White Sox sign former Blue Jays outfielder

Palacios, 29, has played in parts of four big league seasons between the Blue Jays, Nationals and Pirates. He saw semi-regular work in Pittsburgh during the 2023 season and showed a bit of pop but struggled to get on base.

He entered spring training out of minor league options and didn't make the cut on a Pirates club that had several outfield options ahead of him on the depth chart.

The Pirates designated Palacios for assignment and outrighted him to Triple-A, but he rejected the assignment in favor of free agency, which was his right as a player who'd been outrighted once previously in his career.

Over the past two seasons in Pittsburgh, Palacios slashed .236/.291/.398 with a dozen homers in 342 plate appearances.

His 19.9% strikeout rate is a few ticks below the league-average mark, and he was plagued by a .264 average on balls in play despite frequent hard contact, which could create some optimism for better performance.

However, Palacios is also an extreme ground-ball hitter (51% as a Pirate) with good-not-great speed and a pull-heavy approach - all of which leaves him a bit susceptible to a lower BABIP.

Still, with both Tauchman and Andrew Benintendi on the injured list - Benintendi suffered an adductor strain earlier this week - Palacios ought to get a chance for significant playing time. If he can make the most of it, he can be controlled for four years beyond the current season.

He's a career .302/.389/.482 hitter in 720 Triple-A plate appearances, so there's certainly a track record of performance in the upper minors upon which the White Sox can dream.