserve, but not a starting player with supposed impact potential.

Over the final 38 games of the season, the Sox have to decide if Garcia is going to be back in 2017, be it in any capacity. You couldn't argue with the White Sox if they opt to trade Garcia this winter, assuming other major-league teams would have an interest.

As the past two seasons have painfully indicated, Garcia's big body is not going to produce big power, and he's simply not good enough to be trusted in right field.

On the other hand, what if Garcia exits the Sox and suddenly figures it out? He did have 3 home runs and 6 RBI in five games before going down with the knee injury.

This season seemed to be Garcia's last shot with the White Sox after a disappointing 2015 (.257/.309/.365, 13 HRs, 59 RBI, 141 strikeouts in 553 at-bats), but maybe he can change some minds down the stretch.

"You want to see him get out there and get better," Ventura said. "Offensively, I think he's come a long way from where he was earlier in the year. He's got some power numbers you're starting to see trend in a good direction. Defensively, he's got some work to do, but I think he can get to the point where he can be there."

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