The White Sox front office evidently braved the snow and reported to the office yesterday. We’ve got official roster movement!
He’s no
Scott Linebrink, but he kind of is. (Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports)
News of the Scott Downs signing has been with us for a while now, but today it became official. The lefty will get $3.75M in 2014 and the team holds an option to retain him for $4.25M in 2015. The decision to acquire the aging Downs is an odd one, but Rick Hahn doesn’t seem to want to have to worry about the bullpen in this coming season, after 2 consecutive years of inexperienced throwers populating the staff. Downs’ soon-to-be 38 years should hold that average age up nicely.
Unfortunately for Santos Rodriguez the Downs announcement put a damper on his potential birthday celebration. The lanky lefty was designated for assignment to make room for Downs on the roster on what happened to be his 26th birthday. Rodriguez split 2013 between Birmingham and Charlotte posting a 4.91 ERA striking out more than 27% of the batters he faced. Santos reached the White Sox along with such favorites as Brent Lillibridge and Tyler Flowers in the Javier Vazquez trade prior to the 2009 season.
Joey DeMichele is among the handful of White Sox prospects that chose to play overseas this winter, getting his work in down under for the Sydney Blue Sox of the ABL. His winter is being cut short due to lower back issues so that he can rehab and get himself ready for Spring Training. DeMichele’s final line for the ABL season is .214/.246/.411, with the latter part being propped up by a 2-game stretch in which he hit 4 HR. He struck out 30 times in 120 plate appearances but his 5 total HRs lead the Blue Sox. He’ll be 23 this season and will look to get some playing time with Birmingham after logging a full season at Winston-Salem in 2013. Should he maintain his positional viability he could be in line to carry the title of Gordon Beckham replacement if, you know, that whole situation stays a situation.