White Sox decline to tender contracts to three players

CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have declined to tender 2023 contracts to outfielders Adam Engel and Mark Payton and infielder Danny Mendick.

“We appreciate all that Adam and Danny did for our organization in 2022 and during prior seasons. As we have said at other times, a lot of consideration and analysis goes into the club deciding to forego the arbitration process and instead engage with players and their representatives as free agents,” said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. “Our plan is to stay in contact with all three players and evaluate their ongoing fit with our club as we move forward through this offseason.”

Engel, 30, batted .224/.269/.310 (55-245) with two home runs, 17 RBI, 32 runs scored and 12 stolen bases last season, his sixth with the White Sox.

Mendick, 29, hit .289/.343/.443 (28-97) with three homers, 15 RBI and 22 runs scored over 31 games in 2022 before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee on June 22 vs. Toronto.

Payton, 30, went 3-21 (.143) with one RBI in eight games over two stints with the Sox last September.

All remaining unsigned players on the White Sox 40-man roster have been tendered contracts for the 2023 season.

Following the moves, the White Sox 40-man roster decreases to 35.