White Sox Roster Update: Leasure In, Pillar Returns, Toussaint DFA’d
With Opening Day less than a week away the White Sox are still working to finalize their roster.
Jordan Leasure has earned a spot on the White Sox Opening Day roster, per a report from Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The news is no surprise to anyone who has watched Leasure during camp. Leasure has not allowed a run this spring, posting a perfect 0.00 ERA in his first nine appearances. In 8.1 innings he has allowed just three hits and owns a 0.84 WHIP. Leasure has racked up nine strikeouts during that stretch while limiting opponents to a .115 average off of him.
The team has yet to make an official announcement of what his role will be. However, they will likely use him as a late-game weapon out of the bullpen.
#WhiteSox make two roster moves: pic.twitter.com/T7YwMfnNi2
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 24, 2024
Pillar Returns
The White Sox also announced they had signed Kevin Pillar to a minor-league contract. The team cut pillar on Friday. However, the White Sox said were open to bringing Pillar back on a minor league deal after he had an opportunity to test the market. He apparently had no other suitors this late in the offseason, which led to him resigning with the White Sox.
Pillar was seen by many as the front runner for the fourth outfield spot off the bench until the White Sox made a surprising move late in Spring Training and signed Robbie Grossman. Pillar hit .250 in 44 at-bats with five RBIs, a stolen base, and a .692 OPS during Spring Training. Don’t be surprised to see Pillar get a few at-bats with the big league club this season.
The White Sox like what he provides to the clubhouse as they try and rebuild the locker room culture. Pillar is coming off a rough season where he slashed .228/.248/.416 with 9 home runs and 32 RBI in 206 plate appearances during his lone season with the Atlanta Braves. The 35-year-old mainly served as a fourth outfielder off the bench appearing in half of their games. However, he fits a common theme in players that Getz has targeted this offseason: a perceived defensive upgrade who is playing for their career.
Pillar was once considered one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball. He ranked inside the top 10 in the MLB in Defensive WAR for three consecutive seasons between 2015-2017. In 2015 he led all MLB outfielders in putouts, in 2016 he had 12 Outs Above Average and in 2017 he had the highest fielding percentage (.997) as a centerfielder in the league.
As Pillar reached his 30s his defense began to slowly decline. In recent years he has mainly been utilized as a corner outfielder which plays into the White Sox needs. He will serve as a veteran presence in Triple-A and an extra depth piece should injuries arise later in the season.
#WhiteSox make two roster moves: pic.twitter.com/T7YwMfnNi2
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 24, 2024
Toussaint DFA’d
The White Sox designated right-hander Touki Toussaint for assignment on Sunday. Toussaint was competing for a spot in the rotation or long reliever role in the bullpen. He had thrown just 7.2 innings this spring, posting a 12.91 ERA and 2.74 WHIP.
Toussaint appeared in 19 games with the White Sox last season and proved to be an effective pitcher. He had a 4.97 ERA in 83.1 innings with the South Siders, averaging 9 strikeouts per nine innings. Late in the year, he helped eat innings for a depleted White Sox rotation, appearing in 15 games as a starter.
With the moves the White Sox still have 42 players in camp, 22 pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders, and 10 outfielders.