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,¡± Jim¨¦nez 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 Jim¨¦nez¡¯s adjustment to the Majors.

¡°He was amazing with me, every single day,¡± Jim¨¦nez 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 Jim¨¦nez said he wants to continue playing an outfield corner, as opposed to shifting to designated hitter.

Jim¨¦nez 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.¡±

Jim¨¦nez 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 -- Jim¨¦nez 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,¡± Jim¨¦nez 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.¡±