CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with left-handed pitchers Chad Bentz, Javier Lopez and Stephen Randolph, right-handed pitchers Agustin Montero and Tim Redding, outfielders Darren Blakely and Ben Grieve and infielder Jorge Velandia. All eight players, in addition to 11 players within the White Sox system, have received non-roster invites to the club's spring training camp in Tucson, Ariz.

 

Bentz, 25, and Lopez, 28, have a combined 221 games of major-league experience, while Redding has appeared in 101 games (79 starts) with Houston (2001-04), San Diego (2005) and the New York Yankees (2005). Grieve, 29, is a career .269 (864-3,215) hitter with 118 home runs and 492 RBI in nine major-league campaigns and was named the American League Rookie of the Year with Oakland in 1998.

 

Pitchers Lance Broadway and Ray Liotta, outfielder Ryan Sweeney and third baseman Josh Fields, Top 10 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.

 

Sweeney, 20, hit .298 (128-429) with one home run and 48 RBI last season at Class AA Birmingham. He was the Sox second-round draft choice in 2003 and owns a .294 (307-1,045) average in three minor-league seasons.

 

Broadway, the White Sox No. 1 selection (15th overall) in the 2005 draft out of Texas Christian University, spent his first professional season at Class A Winston-Salem, going 1-3 with a 4.58 ERA (28 ER/55.0 IP) and 58 strikeouts in 11 starts. He went 15-1 with a 1.62 ERA his senior season at TCU and was named First- Team All-American by Baseball America and Louisville Slugger.

 

Liotta, 22, was 14-5 with a 2.02 ERA (37 ER/165.0 IP) in 28 starts between Class A Kannapolis and Winston-Salem in 2005. The southpaw was named to the South Atlantic League's midseason All-Star Team, led all Sox farmhands in ERA, ranked second in IP and third in wins and strikeouts (144).

 

Fields, 23, batted .252 (120-477) with 16 home runs and 79 RBI at Winston-Salem in his second professional season in 2005. The former No. 1 draft choice ranked third in the Southern League in RBI and fifth with 134 games played.

 

White Sox pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Friday, February 17, with physicals and a workout scheduled for the following day. Position players are to report on Wednesday, February 22, with physicals and the first full-squad workout the next day

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http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

Edited January 19, 200620 yr by Pierzynski 12

Wow,

Ben Grieve, haven't heard that name in awhile. He could be a huge pickup if he can return to form.

Montero was one of the first players suspended for steriod use last season.

Ugh, I don't like the Sox being associated with roiders at all.

 

Nice to see Broadway with an invite, along with Grieve. Blakely's a bit of a surprise, but I think BHAM will be happy.

	Pitchers (8)	B	T	Ht.	Wt.	2005 Club(s)	        W-L	ERA	IP	SO

	Chad Bentz	R	L	6-2	210	Class AA Carolina	1-0	1.29	7.0	5

						        Class AAA Albuquerque	0-1	4.01	33.2	32

						        FLORIDA              	0-0	31.50	2.0	0

	Lance Broadway	R	R	6-4	190	Class A Winston-Salem	1-3	4.58	55.0	58

	Ray Liotta	L	L	6-3	220	Class A Kannapolis	8-3	2.26	115.1	107

						        Class A Winston-Salem	6-2	1.45	49.2	37

	Javy Lopez	L	L	6-4	200	COLORADO	        0-0	22.50	2.0	1

						        Class AAA Tucson	0-1	2.22	24.1	16

						        ARIZONA	                1-1	9.42	14.1	11

	Corwin Malone	R	L	6-3	200	Class AA Birmingham	5-5	4.53	97.1	81

	Agustin Montero	R	R	6-3	210	Class AA Frisco	        2-4	5.46	61.0	69

					        	Class AAA Oklahoma	0-0	5.40	5.0	4

	Ste. Randolph   L	L	6-3	200	Class AAA Fresno	1-1	3.40	39.2	50

						        Class AAA New Orleans	2-2	9.62	29.0	34

	Tim Redding	R	R	6-0	195	SAN DIEGO	        0-5	9.10	29.2	17

					        	Class AAA Portland	0-0	0.90	10.0	5

						        Class AAA Columbus	3-4	5.08	51.1	47

						        NEW YORK-AL	        0-1	54.00	1.0	2
 
 

	Catchers (3)	B	T	Ht.	Wt.	2005 Club(s)	        AVG	G	HR	RBI

	Carlos Lee	R	R	6-1	220	Class A Winston-Salem	.289	84	14	48

	Donny Lucy	R	R	6-3	210	Class A Kannapolis	.264	54	1	22

	Gustavo Molina	R	R	6-2	180	Class A Winston-Salem	.261	109	11	41
 
 

	Infielders (5)	B	T	Ht.	Wt.	2005 Club(s)	        AVG	G	HR	RBI

	Josh Fields	R	R	6-2	210	Class AA Birmingham	.252	134	16	79

	Andy Gonzalez	R	R	6-2	180	Class AA Birmingham	.274	123	4	63

	Tim Hummel	R	R	6-2	190	Class AAA Pawtucket	.250	64	4	27

							Class AAA Memphis	.275	56	6	23

	Robert Valido	R	R	6-2	180	Class A Winston-Salem	.288	119	8	59

	Jorge Velandia	R	R	5-9	180	Class AAA Indianapolis	.277	105	3	39
 
 

	Outfielders (3)	B	T	Ht.	Wt.	2005 Club(s)        	AVG	G	HR	RBI

	Darren Blakely	S	R	6-1	190	Class AA Birmingham	.283	128	18	89

	Ben Grieve	L	R	6-4	210	Class AAA Iowa        	.266	86	14	51

							CUBS	                .250	23	0	1

	Ryan Sweeney	L	L	6-4	200	Class AA Birmingham	.298	113	1	48

I really like the ben grieve sign/invite. If he hits .250 he off the bench he will be more valuable than timo ever was. Hell if he hits .220 he will be more valuable than timo ever was. He is a really nice obp guy and plays fine enough defense that no one should complain about it.

