The Blue Jays have found an infielder Lenny Sosa from the White Sox, according to announcements from both clubs. In exchange, Chicago gets a minor league player Jordan Rich and a player to be called later or considered for money. The Jays extended their right hand Shane Bieber on the 60-day injured list to make room for the 40-man. Sosa is out of options and will need an active roster spot once he reports to the team.
Sosa, 26, is coming off the best season of his major league career. In 2025, he stepped up to the plate 544 times for the Sox and hit 22 home runs. Despite those long balls, his offense was only league average as Sosa didn’t focus much. His 3.3% walk rate last year was less than half the league average of 8.4%. Michael Harris II he was the only hitter in the majors with a lower walk rate.
He doesn’t offer much defensively, although he does a variety of things. He has played all four infield positions in his career but has not played shortstop since 2022. He spent most of his time in second grade, where his grades were not good. Outs Above Average ranks him four below average at that position in his career while Defensive Runs Saved is 17 below average. His corner grades were also below average.
He got off to a slow start this year, with less than every day. The Sox were able to make a surprise signing Munetaka Murakami this winter they also made him their first regular base. Sosa was used several times in the designated hitter position, in addition to one run at first base and one at second. He has a .212/.212/.303 line in 33 plate appearances.
Sosa enters 2026 with just over two years of service left, meaning he can be controlled until 2029. However, he may have been in a bit of a tight spot with the Sox. Murakami’s signing filled the original base and it was done Miguel Vargas daily third base. The Sox were using Chase Meidroth as usual at second base. Sosa has no choice and cannot be sent to children.
For the Jays, they were plagued by the injury bug earlier this year. On the position player’s side, Anthony Santander required shoulder surgery back in February and will be out for another few months. Since the season started, the Jays have lost a catcher Alejandro Kirk thumb fracture, designated hitter George Springer in a broken toe and a striker/outfielder Addison Barger until it hits the ankle.
In response to those injuries, the Jays have had to reach for their depth. Brandon Valenzuela you are called to help Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Eloy Jimenez added to Springer’s vacancy list. Tyler Fitzgeraldrecently bought from Zimnyama, he was sitting on the bench but was not included in the game.
Most of the time, the Jays have an infield of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the beginning, Ernie Clement secondly, Andrés Giménez at shortstop as well Kazuma Okamoto the third time. With Springer no longer in the DH spot every day, there may be more flexibility to move other guys. Okamoto got off to a slow start to his big league career, with a 35% strikeout rate in 60 plate appearances, double his strikeout rate in Japan. Maybe the Jays can put him in the DH spot a little bit so he can focus on finding his way down the field. Or if the Jays want to give Guerrero a breather, they can have the DH while Okamoto or Sosa covers first base.
Sosa can also step into the DH spot himself. Fitzgerald has options and maybe a corresponding move for Sosa in the coming days, even if the Jays push Jiménez into DH at-bats, then maybe he could be designated for assignment. Sosa’s right bat can be used to pinch off other lefties. He had a good split in 2025 but was generally wide. He has a .277/.301/.431 line and 102 wRC+ against lefties in his career and a .232/.261/.369 line and 73 wRC+ against righties.
There are flaws in Sosa’s profile but the Jays felt it necessary to strengthen the position players and there are not many ways to do that this time of year. Sosa has some pop and versatility, even if he’s not a top defender. If things go particularly well for him, he could be in control for three more seasons after this one. But since he’s out of options, he’s also likely to get squeezed in the coming weeks if the guys in IL are healthy.
For the Sox, as mentioned, Sosa was one of the best hitters last year but has been relegated to a part-time role this year. He’s only 26 years old, so they could hold onto him, hoping for improved plate behavior and/or better defense going forward. But that would be difficult to do with limited playing time and no skill to send to the minors, so they got him a future talent.
If they get any payment from Rich, it won’t be soon. He was drafted last year out of high school, in the 17th round, and is only 18 years old. He has not appeared in an official game since his appointment. He doesn’t appear on the list of top prospects in the Jays’ system, so he’s a long-term lottery ticket for the Sox. They may add talent later, depending on which player is called up later.
As for Bieber, he had arm fatigue earlier in the season and the Jays have been building him up a bit. The transaction means he is not eligible for reinstatement until the end of May. Recently he has been dumping the mound but has not started the repair work yet. Having missed all of spring training, he will need a full ramp-up, even though he is now on the mound. Whenever he starts the rehabilitation process, that can take 30 days.
Photo courtesy of Brad Mills, Magn Images
