The White Sox traded outfield prospect Luis Basabe to the Giants 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 along 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.
“I think 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. “To be able to 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 ability who was plagued by injuries in 2017 and 2019 and derailed like every other minor leaguer needing the 2020 season that didn’t happen, Basabe was part of a sizable crop of a once-promising Sox outfield prospect crop including Micker Adolfo, Luis Gonzalez and Blake Rutherford that hasn’t excelled beyond the Class A or AA levels. Basabe has a .248/.345/.392 hitting line with 44 homers over seven minor league seasons.
Adolfo, Gonzalez and Rutherford are ranked 10th, 13th and 14th, respectively, on the latest prospects list. Basabe is now 18th on the Giants’ list, 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 on 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.
Lopez, Rodon, Bummer, Encarnacion updates
Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez threw a bullpen Saturday, manager Rick Renteria said, that “went very well.” Rodon played catch Saturday, “and hopefully today he’ll play a little catch [Sunday] and be ready for a side here in a few days,” Renteria said.
Both are on the IL with sore shoulders, and the Sox, their thin and needy starting rotation notwithstanding, “will be very mindful and very careful with how we proceed,” Renteria said.
Left-hander Aaron Bummer (biceps) will “be working at the Schaumburg facility for the next four days until we return [from Detroit Wednesday night], and then he’ll rejoin us,” Renteria said. “He’s doing fine.”
Meanwhile, Edwin Encarnacion missed his fourth game with inflammation in the SC joint near his left shoulder. Renteria said the 37-year-old DH was going to do more aggressive work in the batting cage Sunday.
Anderson close for return
Shortstop Tim Anderson (10-day injured list, groin) has been working at full tilt for a few days, including Sunday with the team in Chicago, and will make the trip to Detroit where the Sox open a three-game series against the Tigers. Anderson is eligible to come off the IL Tuesday.
Drew Anderson DFA’d
A day after he allowed six runs including two homers over 1 1⁄3 innings in the Sox’ 7-1 loss to the Indians Saturday, the same day he was called up from Schaumburg, right-hander Drew Anderson was designated for assignment. Ruiz posted a 5.63 ERA in 40 appearances last season.
Plesac sent home after Chicago party
Right-hander Zach Plesac, who pitched six scoreless innnings in the Indians’ 7-1 win over the Sox Saturday, was sent home to Cleveland after it was learned that Plesac violated MLB’s health and safety protocols by going out in Chicago on Saturday night, according to The Athletic. Plesac, who is from Crown Point, Ind., is isolated from the team and must quarantine for at least three days with daily testing before he can rejoin the team.
