Jiménez hopes mentor sticks with Sox

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox should know soon whether José Abreu will return in 2020 -- by accepting the team’s $17.8 million qualifying offer before Thursday’s deadline or perhaps negotiating a long-term contract with the team.

On Monday, this much was clear: One of the American League’s most promising young hitters wants Abreu to return to the South Side for a seventh season -- and more.

Shortly before he finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez spoke optimistically about Abreu’s possible return -- and raved about the veteran leader’s on- and off-field contributions.

“I think he’s going to come back,” Jiménez told MLB.com during his appearance at the MLB General Managers Meetings International Showcase. “He’s a really good player and a really good teammate. I think [the White Sox] need to bring him back. . . . You can see how good he is. Every time he stands up at home plate, you expect he’s going to do something.

“I think they need to bring him back.”

Abreu, who turns 33 in January, is coming off his third All-Star selection. He tied a career high by playing in 159 games and led the AL with 123 RBIs while hitting 33 home runs.

Yet some of Abreu’s greatest contributions come in the clubhouse, where he eased Jiménez’s adjustment to the Majors.

“He was amazing with me, every single day,” Jiménez said. “He helped me a lot. In the first year in the big leagues, sometimes you get too excited, and he helped me with that. He said, ‘You don’t need to show people who you are. People already know. Just go out, play hard and enjoy your game.’ That was his advice.”

As the White Sox consider options to upgrade their roster, the 22-year-old Jiménez said he wants to continue playing an outfield corner, as opposed to shifting to designated hitter.

Jiménez was the team’s Opening Day left fielder and started 114 games there during the regular season.

“I don’t feel comfortable playing DH,” he said. “I like playing the outfield. I don’t care if it’s right field or left field, but I feel comfortable in the outfield. I don’t like being the DH. For me, it’s boring.”

Jiménez smiled and added: “Maybe one time in my career -- when I’m 35 or 37 -- I can DH. But not now.”

In between conversations with Dominican and Venezuelan prospects at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick -- several miles from where White Sox officials conducted business at the GM Meetings -- Jiménez forecasted a busy offseason for general manager Rick Hahn and his staff.

The White Sox finished third in the AL Central this season with a 72-89 record, after pursuing high-priced free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado last offseason.

“I think they’re going to be active because they know we’re really close to being what we want to be,” Jiménez said. “I think they’re going to be aggressive this year -- and I hope they’re going to be aggressive.

“We are really close. That’s for sure.”