Chicago White Sox add five to 40-man roster

The Chicago White Sox had to make some tough decisions on Monday, adding players to their 40 man roster so they don’t get drafted in the Rule 5 draft. Who did they add ?

The deadline is getting closer and closer, teams all around the league are making moves by putting their top prospects on their 40 man roster so that they do not get drafted by another team in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. The Chicago White Sox added 5 on Monday afternoon.

As most expected, prized outfielder Eloy Jimenez was among the five added. Who else was added? And who are they? Let us break it down for you.

Signed out of the Domincan Republic in 2013, Micker Adolfo was projected to become an above average right fielder. The only problem was that it would take some time for him to eventually pan out. In his first season with the White Sox organization, Adolfo hit .218 with 5 homers and 21 RBI’s in 47 games.

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In his 3 seasons since, with time split between rookie ball and low a ball, Micker has shown the White Sox the promise that was expected when they first signed him. In 2017, with Kannapolis, the low A team for the White Sox, Adolfo hit .264 with 16 long balls and 68 RBI’s. One of the biggest weaknesses in Adolfo’s game has been his inability to avoid the strikeout. In 112 games last season, he struck out 149 times. If he hopes to reach the majors someday that number must be cut down as much as possible.

As part of the Todd Frazier–David Robertson–Tommy Kahnle trade with the Yankees, the White Sox got Ian Clarkin back in the deal along with Tyler Clippard and Blake Rutherford. That deal may not seem like a lot for what the White Sox gave up, however the team is committed to a full rebuild and needs all the young potential it can get right now.

In 5 seasons since being drafted, Clarkin has pitched to the tune of a 16-21 record and a 3.83 ERA in 289.1 inning pitched. At only 22, he still has the time to become a back-end rotational piece in a few years for the Chicago White Sox. Another stellar year and he will likely reach AAA by the time the season ends with a possibility at a spot in the rotation in 2019.

At 21 years of age, Luis Basabe has already spent 5 years of his lifetime in a professional baseball organization. As part of the Chris Sale trade, Basabe is one of the lesser known of the four the White Sox received. In that deal, the Sox received Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Victor Diaz, and Basabe. Luis will likely reach the MLB in 2020, if ever.

In his first season with Winston-Salem in A+ ball, Basabe struggled. He hit .221 with 5 homers and 36 RBI’s, also striking out 104 times. There are plenty of outfielders ahead of Basabe in the White Sox organization, so he has his work cut out for him. If he continues to show the White Sox he has potential, he could become a key piece moving forward.

Drafted with the 20th pick in the 2014 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Casey Gillaspie was arguably the most potent collegiate hitter of that year. With the Wichita State Shockers, he hit a .389/.520/.682 along with 15 homers that season. As has been the theme with these prospects, Gillaspie was acquired in a trade this past season, this time in the Dan Jennings trade.

As somebody who very well could see a early opportunity with the Chicago White Sox next season if he plays well in training camp, Casey had his best year of his career in AAA last season. He finished the season split between two teams with a .223 average, with 15 homers and 62 RBI’s.

The prized jewel of the Chicago White Sox organization could finally see the big league roster come 2018. Eloy has been one of the MiLB’s top prospects since his signing with the Chicago Cubs, this past season, the Cubs decided to trade him to the White Sox in exchange for star pitcher Jose Quintana.

In all likelihood, Jimenez will be part of the September call-ups in 2018. The team is currently set in the outfield spots, although a trade will surely fix that come next July allowing for Jimenez to receive more playing time. This move was purely made so no other team can draft the best prospect in all of baseball. Eloy Jimenez will be White Sox star outfielder for at least the next 10-15 years.