White Sox designate pitcher Ervin Santana for assignment, reinstate Eloy Jimenez

The White Sox on Friday designated right-hander Ervin Santana for assignment and reinstated outfielder Eloy Jimenez from the bereavement list.

The Santana move doesn’t come as a total surprise. After signing a minor-league deal during the offseason, Santana — who missed the start of the season as he recovered from a finger injury — struggled in his three starts since the Sox purchased his contract from Class AAA Charlotte earlier this month. The 36-year-old went 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP.

With Santana gone, it’s possible that left-hander Manny Banuelos could get a permanent spot in the Sox’ rotation. The Sox substituted Banuelos into the rotation for right-hander Lucas Giolito, who was put on the injured list April 18 with a hamstring injury.

This season, Banuelos is 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA in five appearances (one start, four relief). In his first start of the season on April 22, Banuelos allowed five hits and zero runs while striking out four batters through four innings in the Sox’ 12-2 win over the Orioles.

With the move, the Sox 40-man roster decreases to 39.

Meanwhile, Jimenez has returned to Chicago after he went to his hometown of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to be with his family in the wake of his grandmother’s death.

This season, Jimenez is hitting .231 (18-78) with two doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and six runs scored over 20 games.