Just a day before Spring Training game action begins, the White Sox have dipped back into the trade market. The minor trade market. Right handed hard-thrower Jeff Soptic departs for the San Francisco Giants organization and in return the White Sox receive 25 year-old Conor Gillaspie. Gillaspe possesses a reasonably solid minor league line of .287/.358/.420 if you’re willing to ignore that the majority of those at-bats came between the Pacific Coast and California Leagues.
The noble gentleman hoping to become the backup third baseman.
Gillaspie’s small amount of major league time has been decidedly less productive. He has managed just 9 hits in 48 plate appearances, though he does have a dinger in there so that must have felt good. He is out of minor league options so he is acquired with the legit intention of competing for a role on the team, joining the third base battle that is already driving intense fan optimism…more than the catcher position is, anyway. A bench role is probably his ceiling, though hopes shouldn’t be that high, according to McCovey Chronicles his fielding can be described as “Johnny Damon wearing boxing gloves“. Should he not make the team out of spring training he will have to clear waivers for the White Sox to hang onto him.
In a corresponding move Lars Anderson has been designated for assignment.