White Sox trade Gonzalez to Rangers for minor-league infielder

Miguel Gonzalez throws against the Detroit Tigers on June 3. (AP)

MINNEAPOLIS — The White Sox dealt right-hander Miguel Gonzalez an hour before the deadline for playoff eligibility Thursday night, sending the 33-year-old to the Rangers for minor-league infielder Ti’Quan Forbes.

Forbes, 21, a second-round draft pick in 2014 with some raw power and versatility, played in 130 games between Class A Down East and Class A Hickory, batting .234 with 11 home runs, 16 doubles, 45 RBI and 25 walks this season.

He played 90 games at third base, 20 at first base and 17 at shortstop. He was rated the top defensive third baseman in the South Atlantic League in 2016. Forbes is a career .245 hitter in 357 games in the Rangers’ organization.

Ti’Quan Forbes.

Gonzalez will be a free agent after the season, which made him expendable for the rebuilding Sox. He has been very reliable of late, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in four starts before pitching six innings of three-run ball in the Sox’ 5-4 loss against the Twins.

Gonzalez was 12-18 with a 4.02 ERA in 45 starts and one relief appearance in two seasons with the Sox.

“Not thinking about it, honestly,’’ Gonzalez said after pitching at least six innings for the seventh time in his last eight starts. “If something happens, then it’s meant to be.’’

Abreu, Anderson out

Jose Abreu (right elbow) and Tim Anderson (left hamstring) missed the series finale against the Twins.

Abreu banged into second baseman Yolmer Sanchez on Wednesday, and “Timmy has a little minor tweak in his hammy,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. “Figured we’d give them a day since it [was] a quick turnaround — give them an opportunity to get treated and keep moving forward as we get back home.’’

Renteria said he was hopeful Abreu and Anderson would play Friday against the Rays.

Abreu fan club includes Oliva

Former Twins great Tony Oliva chatted with Abreu, a fellow Cuban, on the field before the series, as he often does.

“I would like to have him on my team,’’ Oliva said. “He can hit, he can play.’’

Oliva, a lifetime .304/.353/.476 hitter during his career from 1962-76, all with the Twins, likes how Abreu looks over the infield and often beat shifts or alignments set up against him.

“He’s a smart hitter,’’ Oliva said. “He can hit the ball any place he wants. He can hit it out of the park, too, but if he wants a base hit, he’ll hit the ball in the hole. He can hit the ball to right field, left or up the middle. He makes the adjustments.’’

Abreu, who’s batting .301 with 80 RBI, is hitting .400 with seven home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs in his last 18 games.

Moncada resting

Yoan Moncada stayed in Chicago during the brief three-day trip to Minneapolis to rest his bruised shin.

“We want to make sure we don’t reaggravate it,’’ Renteria said. “From all signs, he’s improving and feeling better.’’

September call-ups

The Sox are not expected to make many additions when rosters expand Friday.

“We have very few; most of the guys are already here,’’ Renteria said of call-ups made in the last month or two.

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Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com