White Sox have roster flexibility heading to ST

Center-field spot, closer's role will be decided during camp

February 9th, 2018

CHICAGO -- A quick study of the possibilities for a pre-Spring Training White Sox 25-man roster reveals versatility among the players they have and not many glaring questions to be answered.
Here's a look at that roster breakdown with on-field action beginning on Wednesday when pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
Catcher (2): ,
Castillo represents the White Sox aggressiveness within the rebuild, as the free-agent acquisition became the team's starting catcher for 2018 and '19, with an option for '20. Narvaez and made solid contributions behind the plate in '17, but Narvaez hitting from the left side gives him a slight early edge.
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First base (1):
Abreu is the leader, the voice of the team, and he's trying to continue a streak of four straight seasons with at least 25 home runs, 32 doubles, 100 RBIs, a .290 average and a .468 slugging percentage. He also worked diligently in '17 to improve defensively at the position.
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Second base (1):
Look at Moncada's statistics from 2017 as not much more than a valuable learning experience for the 22-year-old switch-hitter and former top prospect in baseball as ranked by MLB Pipeline. His first true test comes in '18 as the team's everyday second baseman with more than 600 plate appearances on the horizon barring injury.
Third base (1):
With a career high in games played and plate appearances overall, Sanchez produced personal bests in average (.267), triples (8), home runs (12), RBIs (59) and runs scored (63). Sanchez played at least one game in five different positions last year, but he figures to settle in at third. Matt Davidson also will get action at third, as will , if he breaks camp with the team.
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Shortstop (1):
Anderson focused on family for the bulk of this offseason in order to help get himself ready baseball-wise for the 2018 season. The shortstop admirably dealt with personal struggles in '17 and still finished with a season-high 17 home runs and 56 RBIs.
Utility/DH (3): Matt Davidson (DH), , Tyler Saladino
Saladino has the ability to play across the infield, although is no roster lock after back issues hampered him during a tough '17 campaign. Davidson and Delmonico could see time at designated hitter with an outfield featuring Garcia in left when Delmonico is the DH. Infielder and outfielders , Charlie Tilson, and remain firmly in the mix.

Outfield (3): Nicky Delmonico, ,
Center field appears to be the biggest question mark, involving Engel, Leury Garcia and Tilson, who lost the '17 season to injury. Engel provides Gold Glove-caliber defense and has worked diligently during the past offseason on improving from a rough offensive debut.
Starting pitchers (5): , , , ,
The addition of Gonzalez via free agency leaves the rotation all set. The group will change with the return of , who began a throwing program after SoxFest as part of his rehab for season-ending arthroscopic shoulder surgery leaving him out 6-to-8 months from this past September.
Bullpen (8): Nate Jones, , , Danny Farquhar, , , , Gregory Infante
We're leaning toward eight relievers to start, with three young starters in the rotation and a stretch of 22 games played by the White Sox in 23 days during April. Jones and Soria are the clubhouse leaders for the closer's job, but general manager Rick Hahn has added numerous late-inning options for manager Rick Renteria. Pitchers such as non-roster invite , southpaws and and righty will push for the final spot or two, and there always seems to be a surprise candidate -- such as at last year's camp.