Comings and goings: White Sox make 6 roster moves, including Anderson on the IL
With rosters eligible to expand from 26 to 28 for the final month of the regular season, Wednesday was an active day for major-league clubs.
For the White Sox, frenetic was a more fitting description.
Before playing an interleague game against the Pirates at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Sox made six roster moves.
Gavin Sheets and Matt Foster were recalled from Class AAA Charlotte, and they were joined by Romy Gonzalez, who had his contract purchased after coming from out of nowhere this season.
Billy Hamilton is also back with the White Sox. The veteran outfielder missed the entire month of August with a right-oblique strain and returned after playing six rehab games for Charlotte.
There also were some subtractions for the Sox.
Shortstop Tim Anderson, who has been dealing with sore legs for weeks, landed on the 10-day injured list with a sore left hamstring.
Jake Lamb, who batted .212 with 6 home runs and 13 RBI in 43 games, was designated for assignment.
Lucas Giolito, who had to leave Tuesday night's start against Pittsburgh in the fifth inning with left-hamstring tightness, is not going on the IL. The right-hander won't make his next scheduled start, Tuesday night at Oakland.
Anderson missed four straight games with hamstring issues before getting back in the lineup last week at Toronto. With the White Sox getting closer to clinching a playoff berth, it makes sense to let Anderson rest so he's ready for October.
"There's just a lingering soreness," manager Tony La Russa said. "This gives certainty that he's 100% and then let him work out a bit. The 10 days allows that to happen."
Ace starter Lance Lynn went on the IL Tuesday with right-knee inflammation, joining Anderson and Giolito as three key Sox players who need to be feeling good for the playoffs.
"I think if there's a little soreness you just wait," La Russa said. "Let's get them healthy."
Giolito doesn't think his hamstring injury is "very serious," and he's tentatively scheduled to throw a bullpen in Kansas City on Friday following Thursday's off-day.
"See how he feels on Friday," La Russa said. "It's optimistic we'll get him back sooner rather than later."
Reynaldo Lopez is going to replace Lynn and start against the Royals on Saturday. The Sox have time to announce Giolito's replacement for Tuesday's game against the Athletics.
A healthy Gonzalez is thrilled to be with the White Sox after beginning the season as an obscure prospect at Class AA Birmingham.
In 87 combined games with Birmingham and Charlotte, the 24-year-old infielder hit .275/.357/.525 with 15 doubles, 23 home runs, 57 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
One of seven players in the minor leagues with 20 homers and 20 steals this year, Gonzalez was the Sox's 18th-round draft pick in 2018 out of the University of Miami.
"I'm extremely blessed, I'm extremely grateful to be here," Gonzalez said. "It's incredible to be with such a historic organization, franchise and these guys are in first place.
"I just want to do my part. I'm the type of guy to put my head down and play as hard as I can and just have fun."