White Sox reportedly sign Jay, Herrera
According to USA Today, the Chicago White Sox signed Jon Jay to a one-year contract Monday night.
They need some outfield help, and Jay is a nine-year veteran with a career .285/.352/.378 slash line for the Cardinals, Cubs, Royals and Diamondbacks.
Is there another reason the Sox are bringing in Jay?
The 33-year-old outfielder is a close friend with prized free agent Manny Machado, whom the White Sox are trying to sign.
The Sox also traded for Yonder Alonso last month. He is Machado's brother-in-law.
Machado, Alonso and Jay all live in Miami during the off-season and train together.
Earlier Monday, the White Sox reportedly signed relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera to a two-year, $18 million contract with a vesting $9 million option for 2021.
Like Jay, the deal won't be officially announced until Herrera passes a physical.
In November, the White Sox acquired Alex Colome in a trade from the Mariners. Colome led the American League with 47 saves in 2017, when he was pitching for Tampa Bay.
He is likely going to close for the Sox this season, but Herrera is also capable and he's saved 55 games over the last three seasons, including a combined 17 with the Royals and Nationals in 2018.
The 29-year-old righty was one of the top setup men in the game from 2012-15, when he was with Kansas City.
Traded from the Royals to Washington last June, Herrera was 1-2 with a 4.34 ERA and 3 saves for the Nats while battling shoulder and foot injuries.
A torn ligament in his left foot ended Herrera's season in late August, but he started a throwing program in early December.