Sox showing interest in other shortstops, yet seem content with Saladino

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NASHVILLE - While the White Sox have dabbled in the possibility of signing a free agent shortstop such as Asdrubal Cabrera, general manager Rick Hahn continued to bang the drum for light-hitting Tyler Saladino as perhaps the No. 1 candidate to be the team's Opening Day starter at one of the most important positions on the diamond.

Now there's a paragraph that won't light a hot-stove fire under a Sox' fan base yearning for more after three consecutive losing seasons. Saladino batted .225 to go with a .267 on-base percentage over 254 plate appearances as a rookie in 2015, not exactly inspiring numbers for a team desperately needing to get better offensively.

Hahn's top goal at these meetings and thereafter is to bolster his lineup, but Saladino has enough glove, makeup, baseball acumen and -- in the Sox' view -- a high enough offensive ceiling to qualify as Alexei Ramirez's replacement while prospect Tim Anderson continues to develop in the minor leagues.

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