March 31--As the White Sox packed up their clubhouse at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday, manager Robin Ventura also wrapped up a couple of lingering lineup questions.
After hinting at it a day earlier, Ventura confirmed Wednesday that veteran Jimmy Rollins will be the starting shortstop on opening day Monday against the Athletics in Oakland. The Sox purchased the contract of Rollins, 37, who originally joined the club on a minor-league deal and now will receive $2 million in salary for making the team.
"To win the job is great," Rollins said. "That's just the beginning. ... I plan to have a good season and to be a contributing player to a winning team."
The Sox also optioned right-hander Scott Carroll and outrighted Jacob Turner to Triple-A Charlotte.
And Ventura said Alex Avila is slated to catch left-hander Chris Sale in the opener, barring unforeseen changes. Avila had been battling lower back stiffness but said he is fine. The Sox plan to use Avila and Dioner Navarro based on performance and matchups with Sox and opposing pitchers.
Even with Rollins as the starter, Ventura still expects shortstop Tyler Saladino, 26, to make plenty of starts because he believes Rollins, 37, will play better if he has enough rest.
"When he's fresh, he has some good range," Ventura said. "He has been making the plays he has had to make. Is his range as good as it was early in his career? No. But he's pretty good with it right now. "
Rollins said he likes what he has seen from Saladino, who hit his fifth home run of the spring Wednesday against the Reds. Rollins has tried to offer him occasional advice, including pointers on when he might be suited better to backhand balls in the field.
"We call him Emanski out there," Rollins said, comparing Saladino to baseball video instructor Tom Emanski. "He does everything so fundamentally sound. ... And at the plate he's doing very well. He's a strong hitter. When I punch him in the stomach, it's like hitting bricks, and I'm like man, it must be nice to be young."
The Sox have an off day Thursday before exhibition games in San Diego against the Padres on Friday and Saturday
The Sox leave Arizona with a winning spring training record (15-13-1) for the first time since 2004. Of course, spring results don't necessarily mean anything. The A's, last in the American League with a 68-94 record in 2015, started last year by winning the Cactus League with a 22-11 mark.
Ventura said he thinks the Sox results showed better depth within the system because minor leaguers are often the ones to finish out games. The Sox have a more experienced crop of top prospects in Tim Anderson, Jacob May and Adam Engel.
But Ventura also thinks the results showed the quick chemistry of a retooled team.
"It just shows how they came together fairly early," Ventura said. "Offensively we've swung the bats better than we have in the last couple of years in spring training.
"It has been a very professional camp for these guys. It has been fun and upbeat and all that, but it's time to get out of here and play instead of talking about it."
The Sox also hope they are leaving behind controversy in Arizona.
After the abrupt retirement of Adam LaRoche this spring, many questioned what would happen in the Sox clubhouse. But Rollins said moving past clubhouse issues is nothing new for most teams.
"Every clubhouse has something, whether it's spring training, whether it's the middle of the season, something happens," Rollins said. "That's life, in every walk of life. You handle it, you deal with it and you find a way to move on. There's still a goal we have to accomplish, and that's playing winning baseball."
ckane@tribpub.com
