Rozner: Signing Rollins just what White Sox do

If you're the Chicago White Sox, this is what you do.

You sign Jimmy Rollins because, well, why not sign Jimmy Rollins?

There's not much risk and - based on how the 37-year-old Rollins performed last year in Los Angeles - probably not much reward.

He comes in on a minor-league deal, and if he's awful the Sox let him go.

If he comes in and has a good spring, he'll be the opening-day starter and it will be a small amount of money well spent.

Because if you're the White Sox, this is what you do.

It hurts Tyler Saladino, who thought he would be the shortstop. It's a blow to his confidence and it takes reps away from a guy who needs them right now, and if Rollins doesn't make it, the Sox have done Saladino no favors.

This isn't as much trying to catch lightning in a bottle as it is throwing stuff up against a wall and hoping it sticks.

Because if you're the White Sox, this is what you do.

If you're always in go-for-it mode but don't really have the resources to compete with teams who can outspend you by $80 million, you have to be creative with trades and signings, and that's why you take a shot with Rollins.

It's why you make trades for Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie, Adam Eaton and Avy Garcia.

You sign free agents like Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche, Alex Avila, Dioner Navarro, Mat Latos and David Robertson.

You are always chasing and always hoping.

Because if you're the White Sox, this is what you do.

They have to hope for more this year from Eaton, Garcia and Cabrera. In other words, the entire outfield.

They have to hope they get more from Frazier, Rollins, Lawrie and LaRoche. In other words, their entire infield if Jose Abreu were the designated hitter, which is where he should be.

They have to hope Chris Sale and Jose Quintana maintain their high level on the mound, while hoping Carlos Rodon remembers what he found at the end of last season.

They have to hope Latos stays healthy and hope John Danks can remember that he knows how to pitch and can be effective as a No. 5.

They have to hope for much more from so many guys.

Because if you're the White Sox, this is what you do.

It doesn't mean they can't compete this year and it doesn't mean they can't win the division. If they get leaps in performance from several position players, they could absolutely be in the hunt.

It's baseball. It's possible.

It's just hard, year after year, to be in this position. A general manager can only work with the resources he has and within the parameters he's given. It's no easy task and it means you take chances wherever you can find the cheap ones, and Rollins at $2 million is cheap.

"It provides us with another quality option for our infield," GM Rick Hahn said Monday in Arizona. "It provides us with veteran depth in an area where we previously didn't have it, and it adds to what we feel is a quality mix in the clubhouse as far as a leader."

There is some question about that. His spring-training demeanor caused Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg to bench him for three days in 2014, but he handled it very well in Los Angeles last year when he lost his job late in the season to 21-year-old shortstop Corey Seager.

But you have to think Rollins will be on his best behavior now that he's near the end and desperate for a starting job.

"He had to play through some injuries last year," Hahn said. "He has a long history of doing that and perhaps some of those weighed on him a little bit last season."

It was assumed that Saladino would hold the job until Tim Anderson is ready to make the jump to the big leagues. Both may have to wait if Rollins can get it done.

"We certainly believe in Saladino's upside and his defensive ability," Hahn said. "At the same time, no one is given jobs until they earn jobs.

"So there is certainly the opportunity that Jimmy could find himself playing fairly regularly at short, but he's also going to come in and prepare to be available on more of a utility basis, playing multiple positions depending on how things play out."

Call it creativity or call it desperation, but it's worth taking a chance on Rollins.

Because if you're the White Sox, this is what you do.

brozner@dailyherald.com

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