Left-handed reliever Chuck Cary, on the disabled list since April, is expected to be activated Tuesday.
To make room for Cary, the White Sox will have to make a roster move. Veteran reliever Bobby Thigpen is the logical choice to go, but he could be kept around a while longer because General Manager Ron Schueler is trying to trade him.
Schueler has admitted trying to work a deal for Thigpen, and he said Monday night he thought there was a “50-50” chance he could do something by Tuesday.
If Schueler fails to make a deal, though, he has indicated he would move one of the 11 pitchers currently on the roster to make room for Cary.
Presumably, the odd-man out would be Thigpen, but Schueler has cautioned that any number of options are available.
Thigpen, 30, has struggled the last two seasons and Schueler is hoping a fresh start somewhere else will rejuvenate the Sox’s all-time saves leader.
“Bobby just wants a chance to pitch, and I’d like to have him get that chance,” Schueler said.
Thigpen, who set the major-league single-season saves record with 57 in 1990, has appeared in just 25 games this year-only two of which were save opportunities.
Schueler said Thigpen and his agent were trying to facilitate the trade, which was complicated by contract language and the fact that Thigpen still is due about $1 million of his $3.4 million salary for this year.
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“The agent has said he won’t hold anybody up,” Schueler said.
Bright spot: Outfielder Warren Newson, who appeared in 134 games for the Sox in 1991 and ’92, has had a nightmare year. First, he was cut at the end of spring training. Then his wife and unborn baby were critically injured in a traffic accident. But Newson is back playing baseball. He hit a grand slam for Triple-A Nashville on Monday night and should be one of the players called up after the rosters are expanded on Sept. 1.
Left, left: The Oakland A’s announced that Tuesday night’s scheduled starter, right-hander Bob Welch, would be replaced by left-hander Mike Mohler. The Sox are 15-20 against left-handed starters this year.