White Sox face decisions before tender deadline

The White Sox have until 11 p.m. Monday to tender contracts to arbitration-eligibles Tyler Flowers, Gordon Beckham, Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo. All but Flowers are almost certain to be tendered. Flowers, a catcher who batted .195 with 10 homers and 24 RBI in his first season as a starter, is a possibility.

Flowers, 27, figures to earn $1 million according to arbitration projections. De Aza projects at $4.4 million, Beckham at $3.5 million and Viciedo at $2.8 million.

The Sox do not figure to open the season with Flowers and Josh Phegley (.206, four homers, 22 RBI) as their top two catchers. They are expected to upgrade the position via trade or free agency.

The Sox were satisfied with Flowers’ handling of the pitching staff and his defense. That, coupled with his big power potential, may be enough to warrant some return in a trade.