GLENDALE, Ariz. -- With so much versatility on the Chicago White Sox bench this season, manager Robin Ventura admitted the team is toying with the idea of heading into Opening Day with eight relievers.
That would give the White Sox a 13-man pitching staff, which isn’t unheard of, but a 12-man staff is more common.
“You could take the other route where you bring an extra pitcher,” Ventura said Monday. “With the versatility we have, we have some options on how we are going to go early in the year, with some days off and probably have some rainouts and things like that, but you want to be protected all the way around. Right now, we are pretty open to it.”
The biggest versatility asset the White Sox have is free-agent pickup Emilio Bonifacio, who can play both infield and outfield. It’s possible that Bonifacio could end up as the only backup outfielder on the club. Gordon Beckham also provides infield versatility, requiring less position players on the roster.
The bullpen was one of the White Sox’s major weaknesses last season and one of the biggest focuses of the front office to fix. Additions included new closer David Robertson and left-handers Zach Duke and Dan Jennings.
A possible eight-man bullpen could include: Robertson, Duke, Jennings, Daniel Webb, Jake Petricka, Zach Putnam, Javy Guerra and Maikel Cleto. Top prospect Carlos Rodon also is a bullpen candidate, but he will go through spring training in a starting role and could end up as a starter-in-waiting at Triple-A Charlotte.
“You can always slip-slide (Rodon) back into a relief role,” pitching coach Don Cooper said. “But I have said this before, long term, he will be a starter for the Chicago White Sox at some point, dot, dot, dot. We’re not sure when that time is.”
