White Sox call up left-hander Xavier Cedeno from Charlotte

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Xavier Cedeno throws during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

MINNEAPOLIS — Veteran left-hander Xavier Cedeno arrived from Class AAA Charlotte to take the roster spot of lefty Aaron Bummer, who was optioned to Charlotte on Wednesday night.

Cedeno, 31, pitched a scoreless inning in the Sox’ 7-2 loss to the Twins on Thursday, allowing one walk. He had a 1.25 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 20 appearances with Charlotte. The White Sox signed him as free agent on Jan. 26. He had allowed four walks.

The Sox would like to see Cedeno, 8-7 with a 3.98 ERA over parts of seven major-league seasons with the Astros (2011-13), Nationals (2013-15) and Rays (2015-17), carry on with those numbers against major-league hitters. A strong showing could make him a potential trade chip before the July 31 trade deadline.

Bummer, 24, who made the Opening Day roster, was 0-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 26 relief appearances. The Sox view him as a potential part of their rebuild, and he likely will be back in the majors, perhaps this season.

“He was throwing pretty good, and I think he was getting better over his last couple of outings,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. “We need him to continue to pitch. We need to get more outings for him.”

Santiago knows what he signed up for

When the Sox activate left-hander Carlos Rodon from the disabled list to make his first start of the season Saturday against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Hector Santiago, good soldier that he is, will go back to the bullpen without a complaint.

“Because I knew what I was coming into, coming into that role of long guy, starter, short guy,’’ Santiago said after pitching five innings of two-run ball in the Sox’ victory Wednesday against the Twins. “It’s a rebuild, so you let the young guys get as much exposure as they can.”

Dylan Covey, therefore, will stay in the rotation and oppose Chris Sale on Friday. Lucas Giolito will continue to work through his issues in the rotation. And Santiago, who made the American League All-Star team in 2015 as a starter, will go to the pen.

“Swiss Army knife,’’ said Santiago, who prefers starting but was signed to a one-year deal as a free agent to do whatever the Sox needed from him. In that role, he’s 2-2 with a 4.96 ERA.

Sox, Moncada vs. Sale

Second baseman Yoan Moncada returns to Boston on Friday to face Sale, the pitcher he was traded for.

“I’m sure it will be a bittersweet reunion [for Moncada],’’ Renteria said. “It’s the organization that gave him his first opportunity, and it’s also the organization that traded him, and he’s facing the guy who was a part of that whole thing.’’

The Sox received Moncada, the top prospect in baseball at the time, and Michael Kopech, their top pitching prospect. Outfielder Luis Basabe, who is having a good season in the outfield at Class A Winston-Salem, was also part of the deal.

“It was a trade where both teams ultimately got a pretty good deal out of it,’’ Renteria said.

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“We’re still developing and evolving those pieces, these human beings, we acquired. They have skill sets we hope give us a great return between the lines.’’

Day off for Anderson

Shortstop Tim Anderson, who had two hits, three RBI and his 13th stolen base in the Sox’ 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday night, had the day game off Thursday. Renteria said he wants to keep Anderson fresh over the long haul and also wanted to keep the rust off infielder Jose Rondon, who started at short.

“We had talked about it for a few days, and it’s a good day to give him a day off,” Renteria said.

Center fielder Adam Engel, batting .327 with six extra-base hits in his last 14 games, also had the afternoon off.


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