White Sox Select Bizarre Time to Designate Veteran 1B Yonder Alonso for Assignment
By Max Scoli
In a not-so shocking move, the Chicago White Sox have decided to designate 1B Yonder Alonso for assignment.
The timing of the roster move is very weird, however, considering the news broke just hours after the White Sox publicly promoted Alonso’s charity bowling event.
According to a source, the White Sox have designated 1B Yonder Alonso for assignment. This coming only two hours after the team sent out a release touting Alonso's charity bowling event benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago and the Chicago White Sox Charities.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) June 27, 2019
Although Alonso was an MLB All-Star in 2017, his production has dropped significantly. The first baseman had a .178 batting average this season to go along with a .275 OBP in 67 games before being DFA'ed. His numbers were even worse as of late, as he sported a .176 BA and .222 OBP in his last seven games.
One of the only reasons that Chicago signed the Cuban veteran in the first place is because of his relationship with Manny Machado (his brother-in-law), hoping to lure the star slugger to the White Sox in free agency.
It’s painfully obvious the only reason that the White Sox chose to acquire Yonder Alonso and his contract was to try to lure Manny Machado to Chicago.
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) June 27, 2019
There was no need for him on roster before—and there certainly isn’t now.
However, Machado chose to join the San Diego Padres, making Alonso expendable. And now that's become a reality.