Rick Hahn has put his stamp on the Winter Meetings. Besides having many “productive conversations,” he will be taking a Rule 5 Draft pick back to Chicago. 

The White Sox selected San Francisco Giants pitcher Nick Avila with their Rule 5 Draft pick. Avila is 25 years old and has spent the last four seasons in the Giant’s minor league system. It looks like the White Sox may have gotten a good one. 

“It’s been a little bit since we’ve made a Rule 5 pick,” Rick Hahn told reporters on Wednesday. “It was made with the intention of Nick potentially being someone who could play a role in our bullpen in 2023. We like the long-term upside, but we would not have made the selection if we didn’t think he had made the selection if we didn’t think he had the chance to potentially contribute as most likely a multi-inning reliever for us next season.” 

The Giants initially selected Avila with the 776th pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. The former Cal State University product split time between the Giants High-A and Double-A affiliates. In 47 games, the right-hander tossed 55.1 innings, posting a 1.14 ERA with 58 strikeouts and a 0.98 WHIP. 

He posted a microscopic 0.95 ERA in 27 innings with the Eugene Emeralds before getting called up to Richmond to pitch for the Flying Squirrels. The Double-A competition didn’t phase Avila as he continued to dominate to the tune of a 1.33 ERA 2ith 27 strikeouts in 27 innings. 

Connection To Katz

Avila has a history with Ethan Katz, who was a former pitching assistant with the Giants. The connection made him especially attractive to the White Sox front office. Many pundits were surprised the Giants did not protect him, given his high upside. Avila will have a chance to compete for a spot in the bullpen during Spring Training. 

“He has a history with Ethan,” Hahn said. “Ethan thinks very highly of him. We liked the idea of bringing him in and letting him compete for a spot. In the end, not surprisingly, given where we’re at, we’ll obviously go with the best group that helps us win in Chicago.” 

The White Sox have yet to fill their 40-man roster, which allowed them to make a selection in this year’s Rule 5 Draft. Their current 40-man roster sits at 36 players. Clubs that make a pick are forced to pay the opposing club $100,000 in exchange for the player taken. It was the first time the White Sox have made a pick since they added right-handed pitcher Jordan Romano from the Toronto Blue Jays with the third pick overall pick in 2018. Romano was immediately traded to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations, then returned to the Blue Jays. He eventually became an All-Star closer. 

It shows that you can find diamonds in the rough in the Rule 5 draft. If Katz can work some of his magic on Avila, the talent is there for him to become a productive MLB pitcher. 

White Sox Rumored To Sign Outfielder

The White Sox were also in discussion with outfielder Victor Reyes. Reyes. Reyes has spent the last five major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers. He is a switch hitter that can play all three outfield positions. If the White Sox were to sign him, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reported that it would be a Minor League deal with a non-roster invite to Spring Training. 

He is a career .264 hitter with no power. Reyes has just 16 home runs and a lifetime .379 slugging percentage. Last season he slashed .254/.389/.362 with three home runs and 34 RBIs in 92 games. 

The 28-year-olds most productive MLB season came in 2019. In 69 games, he batted .304 with three home runs, 25 RBIs, and nine stolen bases, which resulted in a career-high 101 OPS+. He hasn’t had an OPS+ over 100 since then. 

If he makes the team, it would be as a poor man’s version of Adam Engel coming off the bench. However, he doesn’t process the speed Engel has or the defense. Reyes has a career .993 fielding percentage and -6 defensive runs saved above average. The one thing he does have going for him is that he is cheaper than Engel.