White Sox sign D-backs free agent outfielder Jon Jay
Jan 10, 2019, 12:50 PM | Updated: 12:50 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Jon Jay, right, hits a triple to score Nick Ahmed as Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann reaches for the pitch during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The Chicago White Sox have signed former D-backs outfielder Jon Jay to a one-year, $4 million deal, the team announced Thursday.
The signing was initially reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Monday.
As Rosenthal pointed out, Jay joins a White Sox team that is believed to be in pursuit of free agent infielder Manny Machado, Jay’s good friend. Those two, plus Machado’s brother-in-law Yonder Alonso, form a trio that trains together in Miami in the offseason and was featured in a piece together in The Players Tribune.
Jay marks another member of the 2018 D-backs that won’t be with the club going forward. Left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin joined the Nationals this offseason as a free agent, Paul Goldschmidt was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, infielder Daniel Descalso signed with the Cubs, and outfielder A.J. Pollock remains a free agent. The team also did not tender contract offers to three arbitration-eligible players in Brad Boxberger, Shelby Miller and Chris Owings.
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In 2018, Jay joined the D-backs via trade from the Kansas City Royals after 59 games. In 84 games in Arizona, Jay hit .235 with a .629 OPS and 22 RBI, playing in all three outfield positions.
The D-backs now have Jarrod Dyson, Steven Souza Jr., Socrates Brito and David Peralta in place for 2019, though it remains to be seen whether the team will add to that position group before the conclusion of the offseason.
