advertisement

All-star Garcia facing uncertain future with White Sox

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Avisail Garcia is 26 years old.

He finished second in the American League with a .330 batting average last season.

He was the Chicago White Sox's lone representative in the All-Star Game.

He is still under club control for two more years before being eligible for free agency.

Add it all up and you should be looking at a player that is secure on a Sox roster that has undergone a massive rebuild.

"I think it's important for me to be able to have a lot of experience now in the big leagues and try to help the young guys and try to make them feel comfortable," Garcia said. "I think that's a big part of it. I just have to make the guys comfortable. We're a family, you know?"

There is definitely a family feel in Sox's training camp this spring, but there are still doubts about Garcia being in future portraits.

The subject of trade rumors this off-season, Garcia plays the same position (right field) as top prospect Eloy Jimenez.

"I don't pay attention to that," Garcia said. "In my mind, I've got to get ready to do my job. As a player, you've got to get better every year and do your best. Let's see what happens."

Before reporting to camp, Garcia won his arbitration hearing with the White Sox. He gets $6.7 million this season instead of the Sox's $5.85 million offer.

"I'm excited, but it's part of the business," Garcia said. "It's in the process. Nobody likes to go to arbitration but it's part of the business."

Message sent:

Before going through their first full-squad workout of spring training Monday, the White Sox held their annual team meeting in the clubhouse.

Manager Rick Renteria did most of the talking.

"I think it (message) was just continue to do what we've started to do on this journey," Renteria said. "Stay focused, prepare well, hustle. Go out there and do everything they can to continue the path that we're on. I think they're all on board and they're as excited as we are, the prospects and the possibilities of everything as they continue to grow together as a team.

"We've got a lot of guys, obviously not everybody's going to make the club, but every single one of them has a chance to be a part of this as we continue to move forward."

Harness the heat:

Thyago Vieira is a bullpen arm to watch this spring.

Acquired in a November trade from Seattle for international signing bonus pool money, the right-hander regularly throws 100 mph.

"He's a confident kid," manager Rick Renteria said. "He's feeling comfortable in camp and getting along with everybody. For all these guys you want them to feel comfortable in their own skin and surroundings, hopefully they get some freedom to be free of emotion and tension and focus on what they need to do."

Vieira needs to improve his fastball command if he hopes to earn a spot in the White Sox's bullpen.

"We've got to make sure there's strike one consistently, being able to locate that fastball the way he wants," Renteria said. "Then I think we're good from there to see how he will expand on his secondary pitches."

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.