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White Sox Place Eloy Jimenez on IL, Sign Robbie Grossman in Series of Roster Moves
Photo: Rick Scuteri/USA TODAY Sports

No one paying attention to the Chicago White Sox regularly should be surprised by their latest announcement. On Friday, the Sox placed designated hitter Eloy Jimenez on the 10-day injured list after listing him as day-to-day earlier in the week. The White Sox have a track record of playing a man down while hoping one of their starters can avoid an IL stint.

Nevertheless, the White Sox followed their usual blueprint and placed Jimenez on the IL retroactive to April 2. The oft-injured slugger tweaked his left adductor muscle running out of the batter's box in a 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers on March 31.

Roster Carousel

Chicago's other, more expected move was just a matter of timing. Outfielder Robbie Grossman now joins the big-league roster after signing a minor-league deal in the final days of Spring Training. The veteran spent some time in Triple-A Charlotte, ramping up after remaining unsigned and missing Spring Training.

The 12-year veteran provides on-base percentage, something the abysmal White Sox offense lacks. He'll replace Jimenez on the active roster, but there's no word yet about when he will join the team.

In a subsequent move, Chicago designated reliever Alex Speas for assignment to make room for Grossman on the 40-man roster. Speas, a former second-round pick of the Texas Rangers, landed in Chicago on a waiver claim last October.

If the hard-throwing righty clears waivers, he can return to the White Sox and take a non-roster minor-league assignment.

What's On Tap Next?

Grossman, a 12-year veteran, is three years removed from a career year but still reaches base at a good clip. The White Sox offense is lacking in all areas, and Grossman provides some help. Expect to see him get most of his playing time in right field, as Dominic Fletcher and Kevin Pillar have contributed little at this point.

An injured Jimenez is a given every season, as the 27-year-old's body continually fails him. He previously stated that one of his goals in 2024 was to play in 150 games. The former top prospect will have to play in almost every game for the rest of the season to reach that mark.

Jimenez's future in Chicago is bleak, and his performance in this very young season indicates he's not long for the White Sox. A move to cut bait this early in the season is rash and not suggested here, but it's something to monitor as the season continues. The White Sox hold the option to buy out the final two years of Jimenez's deal.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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