White Sox to sign shortstop Elvis Andrus

Elvis Andrus was there for the taking, and the White Sox were there with a need.

The former All-Star shortstop, released by the cost-cutting Athletics on Wednesday, cleared waivers and was officially added to the roster before the Sox’ three-game series Friday in Cleveland.

Anderson is out for another five weeks with a finger injury, Mendick is out for the season with a knee injury and Garcia is on the injured list with a back strain, depleting the Sox’ shortstop depth and forcing them to play rookie call-ups Lenyn Sosa and Romy Gonzalez in recent days.

xxx was returned to Triple-A Charlotte to make room on the active roster. Triple-A left-hander Yoan Aybar was outrighted Thursday, creating room on the 40-man roster.

Andrus, who turns 34 next week, isn’t the fielder he was during his All-Star years with the Rangers and is batting .237/.301/.378, but he’s a definite upgrade at a key position going into the stretch run of the season.

He’s in the final season of an eight-year, $120 million contract signed with Texas, but the Sox will owe him the prorated league minimum for the rest of the season, with the A’s responsible for the remainder of his $14 million salary.

Andrus is a career .270/.326/.369 hitter with 87 home runs and a .695 OPS over 14 seasons, his first 12 in Texas. He was a teammate of Sox second baseman Josh Harrison last season. He was a teammate of right-hander Lance Lynn in Texas. Lynn is the Sox’ starting pitcher Friday.