Potential shifts in race for final spots on Chicago White Sox roster
Zack Collins is going to break camp on the White Sox's 26-man roster.
Suddenly, Yermin Mercedes also has a chance to make the team photo.
Early in spring training, new manager Tony La Russa indicated the Sox would be carrying only two catchers during the regular season.
At that point, Yasmani Grandal and nonroster invite Jonathan Lucroy were the favorites to claim the spots, but there have been some significant changes.
Zack Collins, who was running No. 3 on the depth chart early in Cactus League play, is now positioned to be at designated hitter when the White Sox open the regular season Thursday night against the Angels in Anaheim, California.
Rookie Andrew Vaughn, the leading candidate to be the Sox's regular DH, has moved to left field and will get a shot at replacing the injured Eloy Jimenez, who is out 5-6 months with a ruptured left pectoral tendon.
A natural first baseman, Vaughn got some work in left last summer at the Sox's alternate training site in Schaumburg, and he's up for the challenge.
"You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable," Vaughn said. "I haven't played too much outfield in my whole life, so just go out there and learn the ropes and just do my best and take it one day at a time."
While Collins can always shift to catcher, Mercedes would back up Grandal if Collins stays at DH.
According to FanSided's Robert Murray, the White Sox released Lucroy and the 34-year-old veteran will look to land on another major-league roster.
In 14 Cactus League games, Lucroy was 6-for-18 (.333) with 5 walks.
The Sox also reportedly signed Jake Lamb, who was released by the Braves on Saturday. The power-hitting lefty batted .194 with 1 home run and 5 RBI in 16 Grapefruit League games with Atlanta.
Lamb is a third baseman, which is Yoan Moncada's job. Lamb could be a DH option if the White Sox decide to add him to the major-league roster.
Splitting last season between the Diamondbacks and Athletics, Lamb hit .193/.283/.352 with 3 homers and 10 RBI in 31 games.
With Arizona in 2016-17, Lamb hit 59 home runs and had 196 RBI.