White Sox sign veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to $1.25 million deal; place Austin Hays back on IL

TL;DR

The Chicago White Sox signed veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal and placed Austin Hays on the 10-day injured list due to a calf strain. Grichuk aims to bolster the team's performance against left-handed pitchers.

Key points

White Sox signed Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal
Austin Hays placed on the 10-day injured list due to calf strain
Grichuk has a career .268 average against left-handed pitchers
Hays missed most of April with a right hamstring strain
Grichuk aims to help the White Sox improve their performance

Chicago White SoxRandal GrichukAustin HaysNew York Yankees

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox signed veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal on Monday and placed outfielder Austin Hays back on the 10-day injured list because of a left calf strain. Grichuk, who elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees last week, should give the White Sox a solid right-handed bat against left-handed pitchers. The 34-year-old is a career .268 hitter with an .816 OPS, 79 homers and 220 RBIs in 1,569 at-bats against left-handers over 13 big-league seasons, including a .317 average and .940 OPS against them from 2022-2024. “It kind of came together last second,” Grichuk said before Monday night’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. “We were talking to a few other teams and were about to get something done when they came into the mix. It’s a young, exciting team that is playing good baseball, so we felt like it was a good spot.” The White Sox lost at least 100 games in each of the past three years — including a major league-record 121 losses in 2024 — but they entered Monday with a 16-18 record, thanks in part to the potent bat of new first baseman Munetaka Murakami’s 13 homers and 26 RBIs. “Any time you get a chance to throw on the jersey and compete and keep playing, it’s an honor,” said Grichuk, a 2009 first-round pick of the Angels who is playing for his sixth team in four years. “They’ve had some tough years here, but they’re on the up-and-up. They’ve got a lot of good guys, and I’m excited to grind with them.” Hays missed most of April because of a right hamstring strain. He and played three games before suffering a calf injury that is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks. “With Hays going down, we needed a right-handed outfielder,” Chicago manager said. “(Grichuk) fit the roster, he was available, and we feel really lucky that we got him. He’s a guy with a ton of experience who has performed really well in his league.” \\_ AP MLB:

Q&A

What are Randal Grichuk's career stats against left-handed pitchers?

Randal Grichuk has a career .268 batting average with an .816 OPS, 79 homers, and 220 RBIs in 1,569 at-bats against left-handed pitchers.

Why was Austin Hays placed on the injured list?

Austin Hays was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left calf strain, which is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks.

How does Randal Grichuk's signing impact the White Sox's roster?

Randal Grichuk's signing provides the White Sox with a right-handed outfielder to replace the injured Austin Hays and adds experience to a team looking to improve after several tough seasons.