White Sox catcher Castillo traded to Rangers; Abreu, four others declare for free agency
The Chicago White Sox wasted little time making moves in what figures to be a busy offseason.
The day after the Washington Nationals beat the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the World Series, the Sox announced a flurry of transactions.
Thursday's news leads with catcher Welington Castillo being traded to Texas for minor-league infielder/outfielder Jonah McReynolds. The Sox also sent international slot money to the Rangers, believed to be $250,000.
Castillo has an $8 million club option for the 2020 season, but Texas is not expected to pick it up. The Rangers hold a $500,000 buyout on Castillo, who will become a free agent after it is exercised.
McReynolds, 23, is a marginal prospect who has spent the last three seasons at Class A Spokane.
Abreu a free agent:
Five White Sox players declared for free agency Thursday, headed by all-star first baseman Jose Abreu.
Pitchers Ivan Nova, Ross Detwiler and Hector Santiago and outfielder Jon Jay are also on the open market.
Look for Abreu to be the only player on the list to return to the Sox.
"There's a strong desire on both sides to figure out a way to keep Jose in a White Sox uniform beyond this year," general manager Rick Hahn said at the end of the regular season. "We've been in these situations before. It seems fairly similar to the Paul Konerko situation after (20)05 and again after '09 when we re-signed him again.
"Paulie went deep into free agency and talked to other clubs and we still found a way to bring him back. I don't now quite the path it's going to follow with Jose just yet, but more often than not when there's that mutual desire to figure out a way to get something done, you wind up getting something done."
Abreu, 32, led the American League with 123 RBI this season while batting .284 and hitting 33 home runs.
Roster moves:
Starting pitchers Michael Kopech and Carlos Rodon were both reinstated from the 60-day injured list Thursday, as was reliever Ryan Burr.
All three are recovering from Tommy John surgery, and only Kopech is expected to be ready to go at the start of the 2020 season.
The Sox's 40-man roster stands at 32.
Osich to Red Sox:
Outrighted to Class AAA Charlotte Thursday, left-handed relief pitcher Josh Osich was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox.
In 57 appearances out of the White Sox's bullpen this season, Osich was 4-0 with a 4.66 ERA.