Former Lumen Christi and University of Michigan alum Ryan LaMarre was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox, after being designated for assignment by Minnesota last week.
LaMarre, 29, joins a White Sox outfield that is being pieced together as it is due to poor performance and injuries. The Sox become LaMarre’s second team this season and sixth of his career. He was drafted by Cincinnati in 2010, signed as a free agent with Boston in 2015, Los Angeles Angels in 2016, then traded to Oakland five months later. He signed as a free agent with Minnesota in November of last year.
Chicago’s outfield platoon, headlined by former Tiger Avisail Garcia has not performed well this year. Garcia has been hampered by injuries, as has prospect Eloy Jimenez. Former Dodgers standout prospect Trayce Thompson has faltered, and Adam Engel, Charlie Tilson, and Leury Garcia have also underperformed. Another former Twin, Daniel Palka has outfield experience but has spent most of his White Sox time at DH. Infielder Yolmer Sanchez has been working out in the outfield, just to give some picture to just how desperate the Sox are to find quality players internally to play the outfield. If Sanchez were to move, Matt Davidson would become the team’s regular third basemen, but he is also sidelined day-to-day with maladies of his own.
LaMarre this year is batting .263 with no home runs and 8 RBI in 43 games. His offensive stats are all far and away career highs, as LaMarre has never appeared in more than 21 games in a single season, and had only appeared in 29 total games prior to this year. LaMarre signed with Minnesota for $580,000, all of which is guaranteed in November. Chicago will be responsible for the remaining $261,912 on his deal, and will retain team control through next year.