When Chicago White Sox' shortstop Tim Anderson injured his hand in early August, it felt all but over for the team's chance at the 2022 playoffs. That was until the Oakland A’s decided to part ways with veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus.
White Sox' general manager Rick Hahn jumped all over the opportunity to replace Anderson for the stretch run in an attempt to keep the White Sox in the race with division rivals Cleveland and Minnesota.
While the White Sox were never able to regain the top spot in the AL Central, Elvis Andrus has been a catalyst for them. He has filled in nicely in the leadoff role.
He has also provided solid fundamental defense at one of the game's most important positions in the absence of an All-Star. He did this all while becoming a fan favorite for many of the South Side faithful.
During a radio appearance on 670 The Score prior to Saturday’s matchup with the Detroit Tigers, Andrus stated that he would like to be back with the White Sox in 2023.
Elvis Andrus' Future
The intriguing and potentially more impactful statement here is that Andrus is willing to change positions. This would seemingly indicate that Andrus envisions himself shifting over to second base upon the return of Tim Anderson.
He's hopeful of re-signing with the ball club that gave him a chance to be part of the stretch run, instead of spending the remainder of his summer looking for work.
There are no guarantees that Elvis Andrus is back in a White Sox uniform on Opening Day 2023. The White Sox currently have Romy Gonzalez and Leury Garcia on the roster for next season. Josh Harrison could also still be in the fold should the club pick up his $5.5 million option for the 2023 season.
Ultimately, it will come down to what the Chicago White Sox decide to do this offseason and will determine whether Andrus returns for 2023. Until then, at least we know what his intentions are.
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