The White Sox announced Wednesday that they’ve outrighted catcher Rob Brantly, outfielder Rymer Liriano, left-hander David Holmberg and righties Chris Volstad and Brad Goldberg off the 40-man roster, dropping their 40-man count to 33 in the process. Brantly, Liriano, Holmberg and Volstad will all become free agents, while Goldberg (who lacks the service time of the other players) will stick with the ChiSox as a non-roster player.
Both Brantly and Holmberg were in their second stints with the White Sox organization. Brantly appeared in 14 games with the Pale Hose in both 2015 and 2017. spending a year as a member of the Reds organization in the interim. He’s a career .230/.294/.333 hitter in parts of four big league seasons.
Holmberg, meanwhile, was a second-round pick by the ChiSox back in 2009 but was traded to the D-backs along with Daniel Hudson in exchange for Edwin Jackson before ever appearing in Chicago. He tossed 57 2/3 innings for them this year after returning on a minor league deal, though, working to a 4.67 ERA. That was the most significant experience the 25-year-old has had in the Majors to date. Holmberg has struggled in 119 2/3 big league innings, pitching to a 5.49 ERA with more walks (69) than strikeouts (66).
Liriano, once a top prospect in the Padres organization, came to the Sox via waivers but put up uninspiring numbers between both Triple-A and the Majors. Even with a paltry .740 OPS in 500 Triple-A plate appearances this season, the 26-year-old is a lifetime .286/.365/.453 hitter in parts of three Triple-A campaigns.
Volstad’s return to the Majors was somewhat remarkable, as the 31-year-old entered the year with just 10 1/3 MLB innings under his belt dating back to the 2012 season. He didn’t perform especially well in either Triple-A Charlotte or in 19 1/3 innings with the Sox, but he could aim for a similar minor league opportunity this winter.
Goldberg, 27, was the White Sox’ 10th-round pick back in 2013 and debuted in the Majors this year with unsightly results. In 12 innings he was shelled for 11 runs on 14 hits and 14 walks with just three strikeouts. He did post a 3.35 ERA with a much more palatable 47-to-22 K/BB ratio in 40 1/3 Triple-A frames, however.
Can’t wait to see Volstad three years from now.
October 2020, I would be willing to wager that Volstad is being outrighted off of a team’s 40-man roster after earning a september call-up to eat innings, just like the last few years.
Hardly unexpected. Each one of these players will most likely receive a minor league deal with an invite to spring training at best from any other MLB club including the White Sox. The organization needed the 40-man roster space to keep many of their top prospects from Rule 5 Draft eligibility including their overall #1 position talent, OF Eloy Jimenez.
Agreed. Gotta protect Jimenez along with Fry, Gillaspie and probably Guerrero and Peter. Those last 4 guys probably won’t be major parts of the rebuild, but serviceable parts, nonetheless.
The White Sox will have at least two additional spots opening up following the conclusion of the World Series. Veteran pitcher Mike Pelfrey is a pending free agent. Catcher Geovany Soto is on the 60-day disabled list and will need to be re-activated before he also becomes a FA after the postseason.
Note: Jace Fry is already on the 40-man roster having been promoted to the White Sox active roster last month.
You’re welcome
17 of the 19 innings Volstad was up he did perform exceptionally well. Should build on this.
Vostad is good, if the Sox want to keep losing games, but with the rotation for next season already shaping up, Im not sure how much more tanking the Sox could do with the major league talent they have now.