Josh Rojas, Mike Tauchman To Open Season On Injured List
Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman (hamstring) and infielder Josh Rojas (toe) are set to begin the season on the injured list. Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the news. Tauchman has struggled in camp, and it's unclear when he picked up the hamstring ailment. Due to the injury, fellow outfielder Austin Slater projects to get more time in right field. On the other hand, Rojas has been battling a hairline fracture in his right big toe and was the favorite for playing time at second base. It's unclear who will start in his stead, meaning any combination of Brooks Baldwin, Lenyn Sosa, or prospect Chase Meidroth could get time at the keystone position.
Josh Rojas Dealing With Hairline Fracture In His Big Toe
Chicago White Sox infielder Josh Rojas (toe) is dealing with a hairline fracture in his right big toe, according to manager Will Venable. MLB.com's Scott Merkin writes that it sounds like it's a pain-tolerance situation right now, and Rojas is dealing with some pain. The 30-year-old veteran suffered the injury in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Colorado Rockies. It sounds like he is going to try and play through the injury, so Rojas currently isn't being ruled out for Opening Day next Thursday. Before the injury, Rojas was the favorite to start at second base for the Pale Hose, but if he needs to start the year on the injured list, it could be some combination of prospect Chase Meidroth, Brooks Baldwin or Lenyn Sosa seeing playing time at second. Rojas' glove is better than his bat. He's a below-average hitter and runner, making him only useful for his versatility in AL-only leagues.
Chicago White Sox infielder Josh Rojas (toe) exited Saturday's spring training contest early due to toe soreness. The team will likely provide an update on his status after he goes through further testing. Rojas is expected to be their everyday second baseman at the start of the regular season. Earlier in the offseason, the White Sox signed Rojas to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million. Last season, the 30-year-old appeared in 143 contests for the Seattle Mariners. Across this stint, Rojas posted a .225/.304/.336 slash line with 19 doubles and eight long balls. He swiped 10 bags and drew walks at a 9.7 percent rate. While he generated a low .293 xwOBA, he placed in the 94th percentile. With an everyday spot in the White Sox's lineup, Rojas will carry value in deeper AL-only formats.
According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, Chicago White Sox infielder Josh Rojas is projected to the be their Opening Day second baseman. Even though Rojas has spent most of his MLB career at the hot corner, he does have experience at the keystone. The White Sox signed Rojas to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million during the offseason after being non-tendered by Seattle. Last season, the 30-year-old posted a .225/.304/.336 slash line with eight home runs and 10 stolen bases. He generated a modest .223 xBA but generated a strong 22.0 percent chase rate. If Rojas were to struggle at second base, Lenyn Sosa would likely replace him. Even though he carries little offensive upside, Rojas is a solid bench option in deeper AL-only formats, as he should have a role in the everyday lineup.
According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, infielder Josh Rojas has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox. Before being non-tendered earlier this offseason by the Mariners, Rojas hit .225 with a .286 wOBA and 91 wRC+. He hit eight home runs and finished with 31 RBI and 48 runs scored while adding 10 stolen bases. He has double-digit stolen bases in each of the last three seasons and could be a regular contributor this season for Chicago, who has plenty of question marks in the infield. The 30-year-old lefty has been very versatile, playing mostly 2B and 3B with a little SS mixed in as well. He also played a little in a corner outfield spot, setting him up as a potential utility option for Chicago this season. The fact that he's a lefty should keep him on the strong side of platoons, and he actually had a 104 wRC+ against righties last season. In 2023, Rojas was a key piece of the trade that sent closer Paul Sewald to Arizona back, but he struggled during his time in Seattle. This one-year, "prove it" deal will give him a chance to hit the market as a free agent again next year or possibly be moved to a contender at the Trade Deadline if he has a good start to the year. If he earns an everyday role out of Spring Training, he has enough upside to be an end-of-draft option in AL-only leagues.
The Chicago Cubs are among the teams showing serious interest in free-agent infielder Josh Rojas, according to a source. Rojas had a 2.2 bWAR in 142 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2024 and started 106 games at third base. He has mostly started at second and third base in his professional career but also has the ability to play shortstop and both corner outfield spots, which would give the Cubbies plenty of defensive versatility. The 30-year-old hit the open market this offseason when the Mariners non-tendered him in November. Rojas slashed only .225/.304/.336 with eight home runs, 31 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 474 plate appearances for the M's and is more known for his defensive prowess and versatility than he is for his bat. His lack of speed and power will likely limit him to a platoon role, at best, if he were to land in Chicago for the 2025 season.
Seattle Mariners outfielder/first baseman/designated hitter Luke Raley and infielder Josh Rojas are both starting the game on the bench for Wednesday's series finale at Minute Maid Park against the division-rival Houston Astros with a left-hander on the mound. Justin Turner is making the start at first base and is batting fifth, while Dylan Moore will man the hot corner and bat out of the nine-hole against Astros left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. Turner has an RBI and is hitting .273 in 11 career at-bats against Kikuchi, while Moore has gone hitless against the southpaw in five career at-bats. Raley has reached the 20-homer mark for the first time in his career in 2024, but he's also hitting just .192 (14-for-73) with just two of his 21 long balls against lefties. Rojas has been even worse against lefties, going 8-for-58 (.138) with none of his eight home runs on the year.
Seattle Mariners second baseman Josh Rojas went 2-for-5 with a stolen base in Friday's 8-1 win over the Athletics. It was the 29-year-old's fifth multi-hit game in his last seven, going 13-for-30 (.433) during that stretch, including a double, a triple, and two stolen bases. The left-handed hitter is now slashing .351/.417/.526 on the season with a .413 wOBA and 175 wRC+. He may not hit for power but with the way he's hitting, walking (10.0%), and picking up a few stolen bases along the way, there should be plenty of run-scoring opportunities hitting leadoff. That is of course dependent on the rest of the Mariners lineup picking up the pace at the plate, as they lead the entire league in strikeouts as a team and they have the seventh-worst team batting average. Rojas could be a decent waiver add as he's eligible at both 2B and 3B for owners holding onto the likes of Gleyber Torres and Ke'Bryan Hayes.
Josh Rojas, Dylan Moore Expected To Platoon At Third Base
Seattle Mariners infielders Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore, who had been projected to split time at second base in 2024, will now likely shift their platoon to third base following a trade that sent Jorge Polanco to Seattle. More than two-thirds of Polanco's appearances last season came at second base, so he'll get first dibs on the keystone with the Mariners. That moves Rojas and Moore to the hot corner and presumably demotes Luis Urias, who was originally penciled into third base after being traded by the Red Sox. All in all, the Mariners would be wise to find playing time for Rojas and Moore, both of whom are above-average defenders.
Seattle Mariners infielder Josh Rojas is on the bench for Tuesday's game against left-hander Ken Waldichuk and the Oakland Athletics. He sat on Monday as well, which was also against a lefty, so it's clear the 29-year-old is in a platoon role. Since coming to Seattle, Rojas has been on fire, slashing .290/.333/.468 with three homers and four steals in 18 games. Jose Caballero will play instead and bat ninth. The rookie hasn't looked too good, struggling to a .234 batting average with just three bombs, 33 runs, and 24 RBI across 88 games, but he has swiped 25 bags. Fantasy managers should only stream Cabellero for stolen bases if it's a dire need.
Josh Rojas
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White Sox
