The White Sox announced a series of roster moves Wednesday in conjunction with September roster expansion (from 26 to 28 players). Infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb has been designated for assignment, with shortstop Tim Anderson landing on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 29) with a strained left hamstring. The White Sox have also reinstated Billy Hamilton from the injured list, recalled infielder/outfielder Gavin Sheets and righty Matt Foster from Triple-A Charlotte, and (as previously covered here) selected the contract of utilityman Romy Gonzalez from Charlotte.
Lamb, 30, was an All-Star with the Diamondbacks in 2017 and slugged 59 round-trippers as their everyday third baseman from 2016-17. Shoulder injuries, which culminated in surgery to repair his rotator cuff, derailed his 2018-20 seasons, however. He had a nice showing with the A’s late in 2020 but hasn’t been the same player since those shoulder troubles arose.
That’s largely been the case so far in 2021, too. Lamb missed a bit more than a month with strained quadriceps earlier this summer, but even when healthy he’s been a somewhat seldom-used bench option, appearing in 43 games and tallying 131 trips to the plate. Lamb’s current .212/.321/.389 line in that time is an improvement over recent seasons but nowhere near the .248/.345/.498 pace at which he hit during that brief peak in Arizona. He’ll be placed on outright waivers or released in the coming days.
Anderson, 28, has missed the White Sox’ last three games with what the team described as general soreness in his legs, but it now appears there’s a more accurate diagnosis of what has been hobbling him. The Sox didn’t provide a timeline for his return, but they’ve had the American League Central locked down for months now, so they can afford to be cautious with his recovery. The 2019 AL batting champ is in the midst of another strong season, hitting .302/.331/.458 with 14 home runs and 17 stolen bases.
Hamilton, Sheets and Foster have all been with the Sox at various points in the 2021 season. Hamilton has had a pair of IL stints and hasn’t produced at the plate, but his speed and glovework in the outfield remain elite. Sheets hit just .225 with a .293 OBP when he was promoted for his big league debut earlier this summer, but he also ripped six homers and five doubles in 99 plate appearances — good for a .483 slugging percentage. Foster has been hit hard this season, evidenced by a 5.67 ERA in 33 1/3 innings, but he posted a 2.20 ERA with outstanding K-BB numbers through 28 2/3 frames in 2020.
Ugh!
I thought TA#7 injury was more serious than TLR initially said (“sore legs”).
Now is the time to rest up for the World Series.
Have to make it there first genius.
See you in 100 or so years
Yeah because ya know, 100 or so years is so much worse than the Sox 90 something years. Gimme a break. They both went a similar amount of time without a ring. Not exactly something to brag about.
Yeah, it actually is a lot different. White Sox had a scandal keep them from a decade of dominant baseball that would’ve likely resulted in 3 or more World Series titles and changed the outlook of their entire franchise. Instead that century-old scandal screwed them over for what felt like forever, and as a result it took them 88 years to win a championship. 88 years of being treated like the redheaded stepchild of the MLB and they still end up going 11-1 in the postseason to win what was absolutely one of the most convincing, well-deserved championships in MLB history.
Meanwhile the Cubs are glorified and treated like royalty their entire existence, and the ONLY thing that breaks a 108 year championship drought is that sad excuse of a Mickey Mouse World Series against the Indians that looked like they were throwing from game 5 and on. And to have literally no relevance since then proves how much of a fluke that garbage was. How can the biggest team in Chicago and 3rd biggest team in the entire MLB be so sad and pathetic all the time? Imagine if the Yankees sold off their entire fan-favorite core and we’re 58-75 in September. They would be booed off the field every game and see 75% of their season ticket holders stop renewing their seats.
And if you wanna act like the difference between 88 and 108 years isn’t a lot, then I guess the fact that the White Sox are in a spot to compete for another World Series for the next 2-3 years only 16 years after winning their last World Series isn’t significant either.
Yeah but we weren’t blaming angry goats and Steve Bartman for us not winning lol.
Lot of free time to whine and grine, eh?
Cubs2016 is extra salty
White Sox fans are like cicada. Every 17 years or so the come around, make a lot of noise and are really irritating. Then they go dormant and you dont hear anything from them for about another 20 years. Its a shame because this team is actually pretty exciting to watch.
Come around where? To your corner of Iowa? Lol.
And cubs fans like anal, what’s your point
@Andy Dawesome
Maybe next year.
A phrase you should know very well.
How many screen names are we at? Must be fulfilling to jump on a Sox related thread. Guess the lack of a day job or romantic prospects must help.
