Latos can help Chicago White Sox, but can he get healthy?
GLENDALE, Ariz. - When asked about the suddenly crowded starting rotation Friday on the opening day of spring training, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and manager Robin Ventura offered echoing answers.
"We're not naive enough to think we'll have five guys make 32 starts," Hahn said.
"We're not going to be able to go through with just five guys," Ventura added.
Barring a miracle, the Sox are going to need more than five starters over the course of the long season.
For now, it looks like Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, newcomer Mat Latos and John Danks comprise the starting five, with Erik Johnson waiting in the wings at Class AAA Charlotte.
Don't be so sure.
Even with a string of off-field controversies, which came to a head last spring when Latos had some unflattering things to say about some of his old teammates and trainers with the Cincinnati Reds, he was thought to be a bargain when the White Sox signed the 28-year-old right-hander to a one-year, $3 million contract earlier this month.
The Sox say they did their homework on Latos before offering him a contract and are fine with his character. Health is another issue.
Latos was limited to 40 games (37 starts) the last two seasons with the Reds, Marlins, Dodgers and Angels due to a left knee injury that's required two surgeries.
While Latos said he "feels great" and was able to throw off the mound Friday, there is still fluid in the knee and he might not be ready to break camp with the White Sox.
"Your words, not mine," Latos said when asked if he is 100 percent healthy. "I feel great. A lot of things were on my mind throughout the 2014 and 2015 season about it and how the body felt. Just dealing with lingering issues with it, and finally dealing with it during the off-season."
Remembering Phillips:
White Sox vice president Kenny Williams was stunned Friday morning after hearing Tony Phillips died at the age of 56.
Phillips played for the Sox in 1996-97 and was a teammate of manager Robin Ventura.
"It's sad," Ventura said. "Just hearing news of a guy that you played with, seeing him around here in spring training and every once in a while on the road, he looked in good health when you'd see him. It was fun to see him. It's extremely sad.
"He was great. He was crazy, in a good way. Brought a lot of spirit and everything else to your team."
Phillips played nine of his 18 major league seasons with the A's, and he also spent five years with Detroit, two each with the Angels and White Sox and one year for both the Mets and Toronto. Most notably, he made the final defensive play in the Athletics' sweep of the Giants during the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series. He returned to Oakland for his final season in 1999 and was a career .266 hitter with 160 home runs and 819 RBIs in 2,161 games.