The White Sox announced a series of roster moves today, selecting the contract of catcher Seby Zavala and designating first baseman Yermin Mercedes for assignment. They also recalled lefty Tanner Banks. To make room on the active roster for Zavala and Banks, lefty Aaron Bummer was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 9, due to a lat strain, while righty Davis Martin was optioned to Triple-A.
Zavala appeared in the majors with the White Sox in 2019 and 2021, getting into 42 games and hitting .171/.223/.343. He was outrighted off the roster in April and has been in Triple-A Charlotte, having a much better showing. He’s hit .282/.396/.535 through 41 games with the Knights, amounting to a wRC+ of 147, though with a 35.5% strikeout rate. He’s actually played more first base than catcher this year, though he’s likely needed on the big league club for extra depth behind the plate. Yasmani Grandal left yesterday’s game with hamstring tightness and will be unavailable for a while, even though he hasn’t been placed on the IL. Zavala and Reese McGuire will handle the catching duties until Grandal recovers enough to rejoin them.
As for Mercedes, this has the potential to conclude his tenure with the White Sox, a relationship that has not always gone smoothly. Last year, the Twins sent utility player Willians Astudillo to the mound in a game they were losing 15-4 to the Sox. Mercedes drew the ire of some unwritten rules fetishists by swinging at a 3-0 pitch from Astudillo and depositing over the fence for a home run. The Twins responded by throwing behind Mercedes in a subsequent game, which garnered suspensions for reliever Tyler Duffey and manager Rocco Baldelli. In the media dustup that followed, many White Sox players defended Mercedes, but White Sox manager Tony La Russa publicly spoke out against his own player and those who defended him.
Later in the season, Mercedes was optioned to the minors, which was followed by him announcing that he planned on stepping away from baseball, apparently posting his decision on Instagram before telling the team about it. However, it turned out to be a false alarm, as Mercedes quickly returned to the team in short order.
This year, Mercedes underwent hand surgery in March though was able to return and make his season debut in Triple-A in May. Through 25 games with the Knights, he’s hitting .230/.376/.426 thanks to a whopping 18.3% walk rate. All that amounts to a wRC+ of 120, or 20% above league average. Mercedes has always hit at every level, including the majors, though he doesn’t provide much value with the glove. Although he came up as a catcher, he’s gradually spent less time behind the plate, making 15 starts at DH this year and nine at first base, none behind the dish. The 29-year-old is in his final option year, meaning he could garner interest from any team willing to give him a 40-man roster spot. He could be stashed in Triple-A for the remainder of the year as a bat-first depth option. The White Sox will have one week to trade him or put him on waivers.
Someone’s gotta claim Yermin, right?
Absolutely
Willie Calhoun for Yermin would be an interesting change of scenery trade for two guys that are bat first and problems with their organization.
Oh no!! Say it ain’t so!!
Not the Yerminator!! Poor Jason Benetti is in hysterics.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it through waivers. Nobody Is going to use him as a catcher, outside of 3rd catcher or emergency duty in the majors. He’s doing OK, but not great with the bat. Heck, if he didn’t have a good 3 weeks at the start of 2021, we wouldn’t even be talking about him.
I mean, he’s worth a claim for a BAL or PIT, right?
I can speak better for PIT than any other team: if they hadn’t just acquired Yu Chang I could see the need for a righty-hitting DH/1B type, or since Chang hasn’t been good so far maybe if they wanted to trade him out and try Mercedes. Otherwise, I’m not so sure Yermin fits into the apparent plan to have 9 or 10 utility players running around the roster.
I’d definitly take him over Yu Chang right now, granted, I would take anyone over Yu Chang.
I mean, why not take him and send out Yoshi?
Because they aren’t going to just eat the money they gave Yoshi… yet. Plus I believe Yoshi is currently on IL. They’ll probably at least give Yoshi a chance once he’s activated before they think about cutting bait.
Why does everyone assume a player who cannot make another team is automatically right for Pit and Balt? Are they the two worst teams in the league? Pittsburgh isn’t even one of the two worst teams in its division! KC? Oakland? The Nationals?
I mean I’m just throwing team names out there.
