Feb. 24--GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Many of the White Sox positions for the 2015 season were set even before players began showing up to Camelback Ranch, but the 25th spot on the roster is up in the air.
Sox manager Robin Ventura said the team is "pretty open" to the idea of breaking camp with 13 pitchers on the 25-man roster, an idea made possible by the versatility the Sox carry on the bench.
An eight-man bullpen -- rather than carrying seven relief pitchers, as is typical -- would mean the Sox would carry just two bench players and a backup catcher. That is feasible because Emilio Bonifacio can play multiple infield and outfield positions, and Gordon Beckham can move between second base, third base and shortstop.
Bonifacio and Beckham are also in the running to start at second base should Micah Johnson or Carlos Sanchez not capture the role. If the Sox opt for 12 pitchers instead, they could also take an additional outfielder, such as waiver claim J.B. Shuck, or another versatile infielder such as prospect Tyler Saladino, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery last summer.
Ventura said that type of versatility was something he and general manager Rick Hahn had focused on heading into the offseason.
"We were both on the same page as far as where we've been the last couple of years in regards to flexibility and versatility," Ventura said. "You can see it across the field on certain teams that you play. We haven't really had that."
Bigger and better: Before Ventura brought up the idea of 13 pitchers, pitching coach Don Cooper had just been touting the additional depth that the Sox have on the mound this spring, thanks to big-league acquisitions like relievers David Robertson, Zach Duke and Dan Jennings as well as several possibilities joining the Sox through the farm system and on minor league contracts.
"We have more and bigger and better arms that are throwing both days (of early bullpens) than we've had in the last few years," Cooper said.
Asked for a "sleeper" pitcher beyond those considered likely to be with the big-league club this year, he listed six pitchers -- Brad Penny, Erik Johnson, Frank Montas, Scott Carroll, Nolan Sanburn and Carlos Rodon. He then backtracked, realizing Rodon, the top-ranked Sox prospect, can't quite be considered an unknown.
Cooper was in high spirits as he talked about the possibilities for the season because of the Sox's offseason moves.
"We've got as good a chance as anybody else to go out there and win the division, over 162 games," Cooper said.
