The Chicago White Sox have finally addressed their right field situation. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the White Sox traded Craig Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for AJ Pollock. The club confirmed the trade shortly after the initial report.
After loading up on bullpen reinforcements this offseason, a Kimbrel trade seemed inevitable. However, it took the White Sox a while to find a trade partner for the veteran reliever. Now, just six days until Opening Day, Kimbrel will head to the Dodgers while the White Sox address a glaring roster need by acquiring Pollock.
AJ Pollock owns a .281/.338/.482 slash line with 126 home runs and 414 RBIs across 895 career games. Last season with the Dodgers, he slashed .297/.355/.536 with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs.
Pollock has primarily played center and left field throughout his career with only six games coming in right field. But due to the White Sox having Eloy Jimenez in left and Luis Robert in center, it’s reasonable to envision Pollock slotting into the 9-spot on the diamond.
The 34-year-old Pollock will earn $10 million this season and his contract includes a $10 million player option with a $5 million buyout for 2023. Los Angeles will pay all $16 million of Craig Kimbrel’s salary and Chicago will take on Pollock’s contract with no money exchanged.
RELATED: How the Chicago White Sox Can Maximize Luis Robert in 2022 and Beyond
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