3 players that might not be on the White Sox roster by May 2
The Chicago White Sox have gotten off to a rough start this season. They are fourth in the American League Central after losing eight straight in April. During that stretch, the White Sox looked lifeless and lacked energy. Mental errors have plagued the team.
Fortune has not favored them either, especially on the injury front. Garrett Crochet was lost for the season due to Tommy John’s surgery.
The White Sox’s newest bullpen addition, Joe Kelly, has yet to pitch in a game this season. Lance Lynn went down in spring training with a slight tear in a tendon above his knee. Yoán Moncada was placed on the injuries list due to an oblique strain. Eloy Jimenez was the latest to hit the injured list after suffering a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, the White Sox have looked terrible offensively. They lead the league in games with three runs or fewer, with 13 and counting. The 2022 squad is also just the 10th team in American League history to have an.OBP under .260 after 19 games.
The Chicago White Sox have some big decisions to make by May 2nd.
On top of the lackluster offense, the defense has also been an eyesore. The White Sox lead the MLB with 21 errors resulting in the lowest fielding percentage in baseball. There is plenty of blame to go around.
The good news is the White Sox will be getting Lynn, Moncada, Kelly, and Jimenez back at some point this season. Their returns will bring a welcomed breath of fresh air to the roster.
Unfortunately with their arrivals, some members of the active roster will get the boot. It’s just the nature of the business.
Rick Hahn will be forced to make some tough decisions by May 2nd. Here are three players whose roster spots on the big league club could be in jeopardy right now:
Anderson Servino
The Chicago White Sox don’t need to have Anderson Severino on the roster.
Joe Kelly is set to make his White Sox debut in May. Once he joins the roster one arm will have to be bumped down to Charlotte to make room. At this point, Anderson Severino seems to be the odd man out.
Severino has appeared in six games this season, posting a 6.14 ERA in 7.1 innings of work. He tends to allow a lot of baserunners as evident by his 1.50 WHIP.
His worse outing of the season came on April 17th against Tampa Bay. Severino allowed three runs on three hits in 0.2 innings. He also hit a batter for the second time this season which places him in fifth in the American league in batters hit.
He allowed a run in his next two outings as well before settling down and pitching a scoreless frame against the Royals on April 26th.
Severino was signed by the White Sox on a minor league deal in 2020. Since then, he has worked his way through the minor leagues and is now getting his first shot in the MLB.
The 28-year-old is getting his feet wet in the big leagues for the first time so the growing pains are understandable. But with a struggling team, that has championship aspirations patience will be thin. Expect him to be sent back down because of roster cuts and Kelly’s pending return.
Danny Mendick
Danny Mendick is okay but he shouldn’t be on the Chicago White Sox right now.
Danny Mendick has actually been pretty solid in his limited playing time this season. He is batting .250 with three RBIs, a home run, and a .818 OPS.
Unfortunately for Mendick, his lack of playing time and Tony La Russa’s fondness for Leury Garcia are all signs that he will be the odd man out once Yoan Moncada returns from injury.
It is understandable considering Mendrick is a career .239 hitter with a .651 OPS. He can do the little things well and plays multiple positions which is why he carved out a roster spot to start the season. In 2022 he has already spent time at second base, third base, shortstop, and left field.
If Josh Harrison continues to struggle, Mendick could find a way to stick in the big leagues but seeing that Harrison was brought in during free agency suggests his grace period will be a bit longer than Mendick’s.
Just last season, Medick was assigned to Triple-A Charlotte on May 3rd. After being recalled on August 12th, he was optioned back down just a day later. He was recalled once again on August 15th only to be optioned back down 11 days later.
He was recalled for a final time on August 31st and then optioned back down on September 13th. His frequent bouncing up and down between Charlotte and Chicago makes him expendable.
Gavin Sheets
Gavin Sheets is off to a slow start with the Chicago White Sox to begin 2022.
Out of all the players on the list, Sheets will be given the most leeway since he is a left-handed power bat. He will also be afforded the most time to figure things out since Eloy Jimenez will be out for at least the next six weeks.
Last season Sheets launched 11 home runs in 54 games and had a great showing in the ALDS. But he has gotten off to an abysmal start of the season.
He is batting .213 with just a pair of RBIs and a single home run. In his last 15 games, he has struck out 11 times and owns a .298 slugging percentage.
The fact that he can’t hit left-handers or play good defense in the outfield is also concerning. In Sheets defense, he is not a natural outfielder. But Jose Abreu has first base locked down so Sheets is relegated to designated hitter and corner outfield duties.
Andrew Vaughn’s hot start to the season only increases the pressure on Sheets who was supposed to serve as a platoon player with Vaughn.
Once Eloy Jimenez is set to return from the lineup, Rick Hahn and Tony La Russa will have a tough decision on their hands. Adam Engel’s defense is too valuable and Andrew Vaughn is crushing the baseball. Neither of them will be sent down.
Meanwhile, Jake Burger has proven to be a valuable piece and has surprised people with his defense at third base. He won’t be going anywhere when Moncada and Eloy return either.
As bad as Josh Harrison has been, the White Sox are not going to have Leury Garcia as the only second baseman on the roster.
Sheets needs to improve his offensive production or his roster spot could be in jeopardy. It isn’t likely for May 2nd but you never know.
Related Story. Andrew Vaughn is hurt but will be back soon. light