Chris Getz outlined some of the White Sox offseason priorities this week during the General Manager meetings in Las Vegas.
Getz said that the White Sox are looking to improve both corner outfield spots, add bullpen help, and find a left-handed bat to help balance out the lineup. One name that has popped up as a potential fit is Ryan O'Hearn.
According to 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine, the White Sox have expressed interest in the 32-year-old outfielder and first baseman as he enters free agency. O’Hearn also has a direct connection to White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller, who coached him during their time together in Baltimore.
Fuller worked as a hitting coach in the Orioles organization, including two seasons on the major-league staff alongside Matt Borgschulte, before joining the White Sox ahead of the 2024 season. His past work with Fuller could make the White Sox more appealing for O’Hearn.
O’Hearn spent the first five seasons with the Kansas City Royals before joining the Orioles in 2023. This past season, he made his first All-Star appearance, slashing .283/.374/.463 with 13 homers in 94 games before getting traded to San Diego. He finished the season with 17 homers, 63 RBIs, and an .803 OPS.
O’Hearn is an intriguing fit for the White Sox. He gives Getz the left-handed bat the team is seeking and offers solid range in right field. However, he doesn’t necessarily fit the swing decisions the White Sox have emphasized this past season.
Although O’Hearn posted an 11% walk rate in 2024, his previous three seasons sat closer to five percent, raising questions about how sustainable that improvement is. He also doesn’t pull the ball in the air very often, with one of the lowest rates in the MLB last season at 14.4 percent.
Based on WAR, he would be an upgrade over Mike Tauchman in right field. And while his offensive numbers are comparable to Lenyn Sosa’s, he would represent a defensive upgrade at first base.
Getz also revealed that Andrew Benintendi has been dealing with Achilles irritation that has affected his play in the outfield. While Getz said Benintendi is still capable of playing defensively, he told reporters, “it would be silly for us not to focus on those areas based on recent history.”
If Benintendi ends up seeing most of his time at DH, adding O’Hearn to handle a corner outfield spot would be a logical fit.
O’Hearn isn’t expected to command a long-term deal, making him a realistic target for a rebuilding club. He is likely to get a short-term deal in the $14-$18 million range, though O’Hearn’s late-career breakout and positional versatility could push him slightly higher.
