GLENDALE, Ariz. — The White Sox have not announced their Opening Day roster but a source confirmed to the Sun-Times Sunday that infielder Leury Garcia, the longest tenured player on the team, will not be on it.
Garcia, 32, who signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract before last season, struggled throughout the 2022 season, and the Sox will eat the remaining two years on his deal.
Indications around the Sox clubhouse Sunday morning were that prospect Oscar Colas will make the team as its right fielder, as expected, and sources said infielder/outfielder Romy Gonzalez will make the Opening Day roster, joining No. 2 catcher Seby Zavala, outfielder/first baseman Gavin Sheets and and infielder Hanser Alberto on the Sox bench.
Right-hander Gregory Santos is expected to make the bullpen, according to sources. Santos beat out right-hander Nick Avila, who was thought to have an inside track because of his Rule 5 Draft status but did not have a strong spring, allowing eight runs in 10 innings over seven appearances. Veteran right-hander Bryan Shaw, a non-roster invitee who performed well (1.08 ERA) this spring, was released from his minor league contract, the Sox announced Sunday.
A favorite of former manager Tony La Russa who batted .210/.233/.267 in 97 games last season, Garcia had switch-hit value, speed and experience at every position except catcher and first base. But his production waned terribly, in part because of back problems, although he didn’t produce when healthy, either.
It was thought that Garcia, who was paid $5.5 million last season and will be paid $5.5 this year and next, would have a chance to stick because of his contract.
“Everybody here is committed to putting the best team on the field,” manager Pedro Grifol said Sunday morning when asked about financial considerations affecting roster decisions. “I noticed that in my interview and with the front office on a daily basis, the commitment to win and put the best team on the field is real.”
Garcia not making the team cleared the way for Hanser Alberto, who can play all four infield spots and is considered an excellent clubhouse presence, to make the team. Alberto is batting .450/.476/.800 this spring.
The Sox acquired Garcia, who owns a .253/.293/.350 hitting line with 34 homers in 10 seasons, in a trade with the Texas Rangers in 2013. His departure makes shortstop Tim Anderson, who is entering is eighth season.
Santos, who did not allow a run in seven appearances before giving up two on four hits Sunday, joins right-handers Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, Reynaldo Lopez, Jimmy Lambert and Jose Ruiz and lefties Aaron Bummer and Jake Diekman in a bullpen without a designated closer as Liam Hendriks undergoes treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“We’ve got to evaluate the club and see what the best club looks like going to Houston,” Grifol said. “There’s no perfect club. There’s no way you can cover every situation that’s come up. But we do our very best to look at those situations.
“You’re always going to have something that makes you a little concerned.”
Hours later, third baseman Yoan Moncada exited Sunday’s game with low back stiffness, another thing to be concerned about, although Moncada gave reporters a thumbs up from the clubhouse saying, “feel good, not bad.”
“I have confidence that our talent is going to show well on the field as long as we’re staying under control and preparing,” said right-hander Lucas Giolito, who pitched 5 1⁄3 innings of one-run ball against the Rockies in his final tuneup for his first start against Saturday against the Astros. “It’s really going to be those short-term goals, going out and trying to win each series and go from there.”
