Recent Trade Acquisition Dominic Fletcher Favored to Earn Starting Job With White Sox
The Chicago White Sox were in need of outfield help when they swung a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this month.
They were offered either Dominic Fletcher or Jake McCarthy to fill that void, and they ultimately chose the former over the latter. Less than two weeks later, Spring Training has gotten underway, and the front office appears to be satisfied with their decision.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz spoke with reporters on Tuesday, touching on the team’s current outfield situation. As was passed along by CHGO Sports’ Vinnie Duber and Sox Machine’s James Fegan, Getz said Fletcher has “a leg up” on the starting right field job.
The 26-year-old’s stiffest competition in right field is Gavin Sheets, a former top prospect who appeared in 124 and 118 games the last two seasons. His production has fallen off three years in a row, however, leading to the opening Fletcher is trying to fill.
Non-roster invitee Kevin Pillar is also competing for a backup job.
Fletcher appeared in 28 games for the Diamondbacks last year, batting .301 with two home runs, 14 RBI, a .791 OPS and a 0.7 WAR. He racked up 18 hits in his first 12 games of MLB action, at which point his OPS stood at 1.231.
A slump in the second half of May cost Fletcher his roster spot, however, and he only got another chance when eventual NL Rookie of the Year winner Corbin Carroll was briefly banged up. Fletcher was sent back down to Triple-A Reno for good in July, and a finger injury in August knocked him out for the remainder of the season.
In order to acquire Fletcher, the White Sox had to trade away 21-year-old right-handed pitcher Cristian Mena, who was ranked as the No. 10 prospect in their farm system.
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