Reds could find the perfect platoon bat hiding on the White Sox playoff roster

The Chicago White Sox are looking to punch their ticket to the American League Championship Series, and outfielder Randal Grichuk has been no small part of the team's success in 2026.

The White Sox signed Grichuk to a minor-league contract midway through the season after he was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees on April 29. He managed to hit just .194 with a .535 OPS in 16 games with the Bronx Bombers, and elected free agency after clearing waivers on May 1.

He's since played in 101 game for Chicago while posting a .299/.328/.598 slash line. He has 15 home runs and 44 RBI with the White Sox on the season, and has absolutely crushed left-handed pitching throughout his career. This season has been no different, as Grichuk is torturing southpaws to the tune of .327/.371/.655.

Grichuk will be a free agent after the season, and if the Cincinnati Reds have any sense, they'll put a priority on acquiring a right-handed hitting outfielder like Grichuk. If it feels like we've had this conversation every offseason for the last three years, it's because we have.

Reds need to sign a platoon bat like White Sox outfielder Randal Grichuk

Grichuk signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024 and posted an .875 OPS. The Reds added right-handed bats like Bubba Thompson, Stuart Fairchild, and Santiago Espinal during that same offseason.

Grichuk's success led him to signing a one-year, $5 million deal to stay in Arizona that winter. Cincinnati went with Austin Hays, Connor Joe, and Espinal (again). Admittedly, Grichuk struggled during his second year with the D-backs and was traded to the Kansas City Royals at the deadline.

And, as mentioned previously, the veteran outfielder joined the Yankees on a minor-league deal last February before finding his way to the South Side of Chicago.

The point is, the Reds almost always need a right-handed hitting outfielder to platoon with the plethora of left-handed bats to set up shop on the outfield grass. Of the six outfielders on the Reds' 40-man roster, three are left-handed bats (JJ Bleday, Carlos Jorge, and Héctor Rodríguez), and the presumed starters heading into next season.

One of the Reds' right-handed options — Blake Dunn — could miss the entire 2027 season after undergoing elbow surgery this past year. Noelvi Marte, another right-handed bat, could be non-tendered next month, and at best, will start the season in the minor leagues. That leaves Dane Myers as the lone right-handed option in the Reds' outfield.

Reds' president of baseball operations Nick Krall recently spoke about the need to find "complimentary players", and Grichuk certainly fits that mold. Though he's had success this season, at 35 years old, Grichuk won't command a huge contract on the open market.

Giving manager Terry Francona players he can mix and match based on certain situations needs to be one of Krall's biggest priorities this winter. If there's always a need to find someone with Grichuk's makeup, why not just sign the real deal this offseason?

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