Cotts In; Burke, Grilli Out

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Cotts In; Burke, Grilli Out

By Jason Gage

April 2, 2004

FutureSox.com

 

The opening day roster is looking more clear, after the White Sox reassigned Jamie Burke and Jason Grilli. This means the Sox will carry 12 pitchers, barring a trade. Neal Cotts will be one of those twelve pitchers and will likely be the Sox long reliever.

 

Cotts has had a strong spring, showing improved control, going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. He has pitched in six games, making one start. As of now, Cotts will be the long reliever, but there is speculation that Kelly Wunsch will open the season on the disabled list. This would push Cotts into a much more important role as the second lefty in the bullpen. Cotts will move to the starting rotation if Schoeneweiss or Wright struggle.

 

While Cotts is in, Jamie Burke and Jason Grilli are out. Both players impressed manager Ozzie Guillen and will likely see time in Chicago at some point in the season. Grilli, a rule V draft pick, was offered back to the Florida Marlins, who would have to give the White Sox $25,000, but the Marlins declined. This left the decision up to Jason Grilli (since he had already cleared waivers) and Grilli decided he wanted to stay in the White Sox organization.

 

Grilli and Burke will start the season in Charlotte. It in unclear whether Grilli will be used as a starter or a reliever, but he’s more then capable of either. Burke will share time with Mike Rivera and Ryan Hankins behind the plate, but will also play first, DH, and occasionally play 3rd.

 

Mike Jackson and Jon Adkins are battling for the final roster spot. Adkins has pitched tremendous this spring, giving up one run in 10.2 innings of work, while the veteran Jackson has given up four runs in eight innings of work. While Adkins has pitched better, it looks as if Jackson will get the nod. Adkins has options left and the Sox are unclear whether Jackson would accept a minor league assignment.

 

However, this all fluctuates on Kelly Wunsch’s health, if Wunsch starts the season on the disabled list, then both Jackson and Adkins will start the season with the Sox.