TLR seemed to be in love with Jake Lamb…and now he gets released? I support the move…just find it interesting!
The “interesting” part was that they picked up Lamb and then never played him at 3B despite being a better hitter than the other options behind Moncada. Picking up Lamb and playing him in the outfield was dumb.
Get well soon TA. #ThotsAndPlayers
Hold the players.
Wow. Romy eh? Good for him. Spiked up in AA, hit in AA from day one and off to the majors. Im surprised TLR was okay with LAmb being DFA’d. I mean, Sox fans arent lol but TLR seemed to like him
Apparently not.
I meant to say Sox fans ARE okay with Lamb being DFA’d lol
Happiest moment since they dumped Eaton, LOL! Lamb was not that much better actually.
I mean as a sox fan I’ve always liked lamb. Solid lefty power bat off the bench with some positional versatility.
I remember when mad dog Russo said lamb was over rated back when he was raking. Most likely it was the injuries that caught up.
If Mad Dog Russo doesn’t like Lamb, I may be forced to reconsider my opinion that he sucked.
Thanks god we we are done seeing Lamb’s name in the lineup. Hallelujah.
Shame about TA7. He is such a talented andy qs been a great player for last 2-3 years. With having everyone mostly graduated from that rebuild that took place in 2016-2019, this will try their depth. This team is extremely talented, and yes they have a few international signings coming up soon but they lack of depth would worry me if I was a Sox fan. They’ve been getting by with a productive Goodwin/Hamilton but TA7 is someone who you cannot just replace. I look at Hahn to address more depth at AA/AAA because all it takes is one crucial injury at any position to show your depth. I would definitely let Rodon go, and try to allocate his salary for a 2B, otherwise they’ll be handcuffed on making deals at next years trade deadline and will hurt their depth even more, if they deal Gavin Sheets or Jake Burger, instead of using them as important depth pieces headed into 2022. Long way to get there. Team is talented but TA7 is the most important player on this team I think this season and the W/L with and without him proves that. Get his legs right and give him 2-3 weeks and come back for October.
If TA7 had anything really serious, he would not have played those few games before getting rest. And they would have put him on IL right away. Rest him a week or two, he should hopefully be fine. I agree he is probably the most important player on the team, but don’t think his time off is cause to be overly concerned.
@jhomeslice
Yes. I think it’s more about timing with the schedule. He was probably going to the IL at some point anyway, so have him on the IL while they are playing weak teams (even though KC took 5 of 7 from the Sox in August). He will miss the first game against the A’s, but could come back anytime after that.
I don’t know if that’s their thinking on this, but it makes sense if it is. Regardless, he needs the rest, then get him back with enough time to get his timing back for the playoffs.
Well….2B they’ll probably pick up the Hernandez 6mil option for ’22 unless he is really bad rest of this year/postseason. He’s okay if batting 8th or 9th and providing solid defense. Rotation will be the big change/concern…Kopech most likely replacing Rodon on an innings count & Keuchel perhaps traded (with Sox paying down around half of his 18.5mil salary). Lot of innings to fill. No one will allow the DK innings incentive clause to vest for another 18.5mil in ’23 whether kept or traded.
If he pitches anything like his entire career minus this year, 18M is probably about right
Giolito had a scare yesterday with his hamstring. This team can’t afford anymore injuries
@Megatron2005
Absolutely. This is my biggest worry the rest of the way, especially with the pitching. They’ve been lucky for the most part with the rotation regarding injuries (Rodon’s stint being the main exception). Just getting most of their main guys back offensively, the last thing they need is another rash of injuries just before playoff time.
They’ll be fine, up 10 games in the division, they can afford to rest some guys
It’s highly unlikely that anyone claims Lamb off of waivers, especially now that we are into September. So the Sox may be able to keep him in the organization in the minors as an emergency backup piece in the event of injuries down the stretch.
I hope there is no need for Lamb the rest of the season, but if they don’t have to release him, can’t hurt to keep him in the minors.
Thank The Lord! Finally
Honestly thought Lamb was best off being DFA’d as soon as he came off the IL. It was nice having him when the team was plagued by injuries, especially since he was actually providing something valuable at first, but it was definitely time to rip off the bandaid. Part of me does hope he ends up staying with the organization in the minors though.
I whent to da stoar yastirday, and bot sum lamb. But now sox gots no moar lamb, and thay dont have nun at da stoar neether. I shooda buyed moar, ya nevur no whin dere wil be no moar lamb.
Hopefully the Sox can pick up Cuban national fixture Michel Enriquez to fill organizational depth at 3b. Would be suds to see Romy and Michelle patrolling the left side of the IF.