BOOM! Here’s the White Sox announcement everyone was waiting for.
Well, not yet, but the White Sox do have a new veteran infielder, as the team has reportedly signed right-handed hitter Tim Beckham to a minor league deal. The 30-year-old last played for the Mariners in 2019, when his season ended in August after he was suspended 80 games for a PED violation.
Beckham can earn $1.35 million if he makes it on to the White Sox roster in 2021.
The Chicago #WhiteSox have signed veteran infielder Tim Beckham to a minor-league contact that will pay him $1.35 million if makes their big-league roster. He last played for the #Mariners in 2019.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 29, 2020
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After the 2019 season, the Mariners non-tendered Beckham, who became a free agent but wasn’t signed and didn’t play in 2020.
Beckham was the first overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft by the Rays, but he’s never lived up to the high expectations that come with being the first player taken. Beckham was traded to the Orioles in 2017, and signed with the Mariners heading into the 2019 season.
Overall in his career, Beckham has played in 472 games, slashing .249//302/.431, while playing all four infield positions and even a little bit of left field. Beckham has primarily started at shortstop.
So, you’d think that the White Sox will use Beckham as one of their backup infielders in 2021, and he does have some pop, hitting 22 home runs in 2017, and 27 home runs in 2018-19, in 673 combined at-bats.
