LAS VEGAS — In addition to reportedly being in on Bryce Harper, the White Sox are reportedly in on Michael Brantley, a less-heralded though still quite good free-agent outfielder.
And their chances of signing him might have just gotten better.
According to Fancred's Jon Heyman, the White Sox were one of the three teams trying to sign Brantley, the longtime Cleveland Indian who South Side fans are very familiar with. One of the others, the Philadelphia Phillies, just signed free-agent outfielder Andrew McCutchen, and while that move might not end up creating a seismic shift in the Harper sweepstakes, it might knock them out of the running for Brantley.
This isn't the first time the White Sox have been mentioned as angling for the 31-year-old, with them reportedly even making him a contract offer.
Brantley isn't quite as obvious a long-term fit as Harper, a full five years older. He doesn't bring the no-brainer alignment with the organization's wave of highly touted prospects.
But it's not like he's ancient, either, and he's coming off another fine season in which he slashed .309/.364/.468 and made his third All-Star team. His veteran experience could be a valuable addition to a young team trying to grow into a perennial contender, and he fills an obvious need in the outfield after the White Sox non-tendered starting right fielder Avisail Garcia. Of course, Brantley hasn't played anywhere but left field since 2015, the position that seems to be the destination for top-ranked prospect Eloy Jimenez.
MLB
So would Brantley be a bridge to the outfield of the future or a part of it? The kind of contract he would get would likely best describe his fit.
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