The White Sox purchased the contract of infielder Yolmer Sánchez from the Schaumburg training facility Monday and designated infielder Ryan Goins for assignment.
Sánchez, 28, was signed by the Sox as a free agent on August 26. He will wear his old Sox uniform No. 5.
Sánchez won a Gold Glove Award for American League second basemen last season with the Sox, joining Hall-of-Famer Nellie Fox (1957, 1959 and 1960) as the only second baseman in franchise history to win the award but the Sox non-tendered him knowing he would command around $6 million in salary arbitration while having top prospect Nick Madrigal close to taking over at second base. Sanchez signed a minor league deal with the Giants but was released last week.
Sanchez can play second base, shortstop, third base and has been used sparingly in the outfield. Goins, 32, was 0-for-9 with a walk in 14 games (two starts) this season.
Bummer has nerve issue
Left-hander Aaron Bummer, on the injured list since Aug. 8 with a left biceps strain, has a nerve issue near the biceps, general manager Rick Hahn said. The biceps muscle is healed but with the nerve problem “we aren’t quite certain exactly when he’s going to be able to return,” Hahn said.
“It really comes down to getting that nerve calmed down and then as we ramp him up, which we have started to do on a throwing program, how the nerve responds. So it’s quite possible, based on how the throwing program lays out, that you see us at some point put him on the 45-day IL, but that’s simply because the program is very slow and deliberate and his return is scheduled for the other side of the 45-day absence. The short answer is yes, we are still optimistic that he returns this season, however it is turning out to be a little more involved than originally thought in terms of a muscular strain.”
Bummer signed a five-year, $16 million extension in the offseason and would be an invaluable tool in late innings. But his contribution might have to wait until 2021.
“There is no long-term concern with Aaron Bummer,” Hahn said. “If for whatever reason this throwing program doesn’t work, or he doesn’t return this year, it should be fully behind him when we report to spring training next year.”
A big difference
The White Sox’ +42 run differential ranks second in the major leagues. The Sox have outscored opponents 87-37 during their current 11-2 stretch.
