It is no secret that the White Sox outfield lacks talent outside of Luis Robert Jr. right now. Given that the team is in the midst of a rebuild, it is wise to look for improvements wherever they can find them. One such option could be former Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
Canario's Minor League Success
Canario, 24, has spent the last several seasons in the Cubs organization after being acquired from the Giants in the 2021 trade that sent Kris Bryant to San Francisco. The right-handed power hitter has always performed in the minors, mashing 37 home runs across three minor league levels in 2022 and 18 home runs in only 64 AAA games last season. In a small MLB sample of 28 plate appearances with the Cubs big league team in 2024, he hit an impressive .280 with a .797 OPS.
Cubs Outfield Logjam
Canario is at the point of his career where he should get consistent MLB at-bats. With mainstay Ian Happ in left field, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, and prized trade acquisition Kyle Tucker in right, however, there was seemingly no path for Canario to get consistent at-bats with the Cubs in 2025. To the surprise of some, the team ultimately designated him for assignment in February.
His Strong Spring
There was an argument that the White Sox should have acquired him then, but the Cubs ultimately traded him to the New York Mets for cash considerations. Canario had a strong spring with the Mets, hitting .306 with three home runs, two doubles, and a 1.030 OPS in 43 plate appearances. He was once again part of a numbers crunch following the spring. Despite his strong audition, the Mets didn't have a spot for him on their big league roster, so they designated him for assignment again the other day. He is now in DFA limbo for the second time in roughly a month.
Noticeable Flaws
Canario is not without his warts, however. There is a reason two teams have designated him for assignment. Strikeouts have always been his kryptonite. While Canario does have immense power, he strikes out a ton. He struck out over 30% of the time at the AAA level last season and almost 40% of the time in a small MLB sample. His swing-and-miss issues are significant, and his future defensive home will likely be limited to a corner outfield position at the MLB level. Both the Cubs and Mets plan to contend this season, so it doesn't make much sense to give significant playing time to an inexperienced player with noticeable holes in his game.
Logical White Sox Acquisition
Despite his flaws, Canario makes sense as an acquisition for the White Sox. Unlike the Cubs and Mets, the White Sox could use all the talent they can get right now. At just 24 years old, Canario is significantly younger and has more future upside than offseason outfield acquisitions Mike Tauchman, Austin Slater, Michael A. Taylor, and Travis Jankowski, all of whom are short-term bandaids at the back end of their careers. Canario also offers significantly more power potential than any of them, which the White Sox desperately need more of.
White Sox Need Outfield Talent
The White Sox recent roster moves also indicate they are unhappy with their younger, near MLB-ready outfield depth. Oscar Colás and Dominic Fletcher have both been designated for assignment within the last week, which indicates that the organization does not envision them as part of the long-term plans anymore. The White Sox have some intriguing outfield talent at the lower levels but lack interesting outfielders close to the majors. Canario is a logical fit who would immediately slot into the big league lineup.
Final Word
If the rumors are true, the White Sox could claim Canario off waivers or work out a small trade to ensure they land him before another team does. The South Siders are in the position to give him a longer-term audition to show what he can do. Canario will not reach free agency until after the 2030 season, so he represents a cheap and potentially long-term solution for the White Sox. It could be worth rolling the dice on him. A small risk now could pay off handsomely in the future.
