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The White Sox have acquired outfielder Jarrod Dyson from the Pirates for international bonus pool space, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported on Friday morning.
The Chicago White Sox are acquiring center fielder Jarrod Dyson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, sources familiar with the trade tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 28, 2020
It is international bonus pool space from the 2019-2020 period, which was extended as the 2020-21 period was pushed into January.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) August 28, 2020
So, can be thought of as space the White Sox were not going to use anyway https://t.co/eB6LIJZUa6
Dyson hasn’t had much success at the plate this year — he’s hitting .157/.218/.157 over 55 plate appearances — but his strengths have always been speed and defense anyway, and considering the fact that there are expanded rosters and a universal DH, there’s definitely room for a player like that to make an impact on a contender, which the White Sox are and the Pirates most definitely aren’t.
The White Sox are 9-1 over their last 10 games and sit a half game behind the Twins for first place in the AL Central. With a young roster that’s getting better by the day, they look like a very real contender with expanded playoffs this season.
Dyson likely isn’t going to see many starts in Chicago, as two of the White Sox starting outfielders (Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert) are performing at an elite level, while Nomar Mazara has been solid in right. Adam Engel, who has a skill set similar to Dyson, has had somewhat of an offensive breakthrough this season and will likely continue receiving the starts that don’t go to one of the regular three starters. But Dyson can provide a boost as a pinch-runner and a late-game defensive replacement, and Chicago shouldn’t have much trouble finding a spot for him on the 28-man roster over the last month of the season.