Chicago White Sox: 5 players out of MiLB options

Conor Gillaspie – 3B

Aug 24, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie (12) rounds the bases on his home run during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

I believe it is a safe bet to say that Gillaspie will be the starting third baseman for the White Sox when camp breaks for the regular season. Gillaspie is the winner of the battle for third base for the fact he really has very little competition at the position this spring.

Speaking of this spring, Gillaspie has played in nine games, compiling a .231 batting average with a .259 on-base percentage and .269 slugging percentage. His OPS is .529.

His numbers are worse than what he ended up with last spring with the White Sox, where in 18 games in ’14 he entered the ’14 season with a slash line of .264/.286/.528.

Gillaspie has just 17 days until Opening Day, so he might want to start getting everything on track, because if he doesn’t, the White Sox might find someone on the roster who will put up numbers at third base.

As for his regular season last year, Gillaspie batted .282, with seven home runs, 31 doubles and five triples. Gillaspie also totaled 57 RBIs last season.

I can’t say I’m against Gillaspie, but I would like to see him improve on his stats before the start of the season. With Gillaspie, he won’t have to lead the White Sox offensively or defensively, but it would be nice to see an improvement on his overall statistics as the White Sox continue this spring.

Gillaspie has the ability to be a quality major leaguer. He most likely won’t hit a lot of home runs, but that’s fine, because I think it will be more important to hit runners over or even bat them in for runs, rather than him rely on power to score runners.

Remember, in 2005, Joe Crede, the then-third baseman for the White Sox, had just 22 home runs in 132 games played. He did hit .303 that season and totaled 62 RBIs (21 doubles) in that World Series championship season of the White Sox.

If Gillaspie just improves his average by 10 or more points from last season, he can contribute the same way Crede did (stat wise) that championship season a decade ago.

Next: Will Hector Noesi stay in the rotation?

Hector Noesi – RHP (starter)

Feb 28, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Hector Noesi poses for a portrait during photo day at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Hector Noesi pitched 4.1 innings against the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon, where in the no-decision he allowed two earned runs on two hits and one walk. One of those two hits was the first home run he allowed this spring.

Speaking of his complete spring thus far, Noesi has a 2.89 ERA in 9.1 innings of work. Noesi also this spring has walked just two, and even with a bit of a rough outing (compared to his previous two starts) is all but set to pitch in the starting rotation to begin the ’15 season.

Noesi’s win-loss record of 8-12 kind of doesn’t do him complete justice for his play in ’14. Sure, he could have pitched better, but in 172.1 innings he did keep the opposition to a .271 average, and he did have 123 strikeouts in those innings pitched.

He made 27 starts in ’14, and being the fourth or fifth starter in this rotation in ’15, I think he’ll be able to have a better win-loss record with the improvement the White Sox made with their bullpen, added to the experience the RHP gained with the White Sox last season. Last season marked what was just his fourth MLB season and the first season he made over 20 starts a year.

I’m not saying Noesi is going to become a lights-out starter for the White Sox, but if he can just pitch with some consistency with an ERA a little closer to 4.00 rather than 5.00, he can help make a positive impact on the roster. If not, I’m sure there will be a certain No. 1 overall prospect waiting for his turn in the majors sometime this season.

Next: A reliever making his case for Opening Day

Maikel Cleto – RHP (reliever)

Mar 28, 2014; Birmingham, Al, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Maikel Cleto (39) pitches to the Birmingham Barons at Regions Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Thus far this spring, Maikel Cleto has pitched 5.1 innings in four games, and in that time frame, the right-handed hurler has built an ERA of 3.38 where he’s allowed two earned runs off six hits and two walks.

Cleto had walked two, but also with his hard pitching has struck out eight batters. With that type of strikeout ability, maybe Cleto is one of the White Sox pitchers who could take possession of the set-up reliever role ahead closer David Robertson.

The RHP is in an aforementioned battle for a roster spot in the bullpen with Guerra, and I like how they are in direct competition with each other, because the White Sox really need the players in that bullpen to compete with one another after what I describe as the disaster of the ’14 bullpen where they blew 20-plus saves last season.

With all the positives I see from Cleto, his regular-season stats with the White Sox last season leave me wanting more. In ’14, in 29.1 innings, Cleto had a 4.60 ERA, with the opposing team having a .214 batting average against him.

The average part doesn’t really bother me, but the 15 earned runs allowed in the 29.1 innings (28 appearances) is basically allowing one run in every other outing, and that for a reliever isn’t something that can continue to happen with a team that wants to “win now.”

I’m rooting for Cleto to just become more consistent, because if he does, the White Sox could have a diamond in the rough in their bullpen who could be a very good eighth- and ninth-inning teammate of Robertson for the 2015 season.

Next: A new left-handed reliever

Dan Jennings – LHP (reliever)

May 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Marlins reliever Dan Jennings (43) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Marlins 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The former Miami Marlins reliever has put up impressive numbers thus far this spring, as he was acquired in a trade with the Marlins for Andre Rienzo.

Jennings in five appearances (five innings pitched) has allowed no runs, no hits and has just walked two batters. Jennings, a left-handed reliever, has also collected two strikeouts in his first spring with the White Sox.

Even with the Marlins in ’14, Jennings pitched in 47 games, where his ERA was 1.34 in 40.1 innings on the mound.

With those type of numbers (opponents batted .281 against him in ’14), he has to be one of the lefties the White Sox will keep in the bullpen when camp breaks. Plus, with no options on his side, it would most likely be a must the White Sox keep him on the roster due to the fact he would not make it out of the waiver wire.

I believe it’s safe to describe Jennings as one of the new difference makers for the new and improved White Sox bullpen.

Jennings has just 100 career innings pitched in the majors, and his career ERA in a reliever role is solid at 2.43, mostly due to his ’13 season where he allowed 17 earned runs in 40.2 innings pitched, for a 3.76 ERA.

It looks like those type of numbers are staying in the past, and if Jennings pitches up to his ’14 form, the White Sox will have a quality reliever they can look to when needed this season, a luxury not afforded to manager Robin Ventura last season.

Next: Will Guerra keep his spot in the bullpen?

Javy Guerra – RHP (reliever)

Aug 13, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Javy Guerra (41) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Javy Guerra has a solid shot to make the bullpen in ’14, but he’s in competition with others, including Cleto, who is also on the list.

Guerra is coming off a ’14 season (his first with the White Sox) where he pitched 46.1 innings, with a 2.91 ERA in 42 outings. Guerra pitched well at times last season but did allow 15 earned runs in relief.

He did have six saves, so he does have that ability as well, but his control was off at times with five hit batters and 20 walks. Guerra also allowed three home runs, and the opposition hit .246 off him last season.

This spring, however, has seen Guerra have an ERA of 2.84 in six games (6.1 innings pitched). He’s held spring opponents to a .217 average, where he’s allowed two earned runs off five hits and three walks.

Guerra is a good piece to have in the White Sox bullpen, but it might come down to whether he’s able to out-duel his competition within his own locker room, and this season he does have more competition compared to last year.

In all honesty, I don’t care which relievers make the bullpen, just as long as the White Sox pick the best players by their performance, and this year I believe that will happen more than ever with a “win-now” mindset.

Next: Adam Eaton deal good for both sides

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