White Sox won't make hasty roster decisions

April 14th, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS -- The White Sox are always looking to improve. That fact has been true for this team, whether it's in full revamp mode or standing as a highly competitive group.
But looking to improve doesn't equate to making knee-jerk reactions to an early slump for a position player or a few bad April starts for one of the White Sox's rotation members.
"It's a matter of feeling that there's not a reasonable basis to believe things are going to improve of what you're seeing in a day-in or day-out basis at the big league level and the level of confidence in your alternatives that you're going to have better results going forward," general manager Rick Hahn said. "Right now, that's not on our minds in terms of making changes."
Question marks hung over Mat Latos and John Danks at the back end of the rotation coming out of Spring Training, primarily because Latos struggled in Cactus League play and Danks had struggled the past three seasons despite giving the team consistent innings and starts. The same held true for designated hitter Avisail Garcia, a 24-year-old who the White Sox were hoping would live up to his high talent level.
Garcia homered, doubled and scored two runs during Thursday's 3-1 win over the Twins, supporting Latos (2-0), who has allowed one run on four hits and two walks over 12 innings this season.

"When I'm healthy and have a good slider, things tend to go really good," Latos said. "The past couple of outings, I've had a good slider. I'm healthy and just going out there with a game plan and trying to stick to it."
Danks lost the home opener for the White Sox, although he posted a solid finish in Arizona. Miguel Gonzalez, Jacob Turner and Chris Beck all stand as rotation alternatives at Triple-A Charlotte, but as Hahn explained, don't look for any sort of imminent move.

"A knee-jerk reaction is pretty difficult with the way this group is performing right now," manager Robin Ventura said. "They left Spring Training with us, so there's something there you feel pretty good about. "You are always evaluating that stuff. We also like what we have here. We like the group that is here. Any move you make can affect the team one way or another."
Adam LaRoche's unexpected retirement freed up $13 million for the White Sox to use. But that money is more likely to be allocated towards a hitter or pitcher around the non-waiver Trade Deadline. Getting off to an impressive 7-2 start builds in an extra level of comfort with the current 25.
"Really, when we send the pro scouts out from Spring Training, it's always from the mindset of upgrades at the Major League level and what are we going to do to augment this roster with the list of potential targets and potential positions of need, and all the conversations early in the season are about adds," Hahn said. "Getting off to a good start just reinforces what they're doing out there could very well be important as we get closer to the deadline.
"In an ideal world, you're looking to do it late June to get more starts out of a guy or plate appearances or from the bullpen, so it's not just a two-month or half-season thing. Certainly, the volume of activity now isn't the time when you see a great deal of transactions between clubs. It usually picks up in June and July, with July being the sweet spot.