The White Sox traded outfield prospect Luis Basabe to the Giants on Sunday for cash considerations, a deal that was received with more than mild levels of excitement in the Bay Area.
Basabe, who came from the Red Sox in the Chris Sale deal with infielder Yoan Moncada, right-hander Michael Kopech and throw-in righty Victor Diaz in December 2016, was a top-10 Sox prospect heading into the 2019 season.
“This is what makes [Giants president of baseball operations] Farhan [Zaidi] and [general manager] Scott [Harris] so good at what they do,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “[They] bring in a guy who slots immediately into our top-prospects list without giving up too much in return. Basabe is tooled up. This is a guy with arm strength and speed.”
A switch hitter with center-field abilities who was plagued by injuries in 2017 and 2019, Basabe has a .248/.345/.392 hitting line with 44 home runs in seven minor-league seasons.
Basabe is now 18th on the Giants’ prospect list, according to MLB Pipeline, but the Sox were probably pleased to get cash for him at this point.
Basabe made the Sox’ initial 44-man summer-camp roster but got hurt again, this time suffering a bruised foot during camp. He was out of options, and the Sox designated him for assignment Tuesday to make room on the 40-man roster for non-roster spring-training invitee Brady Lail, a right-handed reliever called up to plug a void left by injured lefty Carlos Rodon.
Lail was DFA’d on Friday.
Injury updates
Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez threw a bullpen session Saturday, and Rodon played catch, hoping to throw one in a few days, manager Rick Renteria said.
Both are on the injured list with sore shoulders, and the Sox, their thin rotation notwithstanding, “will be very mindful and very careful with how we proceed,” Renteria said.
Left-hander Aaron Bummer (biceps soreness) will “be working at the Schaumburg facility for the next four days. He’s doing fine,” Renteria said.
Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion missed his fourth game with inflammation in the SC joint near his left shoulder. Renteria said Encarnacion, 37, did more aggressive work in the batting cage Sunday.
Tim Anderson close to return
Shortstop Tim Anderson (10-day IL, groin) has been working at full tilt for a few days and will make the trip to Detroit, where the Sox open a three-game series Monday. Anderson is eligible to come off the IL on Tuesday.
Drew Anderson DFA’d
After allowing six runs, including two homers, over 1⅓ innings in the Sox’ 7-1 loss to the Indians on Saturday, the same day he was called up from Schaumburg, right-hander Drew Anderson was designated for assignment.
Right-hander Jose Ruiz, who had a 5.63 ERA in 40 appearances last season, was called up.
Plesac sent home after Chicago party
Righty Zach Plesac, who pitched six scoreless innings Saturday, was sent home to Cleveland after it was learned that he violated MLB’s health and safety protocols by going out in Chicago on Saturday night, according to The Athletic. Plesac, who’s from Crown Point, Indiana, is isolated from the team and must quarantine for at least three days with daily testing before he can rejoin the Indians.