Yea in my mind even tho those teams plan o. Trying to draft first, you have to claim those types of guys. Trade them for lotto ticket types later on or even more best case. What do they have to lose
everybody f***cking says BAL or PIT will claim em but they never do
No for Baltimore. Roster is better than people realize and First base is clogged already.
RH DH for some team
Yermin is a lesson in what happens if you cross TLR. He’s a Hall of Fame baseball man, brother!
He’s a drunk who can’t even have his own teams back. Time to go retire.
I think the lesson is don’t showboat if you’re not any good.
TLR is a disgrace to baseball
The White Sox just DM’d Yermin, “It’s over.”
DM?
or
DFA?!
You know your career is almost over when you are DFA’d for a spicy Mediterranean dish made from goat. I assume that is what Seby Zavala is anyway.
Great, now I’m hungry.
Although LaRussa was totally in the wrong over the whole Yermin hitting a 3-0 Homer, I don’t think it would have changed much. He’s been a career minor leaguer for a reason, and hot streaks happen.
Can they take back the HOF for LaRussa for being stupid?
When are the sox going to get a new trainer??????? Or are the players just p……??
Potatoes?
They just got a new trainer this offseason, I am pretty sure.
He said a ‘good’ trainer.
They will NEVER replace retired Herm Schneider in quality.
Story omitted the fact that he swung despite a take sign. Had YM acknowledged that and said “my bad I missed the sign” instead of macho posturing it would have passed without TLR’s public comment. Anyhow, the dude’s magic bat has disappeared leaving him without a major league role.
Whoa, context. You must be new here.
Yermin would look good in teal! We need a secondary bat that can hit lefties well!!!
Also, anybody else feel like Yermin is a head case but could absolutely still flourish; and that it seems like CWS kinda bitched his development? I don’t think Clint Eastwood La Russa was a big fan of his.
Lots of talent on this team but not much to show for it. If it keeps up I wouldn’t be surprised if Rick Hahn himself bails for a better opportunity.
Loyalty is all fine and good but it doesn’t always yield success. Might be time for Jerry to sell both of his teams.
“Unwritten rules fetishist” is an all-time line
I didn’t know that the signs given by the 3rd base coach were unwritten rules, but sure, I guess.
Fire Tony!!
I was at the game. I thought they were chanting Hire Thome. Or maybe complaining about cheap second hand replacements that endanger passenger safety: “Tire phony!”
I hope the chants continue, and get heard. It’s the only reason left to go to a game. I hope TLR gets fired, or their attendance plummets to Tampa Bay levels.
B’s not gonna happen- too much fun at the ballpark and some sick giveaways. Fans may loathe the decrepit hall of fame baseball person but like the guys in the clubhouse. Especially when Lynn, Eloy and Kelly all come roaring back. So Option A- maybe they plant some Lou Pinella gotta spend time with the ailing mom to justify a “release” from duties that’s not a firing.
I remember 40 years when Tony was booed every time he went to the mound. Then the Sox started Winning Ugly and all was forgiven. Well, at least until Jerry put Hawk in charge.
There are close to 29 million Texans, but only one named Seby Zavala.
Japan’s always a good option.
Interesting see the hate for the manager, but little being said about the players injuries/performance. I guess it’s all you can do right now though. Blame the manager because they can’t get rid of all the under performing or injured players.
Maybe they will see better results when everyone returns and summer sets in?
Managers get too much credit and too much blame. Easy pickings for those who do not want to exercise critical thinking.
Kopech hurt now!
Left game after 2 outs in first inning.
Season over!
White Sox organizational depth is pathetic.
Yermin will always have April 2021, as a major leaguer that may be all he has. Maybe, maybe someone places a waiver claim (Giants getting nothing out of their Catchers, Reds won’t have Stephenson for at least a month, Pirates are the Pirates) there are few opportunities, we’ll see if he gets one
Mercedes hasn’t caught since last year and he mainly played DH with almost zero time behind the plate last year when he was brought up. As bad as Michael Perez is, he’s a gold glover compared to Mercedes.
There’s no more disappointing team to watch than the Sox, Reinsdorf will never fire him but the whole fan base is up in arms