Last week the White Sox designated infielder Jake Amaya for assignment to make their one-year deal with Josh Rojas official. The move came as no surprise but did provide a snapshot of how the White Sox intend to operate this season.
Rojas signed a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. However, he can earn up to $1 million in performance bonuses. The former 26th-round pick can earn $500,000 based on the number of games played. He will earn $100,000 if he plays in 90 games and an additional $100,000 for every 10 games after that up to 130. Last season he appeared in a career-high 142 games.
He can also make $500,000 for his number of plate appearances. Rojas will earn $100,000 if he logs 300 plate appearances and an additional $50,000 for every 50 plate additional plate appearances up to 300. Rojas would have met this incentive last season as well after logging 476 at-bats.
However, the most interesting incentive is the $150,000 assignment bonus for each time he is traded, which indicates the White Sox plan to flip him at the deadline if he plays well during the first half of the season.
Last offseason, Chris Getz stated his goal was to improve the team’s defense. This offseason, the focus has been on improving a stagnant offense. Given his limited budget, the easiest way to do that is by improving the team's plate discipline. The White Sox's .278 team OBP was the worst in baseball.
Josh Rojas checks plenty of boxes for Getz. In six MLB seasons, the 30-year-old infielder owns a career 10 percent walk rate. Last season he also had one of the lowest chase rates in baseball at 22 percent. It fits a common theme of players gets have acquired this offseason such as Austin Slater and Mike Tauchman who also have a good understanding of the strike zone.
The White Sox attempted to pivot to a similar strategy at the end of last season. The White Sox claimed Amaya in August after he was released by the Astros. While Amaya had limited major league experience he showed the ability to get on base in the minor leagues, posting a 12.3% walk rate in 2021, drawing 81 free passes in 2022 and 70 in 2023. He was also considered a defensive-minded infielder. But Amaya was out of minor league options and after going 12 for 67 at the plate with the White Sox it was clear he did not have a long-term future with the organization.
Rojas presents a clear upgrade. Not only can he play six different positions, he is also an above-average defender. This past season he ranked in the top five of American League third baseman in fielding percentage, putouts, and assists. His nine outs above average also placed him in the MLB’s 94th percentile. While the bulk of his work has been in the hot corner he has 150 games at second base, and experience in left field, right field, and shortstop. He even has four appearances as a pitcher. Last season he played 131 games at third base, 11 at second, six in left field, and one at first base. It’s one of the reasons that multiple teams were interested in him after he was non-tendered by the Seattle Mariners.
Rojas's versatility allows new manager Will Venable more opportunities to put some of the younger players in better positions to succeed. One of the things that stunted Andrew Vaughn’s development as a big leaguer was having him learn an entirely new position during his rookie season.
He is also a good fit for the White Sox clubhouse. It’s not easy coming off a 121-loss season. But Rojas knows a thing or two about being on young up-and-coming teams. While he was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks he played in 139 games during their 110-loss 2021 season. Two years later the D-backs won the National League Pennant. That growing experience will be beneficial in a White Sox locker room filled with young players.
Rojas hit .225 with eight homers, 31 RBIs, and ten steals for the Mariners last season. But his career .247 batting average, 34 homers, and 189 RBIs over the last six seasons give the White Sox hope that those numbers can improve with an expanded role in a hitter-friendly ballpark and $1 million in motivation.
