The White Sox have signed infielder Bobby Dalbec to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Dalbec’s deal includes a $1.25 million salary if he makes the majors, along with $500,000 in potential incentives. The CAA Sports client also has opt-out opportunities in June and July if he is not on the MLB roster.
Dalbec, who will turn 30 in June, is joining a new organization for the first time in his career. Drafted by the Red Sox in 2016, he spent parts of the past five seasons at the major league level with Boston. Known for his raw power but high strikeout rate, Dalbec has hit 47 home runs in 1,044 major league plate appearances but has struck out 36.8% of the time.
Unfortunately, his strikeout issues have worsened over the years. In 2021, he hit 25 home runs with a 34.4% strikeout rate, but the Red Sox had hoped that would improve with more experience. Instead, he struck out in 48.6% of his 146 plate appearances over the past two seasons. Dalbec was removed from Boston’s roster in September and opted for free agency after the season.
The White Sox provide Dalbec with a strong opportunity to return to the majors, as their roster currently lacks depth. While he has primarily played first base, Dalbec has also spent time at third base and had brief stints at second base, shortstop, and right field.
Chicago is coming off its worst season in modern history and has limited clarity in its position player group. Andrew Vaughn remains the primary first baseman, but his performance has declined in recent seasons, making him a likely trade candidate before he reaches free agency in 2026.
The White Sox have also added veterans like Josh Rojas, Mike Tauchman, and Austin Slater to fill various roster holes, though they could be moved or released during the 2025 season. Younger players such as Miguel Vargas, Bryan Ramos, and Colson Montgomery are expected to receive significant playing time, but none are fully established in the majors yet.
Despite his major league struggles, Dalbec has continued to excel in the minors. Over the past three seasons, he has logged 956 Triple-A plate appearances, hitting 58 home runs with a .260/.358/.523 slash line and a 121 wRC+. While his 34.6% strikeout rate in Triple-A remains high, his 11.8% walk rate has helped offset it. If he can translate some of that production to the majors, the White Sox could retain him cheaply through arbitration, as he has less than three years of service time. However, Dalbec is now out of minor league options, which could complicate his ability to stay on the roster.
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