How do White Sox plan to use newly-acquired Alonso?
After acquiring Yonder Alonso in a trade Friday night, the White Sox sent minor league outfielder Alex Call to the Indians in the deal, there were two obvious questions.
1. Alonso is a full-time first baseman and so is Sox holdover Jose Abreu. So, who's on first?
2. Free-agent Manny Machado is married to Alonso's sister, so was the trade made to make it easier for the White Sox to sign the star third baseman/shortstop?
On a conference all Saturday, Hahn addressed both inquiries.
Regarding playing time between Alonso and Abreu, it sounds like they'll share.
"We envision both he and Abreu getting the bulk of time between first base and (designated hitter)," Hahn said. "How that exactly breaks down will be a managerial decision and something Ricky (Renteria) can get into more detail with over the course of the season."
In nine seasons with the Reds, Padres, A's, Mariners and Indians, Alonso has played 879 games and 847 of them have been at first base. He's only been designated hitter in 7 games (3 starts).
Abreu has always had a strong preference for playing first base, but Hahn talked to him before the Alonso deal.
"If (Abreu) had his preference, he'd play 162 games per year, all of them at first base," Hahn said. "Ultimately, as he's gotten older and he's seen the seven and a half month or longer grind as part of being a big-leaguer, he knows there's benefit to being off his feet and pacing himself so he can be strong and continue to be the powerful offensive force that he is at the big-league level."
Despite his strong desires to be on the field at first base, Abreu has had success as DH. He has a .288/.344/.516 hitting line with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 112 games at the position.
As for Alonso's family ties to Machado, Hahn said it is not a factor in the potential signing of the four-time all-star.
"We like how Yonder fits in between the lines and in the clubhouse and helps further what we're trying to accomplish in 2019 and beyond," the Sox's GM said. "The potential ancillary benefits to it in terms of his relationships with others really can't be part of pulling the trigger in making the decision to acquire a big-league player, especially a veteran one with this type of contract commitment."
The 31-year-old Alonso, who batted .250 with 23 home runs and 83 RBI for Cleveland last season, is owed $8 million for 2019 with a vesting club option for 2020 worth $9 million that includes a $1 million buyout.