The Oakland A’s may not have been able to find a taker for Elvis Andrus, but that does not mean teams were uninterested in his services. They just did not want to take on his salary.
That was clear on Thursday once he cleared waivers. Andrus was quickly scooped up as Jeff Passan reported that he signed with the Chicago White Sox.
Elvis Andrus could be needed piece for Chicago White Sox
Andrus had been relatively productive during his time with the A’s this year. He had produced a solid .237/.301/.373 batting line in his 386 plate appearances, hitting eight homers and 24 doubles. Not only was that one of the better performances on the A’s this season, but Andrus’ 97 OPS+ was the third best of his career.
Despite his production, Andrus was beginning to lose playing time. The A’s are clearly rebuilding, and a soon to be 34 year old shortstop was not going to be part of their future. Nick Allen was getting more playing time at short much to Andrus’ annoyance. His release was not a surprise in any way.
However, he could be an asset for a White Sox team looking to reach the postseason. Tim Anderson is out for at least four to six weeks due to a torn ligament in his left hand. Lenyn Sosa has not done anything at all with the bat in his stead, necessitating that the White Sox make a move.
This signing also gives Andrus a chance to show that he can be a part of a playoff team at this stage of his career. He is entering free agency once the season is over, and a strong showing over the final few weeks could help Andrus get a better contract than one would have expected.
It has not taken long for Elvis Andrus to find a new home. According to reports, he is set to sign with the Chicago White Sox.