White Sox shuffle roster with series of moves
CHICAGO -- The White Sox optioned left-handed reliever Eric Surkamp following Saturday's doubleheader, and traded Alejandro De Aza to the Orioles for a pair of pitching prospects.
Friday's starter Scott Carroll was also optioned to Triple-A Charlotte before Saturday's twin bill to make room for right-hander Chris Bassitt, who was recalled from Double-A Birmingham to make his MLB debut in Game 2. Surkamp was the team's 26th man for the doubleheader, recalled from Charlotte for the third time this season.
"You are going to have some guys up here that those are positions that now have opportunities," manager Robin Ventura said after his club split the day's action with a 6-3 Game 1 win and an 8-4 nightcap loss. "You are going to see some guys in there that are different than what we've had for the last couple of years. They are going to get a chance."
Ventura confirmed that Carroll, a rookie, would return to the White Sox rotation this season, but didn't indicate if it would be Monday when rosters expand to 40 men.
"I would imagine he's still in there," Ventura said pregame. "I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be back in there."
Ventura said on Thursday that the White Sox could go to a six-man rotation during the final month of the season. Who those pitchers would be remains to be seen. The team acquired right-handers Mark Blackmar and Miguel Chalas from Baltimore for De Aza.
Blackmar, 22, is 10-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 26 games with Carolina League Class-A Frederick. Chalas is 3-4 with a 4.48 ERA between Frederick and Class AAA Norfolk of the International League, where he's gone 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in two games.
Carroll is 5-9 with a 5.07 ERA in 16 starts, and had a one-month stint in the bullpen from May to June before returning to the rotation. He is under club control for three more years.
Bassitt was charged with the loss Saturday night, going 6 1/3 innings with five earned runs on seven hits, and four walks with four strikeouts.
"You can't make mistakes here, so that's the biggest thing," Bassitt said. "Getting ahead early is definitely important. Limiting walks, you can't give anyone free baserunners in this league. I know I still have some things to work on. Not overthrow, that's another one. But I mean, we'll go from here. Nice building block."
Bassitt had a 3-1 record with a 1.56 ERA, a .206 average against, 36 strikeouts and 14 walks in 34 2/3 innings over six starts with Birmingham. He didn't debut this year until July 12, after breaking his pitching hand in non-baseball activities.