Is Saladino long-term answer for Sox at third base?
Every major-league team has to make difficult roster decisions in the off-season.
The Chicago White Sox are no different, and third base is one position that already is a focal point.
Conor Gillaspie was the Sox' primary starter at third in 2013 and '14, and he still held the job when the current season opened.
Gillaspie never produced the power typically seen out of third basemen, but he finished last season with a .282 batting average while playing adequate defense.
The bat and the glove both slipped noticeably this season, and Gillaspie was designated for assignment on July 19 with a .237 average, 3 home runs and 15 RBI in 58 games.
Gillaspie was later traded to the Angels. Before Tuesday's game against the White Sox, Los Angeles designated Gillaspie for assignment.
The Angels beat the Sox for the second straight night, 5-3.
Starter John Danks pitched 7 innings for the White Sox but was hit hard in the first, giving up Kole Calhoun's 2-run homer and a solo shot to Albert Pujols.
The Sox cut the L.A. lead to 3-1 in the second inning on Alexei Ramirez's RBI groundout, but the Angels made it 4-1 in the fourth when a rare fielding miscue by Saladino led to an unearned run.
In the sixth inning, Jose Abreu's run-scoring double made it 4-2.
The White Sox' final run came on Adam Eaton's groundout in the eighth.
Tyler Saladino came up from Class AAA Charlotte on July 10 and took over at third base for Gillaspie, and he has played spectacular defense.
Saladino made another slick fielding play early in Tuesday's game against the Angels, robbing Mike Trout of an extra-base hit in the first inning. He undoubtedly has the glove to play third base for the Sox next season, but his hitting line stands at .241/.276/.350 to go with 3 home runs and 8 RBI in 33 games.
Saladino figures to get better with experience, but so far the bat has been a disappointment.
Will he be in the starting lineup next season, even if it's at shortstop or second base?
“He's comfortable anywhere,” manager Robin Ventura said. “He's played all over, so infield is his most comfortable positions. All the way around the infield. I know he has played in the outfield a little bit last year. He can probably catch. If we got into an emergency, he would probably be the guy who can catch.”
On the last homestand, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn raved about Saladino's defense and versatility but said it is still a matter of trying to project his offense.
Matt Davidson remains a viable option for the Sox at third base.
Davidson has 20 home runs at Class AAA Charlotte, which ties him for first in the International League.
He also has shown dramatic improvement on defense, but the .207 batting average and 170 strikeouts in 456 at-bats are still holding Davidson back.