I really like the ben grieve sign/invite. If he hits .250 he off the bench he will be more valuable than timo ever was. Hell if he hits .220 he will be more valuable than timo ever was. He is a really nice obp guy and plays fine enough defense that no one should complain about it.

 

Grieve is pretty brutal defensively, but it appears his once promising career has transformed into being a career pinch hitter. The fact that he can hit it into the seats is nice. I still think Borchard is better than him at this point though.

I think Redding might have a shot at a bullpen spot. It is just a gut feeling. Or maybe the s***s are coming back...

 

KW usually finds one diamond in the rough every year (Loiza, Pablo, Etc). Redding at worst could replace Jon Adkins.

Edited January 19, 200620 yr by Greg The Bull Luzinski

White Sox Announce Non-Roster Invites

 

11 Former Warthogs invited to camp

Press Release from Winston-Salem Warthogs

 

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Chicago White Sox announced Thursday their non-roster invites, including 11 former Warthogs, to the club’s spring training camp in Tucson, Ariz. Pitchers Lance Broadway and Ray Liotta, outfielder Ryan Sweeney and third baseman Josh Fields, Top 10 prospects in the White Sox organization according to Baseball America, headline the list.

MORE...

If LHP Ray Liotta is as good as he was in Goodfellas, we may have a new ace.

 

I like seeing Grieve getting invited, he could end up being the 25th man.

Grieve is pretty brutal defensively, but it appears his once promising career has transformed into being a career pinch hitter. The fact that he can hit it into the seats is nice. I still think Borchard is better than him at this point though.

 

Grieve is definitely passible for a bench player defensively. Offensively i do not think they are really that close at the major league level. Borchard looks nothing but lost up there ( outside of when he runs into one here and there). There is only a two year difference and grieve has done ten times more than borchard ever has.

Real excited about the Grieve signing. These invites are the ones that have the most to gain out of ST, so it's fun to see what comes of them.

Fall back on Grieve if Anderson is a bust? Sounds good to me.

Grieve has shown that he can play at this level with some good years in OAK, I just hope those years were not influenced by the Giambi Products Inc.

Grieve has shown that he can play at this level with some good years in OAK, I just hope those years were not influenced by the Giambi Products Inc.

I don't really know because I didn't see him last year but he wasn't good enough to crack that all-star roster on the grub last year. IIRC he came up when Patterson went down and played so well they brought Patterson back. An ill omen.

Wow,

Ben Grieve, haven't heard that name in awhile.  He could be a huge pickup if he can return to form.

Coop should be able to fix him up.

Coop should be able to fix him up.

 

He's not a pitcher...

He's not a pitcher...

Yet...

Ben Grieve's best years are way, way behind him. There are reasons these guys aren't signed to major league contracts, and Grieve is no exception.

 

As to the thought that Grieve could play CF in case Anderson fails, what gives you that idea? He's been a corner outfielder/DH his whole career. I don't see him covering the gaps in center at age 30 when he's never done it over the course of a MLB season.

 

This is really an "eh" invite. No reason to get mad or excited, just "eh".

 

You look at his career line:

 

.269 .367 .442

 

and say "hey, not too bad". But then you consider that he's 30, hasn't had over 300 PA since 2002 and he plays positions on the wrong side of the defensive spectrum and you go "hmm".

 

His last "full" season was 2002:

 

.251 .353 .432

 

He's better than TIMO that is for sure, than again, Borchard is better than TIMO. Point is, Grieve is an average bench player with a slight, slight, slight, chance to somehow recreate his years before the big drop in 2002.

 

I doubt he makes the roster though. The Sox are just too deep this year. I wouldn't be surprised is he catches on with someone by the end of the year.

Edited January 20, 200620 yr by chitownsportsfan

He's not a pitcher...

I thought it would be obvious without the green but I guess not.

I thought it would be obvious without the green but I guess not.

I guess someone has to pitch in place of Viz.

I don't really know because I didn't see him last year but he wasn't good enough to crack that all-star roster on the grub last year.  IIRC he came up when Patterson went down and played so well they brought Patterson back.  An ill omen.

 

Can't use that as an example. They were trying to get Corey some playing time as a showcase to get rid of the guy. And Grieve could be sent down. I don't think they said, "Grieve sucks, bring back Corey." I think it was, "We won't get anythign for Corey if he's in AAA, so who do we send down...*throws dart at dartboard*...Grieve it is!"

If Ben makes this team he better be willing to SWING the bat when he comes off the bench. I noticed some Cub fans still remember when he came up to bat in the 9th with two outs and struck out without removing the bat off his shoulder. He also pissed off Lou in TB making a comment along the lines of "It doesn't really matter" when striking out looking in the 9th.

If Ben makes this team he better be willing to SWING the bat when he comes off the bench.  I noticed some Cub fans still remember when he came up to bat in the 9th with two outs and struck out without removing the bat off his shoulder.  He also pissed off Lou in TB making a comment along the lines of "It doesn't really matter" when striking out looking in the 9th.

Is it just me or is he like another Ross Gload, they strike me as similar players, frankly instead of Grieve Id like to give some of the younger guys a shot at pinch hitting. I dont necessarily think we needed him, not like hes done anything impressive as a pinch hitter for the Cubs that comes to mind.