White Sox Pick up Club Options on Castro and Thornton; Release Torres

Today the Chicago White Sox exercised 2011 club options on catcher Ramon Castro and left-handed pitcher Matt Thornton. They also released right-hander Carlos Torres, allowing him to pursue an opportunity to pitch in Asia.  Under terms of their deals, Castro will earn a base salary of $1.2 million in 2010, and Thornton will receive a base of $3 million. Thornton, 34, was named to his first American League All-Star Team in 2010 after going 5-4 with a 2.67 ERA (18 ER/60.2 IP), career-high eight saves and 81 strikeouts in 61 relief appearances. Castro, 34, hit .278 (32-115) with eight home runs and 21 RBI in 37 games in 2010, his first full season with the White Sox.  The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Castro made 31 starts at catcher, and his eight home runs tied for the second-highest total of his career. Thornton led all AL relievers in strikeouts per 9.0 IP (12.02), strikeouts and inherited runners scored percentage (12.9), ranked eighth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.05) and hol...