Sox place Owens and Richar on DL, option Wasserman to Triple-A

CLEVELAND -- The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Jerry Owens and infielder Danny Richar on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, and optioned pitcher Ehren Wassermann to Triple-A Charlotte.

"I want people available to play every day," manager Ozzie Guillen said after a light workout a day before the season opener against the Cleveland Indians on Monday. "We start tomorrow and we've got 25 guys here ready to play."

The speedy Owens' bid to earn the starting job in center field this spring was hampered by a slight tear in his right groin. Owens first experienced some discomfort after the team's first intrasquad game on Feb. 25 and was in and out of the lineup for a month. In 10 games, he batted .361 (13-for-36) with three RBIs.

In 93 games with Chicago a year ago, the 26-year-old stole 32 bases in 40 attempts, batting .267 with one homer and 17 RBIs.

Richar batted .364 (4-for-11) this spring, but chronic back pain limited him to only four games. Tests on Wednesday disclosed a stress fracture in his left ribcage, and his move to the DL was retroactive to March 21.

The right-handed Wassermann went 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in 10 outings this spring, allowing six hits in 11 2-3 innings. The 27-year-old sidearm reliever was 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA in 33 games as a rookie a year ago.