In transaction news related to former Blue Jays, Jon Heyman is reporting that free agent shortstop Paul DeJong has signed a one-year Major League deal with the Chicago White Sox, pending a physical scheduled for early next week. The terms of the deal were not known at the time of writing this article.
DeJong started the 2023 season with the St. Louis Cardinals before being traded to the Blue Jays at the deadline, with prospect pitcher Matt Svanson heading the opposite way in the deal. A defensive-minded shortstop first and forthright, the righty batter was brought in with the concern that Bo Bichette could be out for the long term (as he had suffered a knee injury just prior), and adding a veteran infielder with plus defensive abilities was a low-risk move at the time.
Former Blue Jays shortstop Paul DeJong has reportedly signed a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox
The move ultimately did not work, as DeJong struggled to find any success at the plate with the Blue Jays, going 3 for 44 (.068) with 18 strikeouts and zero walks through 13 games. With Bichette ready to return in mid-August, the Jays front office designated DeJong for assignment and later released the veteran shortstop. He signed with the San Francisco Giants shortly after, spending one month in the Bay Area before he was released before the end of the season, amassing a .184/.180/.286 slash line with three extra-base hits and a .466 OPS.
Ironically, DeJong launched a home run in his first game with the Giants after being released by the Blue Jays, a deep fly-ball home run to left field that scored two as he went 3 for 5 on the day (and then went hitless for the rest of the August month).
For the White Sox, DeJong will have an immediate chance to compete for the starting shortstop job due to a lack of depth up the middle, and top prospect Colton Montgomery likely won’t be ready until at least halfway through the season for a big league call-up.
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