CLEAN UP !: White Sox make room in their ROSTER of 40

By Dency Milan

The current champions of the Central Division of the American League, after losing the Divisional Series to the runners-up of the World Series Astros of Houston, have been preparing the 2022 season of the Major League Baseball – MLB.

First, the seasoned and winner Tony La Russa was ratified as the helmsman for the second year in a row, the knee operation of Yasmani Grandal, the club’s non-option on the contract of the second baseman arrived at the change deadline, César Hernández. Following that dynamic, the White Sox announced Friday that the outfielder Brian Goodwin, right-handed reliever Evan Marshall, right-hander Jimmy Lamb and left-hander Jace Fry approved the full exemptions and were removed from the 40-man roster. All four will become free agents. Chicago also selected the lefty contract Anderson Severino of Triple-A Charlotte, bringing its current roster of 40 men to a total of 34 players.

Goodwin was signed to a Minor League contract, and due to so many injuries in the outfield (Roberts, Jiménez, Engel), had a continuity that was not expected of him in the big team. Although it was not a high season for him, he was able to help the team a lot in the moments that he had to assume responsibility, connecting in many important moments, which were adding victories.

From mid-June to mid-August, when the White Sox outfield need was at its highest, Goodwin hit a .246 / .331 / .465 batting line in 161 plate appearances, chipping in seven home runs, eight doubles. and a triple.

Unfortunately, things went south in a hurry. Goodwin hit just .183 / .300 / .237 in his last 110 plate appearances, giving at-bats to Robert and Jimenez when they returned from injury. Goodwin, who turned 31 earlier this week, will return to the free agency market as a career .244 /.318/.440 hitter in 1,395 plate appearances between the Nationals, Angels, Royals, Reds and Chicago White Sox. It may be difficult for him, but some offer from Triple A may get through to him.

Evan marshall, also 31, is scheduled for Tommy John surgery this week and will likely miss the entire 2022 season, so it’s no wonder the Sox removed him from the list. They may be looking to re-sign him to a minor league pact so he can rehab with the team, but not fill a 40-man job all winter, though now he will have the opportunity to speak with other clubs.

Marshall, signed to a minor league contract after being cut by Cleveland after the 2018 season, pitched well with the 2019-20 Chicago White Sox, hitting a 2.45 ERA with a strikeout rate of 23.5% and against a walk rate of the 10.3%. However, his 5.60 ERA in 27 1/3 innings this season, before going on the disabled list and eventually being diagnosed with a torn ligament that will require the Tommy John procedure.

Cordero, 30, underwent Tommy John surgery this year before the start of the season, which means he will likely be ready early in the 2022 season. The right-hander had a good run with the 2019 White Sox after who picked him up on waivers, posting a 2.75 ERA in 36 innings. However, that ERA jumped to 6.08 in 2020, thanks in large part to a soaring .352 average on balls in play and a 59.6% fluent strand rate. (Cordero’s 3.87 FIP was more than two runs less than his ERA.) Cordero has yet to have the explosion in MLB, but he’s averaging 97.8 mph. With this, he should find an organization interested in his services, they would surely give him a Minor League contract, with an invitation to Spring Training, all this because he is not a consistent pitcher.

28-year-old Fry posted a 4.43 ERA for the 2018-20 White Sox, but back surgery limited him to just six and two-thirds of work innings this season, during which time he allowed eight runs. Jace fry he has little trouble losing the bats, but he has walked an unsustainable 14% of the opponents he faced in the majors. Still, a southpaw shooting around 93 mph in his hot zone might have a choice. The doubt would be that he is fully recovered from his operation.

Severino, 27, could have become a minor league free agent if he hadn’t been added to the team’s 40-man roster. He signed a minor league pact after spending the 2014-20 seasons in the Yankees organization and gave the White Sox 45 2/3 innings of 2.36 ERA with a strikeout rate of 27.3% but a bloated walk rate. of 16.5% between Double-A and Triple-A. His walk rate improved as he promoted to Triple-A, and the hard-hitting left-hander certainly missed a lot of bats. Rather than let him seek a deal with another club, the White Sox will move him to the 40-man roster, making him an option to get out of the bullpen at any time next season.

Without a doubt, the White Sox are preparing their 2022 season very carefully, looking to reach the postseason for the third year in a row, but this time they will try to advance beyond the Division Series, after being prevented by the Oakland Athletics, and more recently the Houston Astros.