White Sox reportedly agree to deal with Jay
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CHICAGO -- Since mid-December, the White Sox have added Manny Machado's brother-in-law and Machado's good friend to their 2019 lineup. Could Machado himself soon be next to join the South Siders?
Outfielder Jon Jay, the friend portion of the Machado equation, agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal pending a physical, according to numerous reports Monday night. The club has not confirmed the deal.
Jay joins first baseman/designated hitter Yonder Alonso, Machado's brother-in-law, who was acquired in a trade from the Cleveland Indians.
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Each of the three players wrote about training together in Miami during the offseason in a 2017 piece for the Players' Tribune.
"The three of us all come from the similar backgrounds. I've known Yonder since he was 10," Jay wrote at the time. "And we've both known Manny since he was a young kid coming up. We're from the same neighborhoods, the same culture, so it's just natural for us to stick together."
Both Jay and Alonso fit the rebuilding White Sox regardless of their connection to the premium-talent free agent. The left-handed-hitting Jay, who turns 34 in March, hit .268 with a .330 on-base percentage and 74 runs scored between stops with Kansas City and Arizona last season. He is a capable leadoff hitter who can handle an outfield spot as young prospects such as Eloy Jiménez, Luis Robert, Blake Rutherford, Luis Alexander Basabe and Micker Adolfo work their way to the Majors.
Alonso, 31, will share time at first base and DH with José Abreu after Alonso drove in 83 runs with a .738 OPS for the Indians last season. White Sox general manger Rick Hahn said the team had interest in the left-handed hitter since the 2008 Draft.
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While Jay is only with the White Sox for one year and Alonso potentially two years with a 2020 option, the additions could make things more comfortable for Machado to agree to a long-term deal with the White Sox. Machado is reported to have an offer in the seven-year range from the White Sox, with the Yankees and Phillies also interested.