The White Sox announced a batch of roster moves this afternoon. Outfielder Eloy Jiménez was reinstated from the injured list, swapping places with third baseman Yoán Moncada, who lands on the 10-day IL retroactive to April 11 with lower back soreness. Infielder/outfielder Nick Solak was also claimed off waivers from the Mariners and optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, with right-hander Matt Foster transferred to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Additionally, right-hander Jesse Scholtens was optioned to Charlotte while left-hander Tanner Banks was recalled.
Solak, 28, has bounced around the league quite a bit over the past six months or so. After spending four seasons with the Rangers, he was flipped to the Reds for cash considerations in November. He didn’t impress in spring and was designated for assignment on Opening Day. The Mariners acquired him at that time, with Solak being dealt for cash yet again. After a couple of weeks in the Mariners’ system, he was designated for assignment again and now lands with the Sox.
The fact that Solak is in a limbo zone where various teams are interested in his abilities yet he keeps losing his roster spot is a reflection of his uneven career so far. He debuted with the Rangers in 2019 by posting a .293/.393/.491 batting line and 126 wRC+ in 33 games. But he hit just .246/.317/.354 in the next three seasons for a wRC+ of 88. Despite those struggles at the big league level, he’s continued to flash promise in the minors, hitting .289/.368/.503 in Triple-A.
The White Sox will now be the latest team to give him a shot and see what happens. He still has an option remaining and will head to Charlotte for now. A second baseman earlier in his career, he was pushed into a corner outfield role when the Rangers signed Marcus Semien. It remains to be seen how the Sox deploy Solak for the Knights, but they do have a question mark at second base, as Tim Anderson’s injury has moved Elvis Andrus over to shortstop. That leaves utility players like Romy González, Hanser Alberto and Lenyn Sosa covering second, though Moncada’s injury means they’re needed at third base as well. The outfield corners are a bit more secure with Andrew Benintendi and Óscar Colás taking those spots on a regular basis.
Moncada has been dealing with the back issue for the past few days, having last started on Sunday. Just a few days ago, manager Pedro Grifol said it was possible that Moncada could be ready for action by this weekend, per James Fegan of The Athletic, but it seems the club will give him a bit of a breather to recuperate. He was off to a hot start, currently hitting .308/.325/.564, but that will now be put on pause. By backdating the IL placement, he could potentially be back in a week if he heals up as hoped. His roster spot will go to Jiménez, who is back after just a minimum stay on the IL. He was originally expected to miss about two or three weeks but has beaten that timeline slightly. Within days of going on the IL, he told Fegan that he was feeling much better and would have been available to pinch hit if were still active.
As for Foster, he started the season on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain. It’s unclear what his timeline for return is, but he will now be ineligible until late May. The 60-day count goes from his initial IL placement and not today’s transfer.
Welcome to your childhood favorite team, Solak. Hope things magically turn around in AAA.
Just in the Nick of time!
Seriously? That’s pretty cool
I’ll put the o/u on games before Eloy is hurt again at 10.5
ski44: How about the o/u on how many games before Jimenez and Moncada are in the lineup at the same time?
So I was sitting at Pizza Hut in Berwyn when Nick came walking in. Now I’m
A huge fan so unrecognized him right away. He was wearing a Reo speed wagon shirt. So I invited him over for some sausage and mushrooms pie and he obliged. We talked for about 10 minutes and he actually picked up the tab. What a really nice guy.
pharmorlover;
Haven’t heard from you in a while.
Was worried you weren’t getting enough to eat.
I ran into pharmorlover at the Marengo public library yesterday.
It was great meeting you yesterday . Thanks for paying the fines on my past due books. What a relief. I can now rent the facts of life dvd set .
Thanks . I was fasting and on a liquid diet .
That makes sense- Nick has had to roll with the changes
so long, solak. thought his bat was sure to play when he came up with TB/TEX
Will the Sox every have the center of their lineup healthy at the same time?
No.
Solak for Pete Fairbanks. Had no idea at the time how great this trade was for the Rays.
The revolving injury door is working a again. Should be spinning all season.
Lenyn Sosa is a high value prospect. Erik Gonzalez is in AAA. The ChiSox aren’t completely sunk.
Sosa belongs at Charlotte. So does Gonzalez. But those two and Alberto are what passes for depth. This is the third year in a row that 2b has been a problem. But I definitely have confidence in Solak. After all, the Rangers, Reds and Mariners are all probably wrong about him.
What is your definition of a ‘high value prospect’? And who is Erik González?
Then get a rope and find a tree.
Solak can’t play defense and doesn’t hit. Checkmate Frederic Hahn.
Mr. Solak has a nice Jersey collection.
Where’s Aaron Sapoznik been? Haven’t seen him pop up in the last several Sox posts.
I hear that the next time a Sox player gets hurt they’ll bring out the conditioning staff in a clown car.
The land of misfit toys…