White Sox trade lefty Dan Jennings to Rays for prospect

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Dan Jennings throws a pitch at the White Sox baseball spring training facility Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Another day, another trade. The White Sox’ fire sale continued Thursday, when they sent left-handed reliever Dan Jennings to the Rays for switch-hitting first-base prospect Casey Gillaspie.

A day after right-hander Anthony Swarzak officially went to the Brewers for outfield prospect Ryan Cordell and a week after right-handers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle were shipped with Todd Frazier to the Yankees, the Sox’ bullpen was stripped down to its bare bones.

Only Jake Petricka, who returned from the disabled list Monday, remains from the Opening Day bullpen with Nate Jones and Zach Putnam out for the season with elbow injuries and Michael Ynoa having been designated for assignment.

Lefty Aaron Bummer, who has no major-league experience, was called up from Class AAA Charlotte to take Jennings’ spot.

Gillaspie, 24, will be on the Charlotte disabled list for a week or two while he recovers from a broken toe.

A 2014 first-round pick rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Rays’ system, Gillaspie joins the heavy stream of new prospects being funneled into the Sox’ farm system as the team carries on with a full-scale rebuild.

“Casey is a recent first-round pick who has shown a quality approach at the plate with some power throughout his minor-league career,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said.

“He gives us yet another highly touted hitter who has stood out at every level in the Rays’ system and increases our organizational depth as we continue to add prospects to the system.”

Gillaspie, a .259 career hitter in the minors, was batting .227 with nine home runs and 44 RBI for Class AAA Durham.

He’s the younger brother of former Sox infielder Conor Gillaspie.

Jennings, 30, is tied for second in the American League with 48 appearances.

Manager Rick Renteria, who has charged hard to win even though his roster wasn’t built to win in spring training, knows the odds are really stacked against his team now.

“One of the things that keeps all of us moving forward is the understanding that the people we are acquiring are helping us become a better club in the future,’’ he said Thursday.

“They’re in the system now. We’re going to have to put our eyes on them as we move forward.’’

Willy Garcia returns

The Sox also recalled outfielder Willy Garcia to fill the opening left by Avisail Garcia, who was put on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb.

Garcia started and played right field against the Cubs.

This and that

Pitching coach Don Cooper was under the weather, the Sox said, and was not with the club.

Bullpen coach Curt Hasler was in the dugout as the acting pitching coach.

Cooper is expected back Friday, when the Sox open a weekend home series against the Indians.

† Right-hander Zack Burdi, a 2016 first-round pick (26th overall), underwent Tommy John surgery. The procedure was performed in Florida by James Andrews.

Follow me on Twitter @CST_soxvan.

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com

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