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Ventura to reveal Sox' closer before gametime

The White Sox' 25-man roster is all set, but some key roles are still up in the air.

Is Nate Jones going to replace Addison Reed as closer?

Are right-handed hitting Dayan Viciedo and left-hander Alejandro De Aza going to platoon in left field?

What is the Sox' lineup going to look like?

Stay tuned.

Jones and another closer candidate, Matt Lindstrom, both battled through injuries in spring training. Ronald Belisario was a late arrival after having visa trouble in his native Venezuela. Maikel Cleto, who was claimed off waivers from the Royals in late February, pitched well for the Sox in the Cactus League and is another option to pitch the ninth inning.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura said he will announce the closer before Monday afternoon's season opener against the Twins.

"I'm going to talk to them a little bit later and then they'll find out," Ventura said. "We feel pretty good about it and we know what we're going to do."

Ventura was also waiting on naming Viciedo or De Aza as the starting left fielder, and that's why a lineup was not posted Sunday.

Good to go:

Roger Bossard has been a busy man the past few weeks getting all of the snow, ice and permafrost off U.S. Cellular Field, but the White Sox' ace groundskeeper has made the playing surface look like it's summer.

"I'm impressed," manager Robin Ventura said. "We thought there would be an iceberg out in left field from the reports we got in Arizona. Roger, he knew he had his work cut out for him. I knew he would pull this off. I've never seen a situation he hasn't been able to handle yet."

Around the horn:

The White Sox and relief pitcher Mitchell Boggs agreed on a minor-league contract. Boggs signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Sox over the winter but was designated for assignment after allowing 9 runs in 6.1 innings during spring training…The White Sox traded minor-league pitcher Omar Poveda to the Nationals for cash considerations.

Matt Lindstrom, left, shown talking with catcher Tyler Flowers, is a candidate to be the White Sox closer. Associated Press
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