The Chicago White Sox added two veterans - a catcher and a pitcher - on Thursday while one of their top prospects has been ranked among the top left-handed pitchers in the minor leagues by MLBPipeline.com.
Chicago signed catcher Geovany Soto to a minor-league deal, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. The 32-year-old won Rookie of the Year with the Chicago Cubs back in 2008, which was by far his best season in the majors (.285/.364/.504 with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs). Since then he's struggled to stay healthy and his offensive production has witnessed a steep decline.
Since being traded to the Texas Rangers during the 2012 season, Soto has played in only 125 games and compiled just 15 home runs and 50 RBIs. If his health holds up he can still be a contributing player and possibly serve as the backup to Tyler Flowers in Chicago.
Soto will be joined by reliever Jesse Crain, who also signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox on Thursday, according to the team's Twitter account. Crain last pitched through the middle of the 2013 season with the White Sox and has been out of action since as he's been recovering from shoulder and biceps surgeries. He signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Houston Astros last season and was one of the candidates to become their closer, but he was unable to pitch in 2014.
The 10-year veteran owns a 45-30 record with a 3.05 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 532 games with the White Sox (three seasons) and Minnesota Twins (seven seasons). If he comes back healthy he could become a solid addition to Chicago's improving bullpen.
Shifting focus to younger players, the White Sox have a prospect that has been ranked No. 2 out of the top 10 left-handed pitchers in the minor leagues. Carlos Rodon, who the team selected third overall in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft, earned such recognition by MLBPipeLine.com. The 22-year-old maintained a 2.96 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in nine games (six starts) between the White Sox Rookie League, Advanced Class-A Winston-Salem and Triple-A Charlotte in 2014.
It was speculated he would reach the major league roster last season, but general manager Rick Hahn eventually decided against it. Here's the analysis from MLBPipeLine.com:
"Entering last spring, Rodon was the favorite to be the top overall pick in the Draft. But he wasn't quite as dominant as expected during his junior season at North Carolina State, and ultimately went third overall. Rodon should quickly reach Chicago, and he has the stuff, size and makeup to become a top-of-the-rotation pitcher once he does."
