The Chicago White Sox announced they have released five players from the organization after the MLB roster freeze was lifted today at 12 PM EST. Those players are Matt Skole (1B/DH), Caleb Frare (LHP), Ramon Torres (INF), Matt Tomshaw (LHP), and Zach Putnam (RHP).
Skole, 30, has been in the White Sox organization since 2018. The once-promising prospect made two trips to the South Side, hitting a combined .217/.290/.277 with one home run and seven RBI over 83 at-bats (31 games). The first baseman/designated hitter spent a portion of the spring in major league camp before being reassigned. He played the majority of the past two seasons with Triple-A Charlotte.
Frare, 25, was a bullpen arm in 2018 and 2019. Over the course of those two seasons, he threw for 9.2 IP with a 6.52 ERA, 1.655 WHIP, 51 strikeouts, and 34 walks. Originally drafted by the Yankees, the lefty was traded to the Sox in July of 2018 for $1.5 million of international bonus pool money. Like Skole, he spent a portion of this spring in big league camp.
Torres, 27, was previously a utility infielder for the Royals but never played higher than Triple-A Charlotte in his brief stint with the organization. During spring training, he hit .250/.357/.250 with three hits, and two walks in 14 plate appearances.
Tomshaw, 31, split time between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte over the past two seasons. Between both teams in 2019, he had a 9-7 record with a 2.90 ERA, 1.075 WHIP, 118 strikeouts, and just 20 walks. While he provided starting pitching depth and spent time in major league camp this spring, his services were never needed in Chicago.
Putnam, 32, has the most big-league experience on this list, playing with the club from 2014-2017. During those four seasons, he performed decently with a 2.71 ERA, 1.177 WHIP, 149 strikeouts, and 56 walks. Unfortunately, the right-handed reliever had to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2018 and then suffered a hamstring injury that landed him on the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate’s injured list for all of 2019. After Putnam became a free agent last winter, the White Sox signed him again to a minor league contract on March 3, 2020.
All Major League teams have until 3 PM CST on Sunday to submit their 60-player pools.
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Featured Photo: Laura Wolff Photo/ Charlotte Knights
