The White Sox announced several roster moves this afternoon ahead of tonight’s game against the Twins. These moves include two call-ups, a pair of demotions, and a DFA.
Additions
Danny Mendick is back in the fold. A familiar face for Sox fans, the 30-year-old Mendick had been crushing the ball in AAA before his promotion. He was near the top of the International League in most offensive categories. Mendick figures to get a significant amount of playing time in the White Sox infield moving forward at both second and third base. His hot bat will hopefully help spark the ice-cold offense.
John Brebbia is also back. A free agent signing this offseason, the 33-year-old veteran reliever made four scoreless appearances for the White Sox early in the season before landing on the 15-day injured list with a calf issue. He is back and should regain a key place in the White Sox bullpen. Brebbia will likely slot in the sixth or seventh inning role in front of set-up man Steven Wilson and closer Michael Kopech. Brebbia is a logical candidate to be traded at this upcoming trade deadline, assuming he pitches well over the next few months. He is signed to a one-year deal with a team option. His short-term contract could appeal to a contender needing bullpen help in July.
Demotions
Lenyn Sosa is one of the players headed back to AAA to accommodate these call-ups. The 24-year-old infielder was a foregone conclusion to be sent down at some point. He is hitting just .132 on the season and has consistently made mental mistakes in the field. Hopefully, Sosa will address these issues in AAA. Given his immense struggles in several different stints at the MLB level, Sosa’s future outlook with the White Sox is cloudy at best right now.
Nick Nastrini has also been optioned to AAA. The 24-year-old right-hander made two starts with the White Sox this season; his performance was a mixed bag. He was good in his first start against the Royals and bad in his second start yesterday afternoon against the Phillies. Pitching against Philadelphia’s lineup on the road is a tough assignment, especially for a guy making just his second career MLB start. Why he got optioned so soon is puzzling, but that is indeed the case. Mike Clevinger should be ready to return shortly, so he might take Nastrini’s rotation spot when he is ready.
DFA
Zach Remillard is also gone, as he has been designated for assignment to make room for Mendick. The 30-year-old longtime minor leaguer had only five at-bats with the White Sox this season before getting sent down. Remillard could return to the White Sox organization if he clears waivers, but it is too early to tell.
Final Word
Another day, another series of roster moves for the White Sox. The team is still desperately trying to find combinations of players who will help put up wins in a season where they are desperately hard to come by. We will see if Mendick and Brebbia can help with those efforts.
