White Sox agree to terms with Elvis Andrus; designate Bennett Sousa for assignment

February 20th, 2023

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $3-million contract with two-time All-Star infielder Elvis Andrus and have designated left-handed pitcher Bennett Sousa for assignment.

Andrus, 34, combined to hit .249/.303/.404 (133-535) with 32 doubles, 17 home runs, 58 RBI, 66 runs scored, 18 stolen bases and a career-best .982 fielding percentage in 149 combined games with Oakland (106 games) and the White Sox (43) in 2022. His 17 homers and 49 extra-base hits were the second-highest totals of his career, while his 149 games and 32 doubles were his most since 2017.

Andrus, 6-foot and 210 pounds, slashed .271/.309/.464 (49-181) with eight doubles, nine home runs, 28 RBI, 11 stolen bases (11 attempts) and a .994 fielding percentage (1 E/162 TC) with the Sox after being signed as a free agent on August 19. He batted .289/.329/.513 (44-152) with nine home runs, 24 RBI, 23 runs scored and 10 stolen bases over his final 36 games and led off in each of Chicago’s final 33 contests.

Andrus, a native of Maracay, Venezuela, is a career .270/.326/.371 (1,997-7,398) hitter with 360 doubles, 50 triples, 96 homers, 731 RBI, 1,019 runs scored and 335 stolen bases in 1,947 games with Texas (2009-20), the A’s (2020-22) and White Sox (2022). Among active players, he ranks second in steals, fifth in games played and hits, seventh in triples and 10th in runs scored and doubles.

Andrus, an American League All-Star with the Rangers in 2010 and 2012, has recorded 150-plus hits nine times in his career, 30-plus doubles six times, 75-plus runs seven times and 20-plus stolen bases 10 times. He also appeared in the postseason five times with Texas (2010-12, ’15-16), batting .266 (46-173) and helping the Rangers win back-to-back AL pennants in 2010-11.

Sousa, 27, went 3-0 with an 8.41 ERA (19 ER/20.1 IP), one save, six holds and 12 strikeouts over 25 appearances with the White Sox in 2022, his first major-league season.

The White Sox 40-man roster remains at 40.