White Sox designate RHP Santana for assignment

CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago White Sox have designated struggling right-hander Ervin Santana for assignment and inserted lefty Manny Bañuelos in his rotation spot.

Santana, a two-time All-Star, was 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts after his contract was selected from Triple-A Charlotte on April 9. The White Sox signed him to a minor league deal in February that called for a $4.3 million salary while in the major leagues. A finger injury, followed by surgery, limited Santana to five appearances with Minnesota last season.

"Frankly, we weren't quite getting what we were hoping for out of that spot in terms of consistency and we decided to make a change," general manager Rick Hahn said Friday. "We didn't feel like it was working out, and we decided to go a different direction in the interest of the long-term."

The 36-year-old Santana is 149-127 with a 4.09 ERA over 15 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City, Atlanta, Minnesota and Chicago. He an All-Star for Minnesota in 2017, going 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA.

The 28-year-old Bañuelos is 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA in five appearances and 14 2/3 innings this season. He allowed no runs in four innings in a start at Baltimore on Monday, scattering five hits while striking out four and walking one as Chicago won 12-2.

Right-hander Lucas Giolito, out since April 17 with a left hamstring strain, threw in the bullpen on Friday and is expected to return during homestand, which ends May 5.

Chicago reinstated outfielder Eloy Jiménez from the bereavement list. He had returned home to the Dominican Republic following the death of his grandmother.

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