White Sox 40-Man Roster Updates…

With the Rule 5 Draft just days away (Thursday, December 13), the Chicago White Sox 40-man roster currently sits at 37. Let’s take a look at how it got there — starting back in October after the regular season ended:

OCTOBER

In a span of two days, three players were outrighted off of the 40-man roster and sent to Charlotte.

On October 3, RHP Brian Omogrosso, who had right elbow surgery in August, was outrighted to the Knights. After going from the 15-day disabled to the 60-day disabled a month earlier, Omogrosso was officially sent to Charlotte on October 3.

In 12 games with the White Sox, Omogrosso posted an 0–2 record with a 9.37 ERA. For the Knights, the PA native went 0–1 with two saves and a 4.91 ERA in 10 games.

Originally drafted by the White Sox in the sixth round of the 2006 draft, Omogrosso owns a 19–22 record with 21 saves and a 3.94 ERA over eight Minor League seasons. He appeared in four games for the Knights in 2009 and then spent three seasons in Fort Mill from 2011–13.

On October 4, catcher Bryan Anderson and RHP Ramon Troncoso were also outrighted to Charlotte. Both players, like Omogrosso, spent time with the Knights in 2013.

Anderson appeared in 10 games for the White Sox (.056, 1–18, 0 HR, 2 RBIs), while Troncoso pitched in 29 games for the Sox and compiled a 1–4 mark with a 4.50 ERA. Both players had success with the Knights last season, before finishing the 2013 campaign in Chicago.

On October 18, LHP David Purcey was ourighted to the Charlotte Knights — coming off of Chicago’s 40-man roster. It didn’t take long, however, for him to wind up back with the White Sox. On November 18, the White Sox signed him as a free agent (he is not currently a member of Chicago’s 40-man roster). Purcey will once again compete for a spot in the Chicago bullpen this spring.

The IL native had an impressive 2013 season in Charlotte and Chicago. He posted a 0–2 mark with two saves and a 3.03 ERA in 26 games for the Knights. With the White Sox he was even better — going 1–1 with a 2.13 ERA in 24 appearances out of the ‘pen.

On October 29, the White Sox signed Cuban sensation Jose Abreu to a six-year, $68 million deal. The 26-year-old first baseman joins two other Cuban players currently on the White Sox — Dayan Viciedo and Alexei Ramirez.

Abreu became a hot commodity during the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In six games, he hit .360 with three home runs and nine RBIs.

NOVEMBER

On November 1, the White Sox outrighted RHP Simon Castro off of the 40-man roster.

Castro spent the majority of the 2013 campaign with Charlotte. The 6'5" righty compiled a 3–7 record and a 5.83 ERA in 27 games (12 starts) for the Knights. He was promoted to the White Sox and was effective in four games (0–1, 2.70 ERA, six strikeouts in 6.2 innings).

On November 20, the White Sox added an infielder to their 40-man roster when they claimed Jake Elmore off waivers from the Houston Astros. A native of Dothan, AL, Elmore hit .242 with two home runs and six RBIs for the Astros in 52 games last season. Elmore, 26, played all nine positions for the Astros last season. On August 19, he became just the 14th player in Major League Baseball history to pitch and catch in the same game. In 70 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City last year, Elmore hit .299 with five home runs, 30 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.

Also on November 20, the White Sox added two of their top prospects to their 40-man roster — OF Trayce Thompson and INF Carlos Sanchez. Both players had success at the Minor League level and both have donned a Knights jersey over the course of their careers. Thompson is just 22, while Sanchez is just 21. Both have a bright future ahead.

DECEMBER

RHP Dylan Axelrod was non-tendered on December 2 — making the California native a free agent and of course, removing him from the 40-man roster. Axelrod was a solid pitcher for the Knights over parts of two seasons — starting 31 games over that span and posting a 13–6 mark with a 2.58 ERA in 188.1 innings pitched. In fact, his 2.58 career Knights ERA is ranked first in franchise history (180 innings needed to qualify).

This season, Axelrod spent the entire year with the White Sox and pitched to the tune of a 4–11 record with a 5.68 ERA in 30 games (20 starts). Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 30th round of the 2007 draft, Axlerod holds a career Major League mark of 7–13 with a 5.36 ERA in 48 games (30 starts).

On Wednesday, December 4, the White Sox welcomed Paul Konerko back to the team and signed the slugger to a one-year deal. Konerko, a White Sox legend, will enter his 16th season with the Sox in 2014. The 37-year-old hit .244 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 126 games last year for Chicago.

On Friday, December 6, the White Sox optioned OF Blake Tekotte and 1B Mike McDade to the Charlotte Knights. By removing both players, the Sox 40-man roster (as of Sunday, December 8) sits at 37. Tekotte was a doubles machine for the Knights last season — hitting 27 two baggers in 76 games. McDade, who was claimed off waivers from the Indians while the Knights were in Columbus playing the Clippers (he switched dugouts), hit .254 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 94 games for the Knights.

I’ll keep you updated throughout the offseason regarding the White Sox 40-man roster, which currently features 24 players who have spent time with the Knights.