The White Sox announced that outfielder Ryan LaMarre and right-handers Danny Farquhar and Rob Scahill have been outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte after clearing waivers. All three will become free agents.
Farquhar will garner the most attention of the trio, as the 31-year-old endured a terrifying brain aneurysm in the White Sox’ dugout earlier this season and was subsequently rushed to the hospital. Farquhar required emergency surgery and, to the relief of teammates, fans and players throughout the league was discharged from the hospital a few weeks later. He ultimately made an emotional return to the clubhouse to visit his teammates, who honored him by hanging his jersey in the bullpen during his absence, the day after being released from the hospital. And on June 1, the ChiSox invited Farquhar to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Suffice it to say, Farquhar’s baseball future is somewhat up in the air. He didn’t throw a pitch in the Majors after suffering the aneurysm, though his neurosurgeon said at the time of his release from the hospital that it was possible the right-hander would be able to pitch again in future seasons. Given his uncertain future and a projected $1.4MM salary in arbitration, it was only logical for the Sox to make the roster cut from a business standpoint. It does seem there’s a chance that Farquhar and the others could return to the organization.
“We do plan to continue to stay in touch with these players and their representatives over the coming months to see if it makes sense for any of them to remain with our organization as we head into the 2019 season,” general manager Rick Hahn told reporters (Twitter link via Scott Merkin of MLB.com).
Scahill, 32 in February, pitched five innings for the Sox this season, yielding three earned runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts. He’s logged 149 2/3 frames at the MLB level over parts of seven seasons with the Rockies, Pirates, Brewers and White Sox, compiling a 3.85 ERA with 6.0 K/9 against 3.5 BB/9 in that span.
LaMarre, 30 next month, split the year between the Pale Hose and the Twins, batting .279/.322/.382 in a career-high 180 plate appearances. A career .268/.336/.389 hitter in parts of three Triple-A campaigns, the right-handed-hitting LaMarre is capable of handling all three outfield positions.
That’s an enormous slap in the face to Farquhar
Hoping they re-sign him.
He may not be able to pitch again, let alone next season, so there’s no sense in keeping him on the 40-man roster over the winter and he knows that.
He was cleared to pitch by doctors before the end of the season but not to live batters due to the risk of a line drive hitting him in the head without his skull fully healed (hardened). He was already throwing 90 mph in late August. Assuming there haven’t been any setbacks, he should be ready to pitch in spring training.
I didn’t realize he’d made so much progress. My bad.
All good!
Can we be honest here? Farquhar would have been a dfa candidate before his tragic situation. He’s an average relief pitcher on wrong side of 30. Wish him best with health, but he’s not worth 40-man spot
Its not a slap in the face at all. This is business. If he does not catch on and his career ends they can always bring him back to the organization in a different role. But taking up a 40 man roster spot. No way.
“It’s just business…..”
It’s not like he’s been sent out to the Andromeda Vortex…..if he’s able to recover, he can always be put back onto the 40……and the White Sox system seems to have improved to the point where 40-man spaces are valuable…..
Best of luck to him tho…that was pretty horrific…..
Routing for Farquhar to make a comeback when he’s ready. What a remarkable story that would be.
Disrespectful to Farquhar, the man almost passed away during a game for them, the least they can do is at least give him a roster spot until he is cleared?
Its not like teams are prohibited from doing whats best in the interest of the player. White Sox can always offer him a minimum minor league deal, keep him off the 40, but still provide him medical coverage
The padres had a pitching prospect suffer a heart attack during a pen session and have renewed his basic minors deal last 20+ years so he can have access to health insurance
ftw.usatoday.com/2015/04/san-diego-padres-matt-lac…
Seems very routine- sign, place on 60 DL in minors- rinse repeat.
No such thing as a 60-day DL in minors
If he was not cleared he could be on the 60 day DL and that clears the 40 man spot. But he has been cleared so its not disrespectful at all
No 60-day DL during the offseason
At the end of the day, it makes no sense to keep a guy on the 40-man roster for sympathy’s sake. I would imagine that he won’t be left out in the dark, though. Yes, it’s a tragedy, but 40-man spots are valuable. I would imagine they re-new him at the minor league rate and as was stated before, given benefits.
Following these moves, the White Sox 40-man roster currently stands at 36. Some minor league prospects will need to be added to keep them from being eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December. This includes Dylan Cease which is a no-brainer for the organization.
The roster will be reduced again following the conclusion of the World Series when some veterans can become free agents. This would include Hector Santiago and also James Shields once his $16MM team option is bought out for $2MM. Miguel Gonzalez is another but he is technically not on the reserve roster and still on the 60-day disabled list. Once Gonzalez is reinstated he will also become a FA.
The Angels also claimed C Kevan Smith off of waivers today reducing the White Sox roster even further to 35. Omar Narvaez now appears to be the likely backup to Wellington Castillo in 2019 provided the latter can stay free of PED’s.
Danny Farquhar’s nickname in the clubhouse better be Lord Farquaad or baseball is failing.
Good luck to all 3. I hope things improve and next year will be a good one for you.