White Sox add infielder to complete Rios deal
The White Sox have themselves another Garcia.
On July 30, they got outfielder Avisail Garcia from the Detroit Tigers in a three-way trade that sent Jake Peavy to the Boston Red Sox.
On Sunday, they landed infielder Leury Garcia from the Rangers as the player to be named in Friday’s waiver deal that moved Alex Rios to Texas.
Garcia, 22, played in 25 games with the Rangers at the beginning of the season and batted .192 with 1 RBI. Garcia was playing at Class AAA Round Rock, where he batted .264 with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, 19 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 47 games.
He will report to Class AAA Charlotte, and Garcia is likely to join the White Sox in September.
“He’s played every infield position except first (base) and (played) some center field,” said Sox general manager Rick Hahn. “There’s a possibility he winds up in a super utility role.
“He has the defensive ability to be an everyday shortstop or second baseman. It’s going to come down to how much he hits ultimately to dictate his role.
“There’s little question he’s ready defensively to contribute at the big-league level. His bat has to fully develop.”
Over five minor-league seasons with the Rangers, Garcia batted .261 with 13 home runs, 143 RBI and 155 stolen bases in 475 games.
“He’s a plus-plus runner, plus arm and defensive player,” Hahn said. “Switch hitter, and he has the positive of his versatility. Even if the bat doesn’t quite develop to reach his maximum upside, he has some value on a big-league club.
“Then it would be about figuring out the best way to use it.”
One bad inning:White Sox starter Jose Quintana (6-4) took the loss Sunday after pitching 5 innings and allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks.Quintana was cruising along until the fifth inning, when the Twins scored all of their runs on Brian Dozier#146;s 3-run homer and Joe Mauer#146;s 2-run shot.#147;I really don#146;t know, it#146;s one of those things you don#146;t want to happen, but it happened in the game,#148; Quintana said through a translator. #147;They are part of the game. I feel bad. It was a bad inning.#148;Flip-flop:After making his first start with the White Sox in center field Saturday, Avisail Garcia started in right Sunday. #147;Wherever they put me, I will try to play hard and do something good,#148; he said.The newcomer was 1-for-4 Sunday and is 2-for-9 since joining the Sox for Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.#147;He#146;s put in a situation where he#146;s trying to do a little too much,#148; Adam Dunn said of Garcia. #147;We all know how good he is.#147;For him to be a young guy with all the hoopla coming up and to be thrown in the fire, it#146;s too early to judge him. He#146;s a good player.#148;