Andrus, White Sox agree to 1-year deal

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Elvis has re-entered the building.

The White Sox signed veteran infielder Elvis Andrus to a one-year, $3 million deal, the club announced on Monday. To make room on the roster for Andrus, left-handed pitcher Bennett Sousa was designated for assignment.

Andrus, 34, came to the White Sox as a free agent on Aug. 19 of last season after being released by the A’s. In 191 plate appearances covering 43 games, Andrus slashed .271/.309/.464 with nine home runs, 28 RBIs and 11 stolen bases playing shortstop in place of an injured Tim Anderson. That strong production was just one of the reasons the White Sox wanted to bring him back shortly after he started playing for them.

“What I think many people who weren’t close to the team may well have missed was the impact he had in our clubhouse,” general manager Rick Hahn said of Andrus. “He is a tremendous role model for our young players. His work ethic, his professionalism, the way he plays the game, are all great benefits to that club.”

“It's just being myself, man. I've been through so many different situations,” Andrus said. “I've been the young guy, I've been the middle guy, and then becoming a veteran, being with a lot of young guys on my previous teams. All those years helped me understand that you don't need to do too much. You don't need to overdo stuff or try to be perfect. One of the things I do when I'm really good is just relax and have fun.”

While Andrus provides shortstop insurance behind Anderson, Hahn confirmed the veteran’s move to the new starter at second base. Andrus, who has 1,914 games played at shortstop over his 14-year-career, has never played an inning in the Major Leagues at second.

But with the game’s shift adjustment in 2023, second basemen will need more range defensively. Andrus already feels as if he has second base experience, pointing to last year where he executed eight or nine double plays from second because of the more pronounced past shifts.

“That really helps me understand more angles,” Andrus said. “It's more [about] double plays, that's the play I'm kind of working on and will continue to work on so I can make it a routine for me. That's the only thing, because it's not in-front-of-me throws. I pretty much have to turn myself. But I don't think it's going to be that hard.”

“He’s comfortable. He’s a baseball player, he’s got instincts,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “I don’t see a problem at all.”

Andrus doesn’t knock Romy Gonzalez from the roster picture, with the 26-year-old being the previous clubhouse leader to start at second. It changes his job description.

“Someone described it as a Ben Zobrist-type role. He’s going to be all over,” Hahn said of Gonzalez. “He’s very solid at three infield positions and we are going to get him more experience on the outfield corners as a professional, and see where that leads us.”

Gonzalez hit .238 over 109 plate appearances with the White Sox last season, along with two homers, four doubles, one triple and 11 RBIs. Gonzalez also hit this past offseason in Miami with Oscar Colas, the club's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and Mike Tosar, the White Sox Major League field coordinator. Catcher Yasmani Grandal visited Tosar during the offseason and he was impressed by Gonzalez’s work.

“He looks great,” Grandal said. “He’s got a pretty good idea of what he needs to do. Obviously, I’m a big fan of him. I think he can help us out a lot. He has a big bat. Can definitely play different spots on the field. I’m going to try to help him out as much as possible. He’s in a really good place right now.”

In 42 games with the White Sox, Gonzalez has played every position but center field, first base and catcher, although he was the team’s emergency catcher at the end of last season. Leury Garcia is the team’s current utility player, with two years and $11 million remaining on his three-year deal, but competition appears open.

“For the most part everybody’s competing here other than obviously our main guys,” Grifol said. “This is Spring Training. I get it, but there is some competition.”