Jabroni Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 "White Sox invite 17 players to Spring Training" http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...r_cws&fext=.jsp CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with veteran catchers Raul Casanova and Chris Widger, infielders Pablo Ozuna and Jorge Toca and outfielder Tony Alvarez. All five players, in addition to 12 players within the White Sox system, have received non-roster invites to the club's spring training camp in Tucson, Ariz. Casanova, 32, and Widger, 33, have a combined 864 games of major-league experience. Ozuna, 30, has played in 65 major-league games with Florida (2000-01) and Colorado (2003). Toca, 29, appeared in 29 games with the Mets from 1999-2001, while Alvarez, 26, played in 38 games with Pittsburgh in 2002 and 2004. Outfielders Brian Anderson and Ryan Sweeney, pitcher Brandon McCarthy and third baseman Josh Fields, the top four prospects in the White Sox organization according to Baseball America, headline the list of players within the organization who have received invites to major-league camp. Anderson, 22, combined to bat .298 (131-439) with 31 doubles, seven triples, 12 home runs and 73 RBI in 117 games between Class A Winston-Salem and Class AA Birmingham. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star Team. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was the Sox No. 1 draft choice in 2003 and enters the 2005 season ranked as the No. 1 Prospect in the organization. Sweeney, 19, hit .283 (146-515) with seven home runs and 66 RBI last season at Winston-Salem. He was the Sox second-round draft choice in 2003 and batted .367 (11-30) with three doubles and four RBI with the Sox last spring training. McCarthy, 21, combined to go 17-6 with a 3.14 ERA (60 ER/172.0 IP) and 202 strikeouts between Class A Kannapolis, Winston-Salem and Birmingham in 2004. The 6-foot-7, 190-pound right-hander led the minor leagues in strikeouts and ranked second in wins. He was named as a starting pitcher on Baseball America's Minor League All-Star Team. Fields, the White Sox No. 1 selection (18th overall) in the 2004 draft out of Oklahoma State, spent his first professional season at Winston-Salem, hitting .285 (73-256) with seven home runs and 39 RBI. He was a two-year starter at quarterback on the Oklahoma State football team, setting a school record with 55 career touchdown passes. White Sox pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday, February 16, with physicals and a workout scheduled for the following day. Position players are to report on Monday, February 21, with physicals and the first full-squad workout the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Good to see BMac got an invite . Any idea who the other 8 players are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjm676 Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 chisox.com Looks like they signed a few catchers to a few minor league deals, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabroni Posted January 19, 2005 Author Share Posted January 19, 2005 I updated the first post with the whole article, southsider2k5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Here is Widgers info. Was he hurt in 2004? http://tsn.ca/mlb/teams/player_bio.asp?pla...d=1197&hubname= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 I know Alvarez used to be in the Pirates system...wasnt he once some type of decent prospect for them too, or am I thinking wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabroni Posted January 19, 2005 Author Share Posted January 19, 2005 I know Alvarez used to be in the Pirates system...wasnt he once some type of decent prospect for them too, or am I thinking wrong? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tony Alvarez was a STUD outfielder prospect... http://www.sports-wired.com/players/profile.asp?Name=EDID He hit for high average, got on base a ton, and stole ALOT of bases in the minors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggsmaggs Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Says in the ChiSox article that Ozuna is 30, but he was born in '78 according to Sports-wired.com, any one know which is true? Looking at Ozuna's #'s in the minors, he seems the most likely from the group to make the roster as a UTIL INF http://sports-wired.com/profiles/OZ/tbc628.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabroni Posted January 19, 2005 Author Share Posted January 19, 2005 Says in the ChiSox article that Ozuna is 30, but he war born in 78 according to Sports-wired.com, any one know which is true? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> He is from the Dominican Republic so who really knows. ESPN.com says he's 30... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6459 And so does Baseball-Reference.com... http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/ozunapa01.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Alvarez and Widger...interesting. I doubt any of the Big 4 will make it out of camp...probably just there to show them what it's like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Ozuna is one of the Players who got caught like Bartolo Colon. After that his stock fell, and the fact he sucked at the Major League Level. I think he's playing in the Outfield too. I don't see Escobar's name did he get invited, i hope not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabroni Posted January 19, 2005 Author Share Posted January 19, 2005 Ozuna is one of the Players who got caught like Bartolo Colon. After that his stock fell, and the fact he sucked at the Major League Level. I think he's playing in the Outfield too. I don't see Escobar's name did he get invited, i hope not <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Alex Escobar is already on the White Sox 40-man roster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelasDaddy0427 Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 I'm kind of shocked we offered two C's minor league deals since we already have Davis as a backup and Burke in AAA not to mention AJ. I'm also suprised we didn't sign any pitchers to minor league deals. I guess KW thinks Grilli really could come through for us in a pinch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISF Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 I think we can all say good bye to Burke now. Hell, that doesn't even look like a good sign for Ben Davis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aboz56 Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 QUOTE(ISF @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 05:35 PM) I think we can all say good bye to Burke now. Hell, that doesn't even look like a good sign for Ben Davis. Burke will be in Charlotte this year, as the 26th man for the Sox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddisonStSox Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 QUOTE(ISF @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 04:35 PM) I think we can all say good bye to Burke now. Hell, that doesn't even look like a good sign for Ben Davis. Nah, I wouldn't say that. A look at the farm system shows the catcher-well is almost entirely dry. These guys are there to compete against Burke and Davis and to show some of the youngsters how its done. Kenny loves Davis. Ozzie loves Burke. They'll take care of their boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace Windu Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 Good to see some of the younger guys gettin called up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JUGGERNAUT Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Likewise the Sox just might be hoping to get some trade value out of these C's. There are many teams in need of an upgrade at that position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChWRoCk2 Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 QUOTE(Mace Windu @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 04:51 PM) Good to see some of the younger guys gettin called up again. it always is, ive always liked watching new faces in spring training Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chisox05 Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 I'm kind of shocked we offered two C's minor league deals since we already have Davis as a backup and Burke in AAA not to mention AJ. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was about to write that. I mean, the whole burke situation seems very odd. He's demoted right before soxfest(thats not like kenny!), so I personally just expect we'll have only 2 catchers, which is fine and makes sense since our bullpen is overloaded(Hermanson :finger ). But now we bring in TWO catchers to be invited too camp, very confusing and doesnt amke sense at all. I mean, somebody has to want burke at least for a BENCH spot. Now, this isnt to say i like burke, cuz i really dont, but it seems as a waist of invites to invite these catchers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChWRoCk2 Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 QUOTE(chisox05 @ Jan 20, 2005 -> 02:35 PM) Now, this isnt to say i like burke, cuz i really dont, but it seems as a waist of invites to invite these catchers. i agree, we should bring up some more infielders and relievers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 These catchers have basically no chance to make the team. You need a lot of catchers for spring training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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