Detwiler shakes off the rust, helps Chicago White Sox knock off Twins

General manager Rick Hahn is well aware the Chicago White Sox's starting rotation has been a revolving mess since the season started.

"In terms of building a championship club for the long term, we need more from the starting rotation than what we've gotten this season," Hahn said.

The Sox are not a championship club this year, but they are likely to add a veteran starter or two over the winter and make a push in 2020.

For the remainder of the current season, the White Sox could add a starter at the July 31 deadline, under one condition.

"We're very firmly of the belief that we're not going to look for any short-term fixes, that anything we were to do or are going to do at the trade deadline is going to have a long-term focus on it," Hahn said. "We're going to want guys who are controllable and obviously that can help us for the long term as well as now, not just now. We're probably not alone in saying that, meaning that all 30 clubs would be looking for controllable starting pitching that they would like."

In need of another fill-in starter Friday night, the Sox turned to journeyman Ross Detwiler, who signed a minor-league contract on May 9 after opening the season with the York Revolution in the independent Atlantic League.

Detwiler, 33, was 1-2 with a 3.98 ERA and 1 complete game in 8 starts for Charlotte before having his contract purchased.

The left-hander made a solid first impression in the White Sox's 6-4 win over the first-place Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field, pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and no walks.

"It was just awesome," Detwiler said. "It just feels great to be here. It's been 12 or 13 years, I've been back to the minors, Indy ball. It's been a tough road, but you know, we're here."

Detwiler lives in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, a long home run away from former Sox workhorse starter Mark Buehrle (St. Charles).

"He's about 15 minutes from me," Detwiler said. "We worked out in the off-season a few times."

Detwiler didn't bother asking to wear Buehrle's old uniform No. 56, which is retired. "No," he said. "I believe that's sacred around here."

James McCann and Eloy Jimenez each hit 2-run homers as the White Sox snapped a seven-game losing streak against Minnesota that dated to last season. Detwiler won his first major-league game since Sept. 18, 2016, when he pitched for the Oakland Athletics.

Palka in, Alonso out:

The Sox officially cut ties with Yonder Alonso on Friday after the first baseman/designated hitter batted .178 with 7 home runs and 27 RBI in 67 games.

Unless they can trade him, the White Sox are on the hook for the remainder of Alonso's $8 million salary. Alonso also had a $9 million club option for 2020, with a $1 million buyout.

"Obviously, it got to the point where it wasn't quite working out in terms of his on-field production," GM Rick Hahn said. "To his credit, it never waned in terms of the contribution he was making inside the clubhouse. He was a class act while he was here, but it got to the point where from a production standpoint we wanted to give the opportunities to Zack Collins and Daniel Palka."

Palka rejoined the Sox from Class AAA Charlotte. He was 0-for-4 Friday night and is 1-for-39 on the season.

Top draft picks sign:

The White Sox announced the signings of their top three draft picks Friday.

First-rounder Andrew Vaughn agreed to a $7.2 million bonus after batting .381 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI for Cal this season. High school pitchers Matthew Thompson and Andrew Dalquist also signed.

All three players will get acclimated to professional baseball with the Arizona League White Sox.

Like top draft pick Nick Madrigal last year, Vaughn is expected to finish the season with low Class A Kannapolis.