Just like every other team in Major League Baseball, the White Sox had to reduce their roster from 28 to 26 today. Unlike most other teams, they had to make such cuts with one game of their weekend series remaining.
The White Sox optioned Danny Mendick and Anderson Severino to Charlotte in advance of this afternoon's finale with the Los Angeles Angels.
Both were fairly apparent choices, although both had moments. Severino pitched nearly exclusively in mop-up situations, only once appearing in anything narrower than a four-run gap. (That was April 17, when the Sox trailed by two when he started working, and by six when it was over.)
Mendick continued his trend of playing his best at the start of a stint. He hit .250/.318/.500 with a homer and two doubles over 22 plate appearances, but with Leury García and Josh Harrison on guaranteed contract, his spot on the roster is redundant two times over. The fact that his numbers are superior to both the guys above him should make the decision-makers a little bit squirmy about their offseason priorities, even if previous seasons show that Mendick's numbers sagged when his assignment involved months, not weeks.
More roster decisions await over the coming fortnight. Yoán Moncada and Joe Kelly could complete their rehab stints in Charlotte soon, although it both players are continuing on with the Knights to open a six-game series in Gwinnett starting Tuesday. Johnny Cueto also remains on track for at least one more start at Triple-A. The ball is in the White Sox's court there until May 15, when Cueto can exercise an opt-out if he's not on the 26-man roster.
