There were few surprises on the list of non-roster players the White Sox will invite to spring training, which opens Feb. 20 for pitchers and catchers.
The group includes veteran pitchers Robert Person, Vic Darensbourg, Mike Jackson and Jose Santiago, infielders Mike Bell, Kelly Dransfeldt and Bobby Smith and outfielder Marvin Benard.
Outfielder Jeremy Reed, named by Topps the Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .373, is among seven minor-leaguers who will join camp in Tucson, Ariz. Former Sox right-hander Carlos Castillo, who last season went 3-1 with a 3.96 ERA for Double-A Birmingham, also will get a look.
The Sox hope Person can emerge as this season’s Esteban Loaiza, an underachiever who stunned baseball executives by winning 21 games in 2003.
The 34-year-old right-hander pitched well for Philadelphia in 2001 (15-7, 4.19) but had elbow, shoulder and hip injuries in ’02 and ’03. He’ll try for the fifth starter’s spot with Jon Rauch, Neal Cotts, Felix Diaz, Enemencio Pacheco and perhaps Dan Wright and Josh Stewart.
“There’s been enough time between his [shoulder and elbow] surgeries where he may be at optimum health,” general manager Ken Williams said. “If not, it’s a minor-league contract.”
Person has to be added to the 40-man roster to earn his $750,000. If he does, the Sox have a $2.5 million option on him for 2005.
Benard, 34, has an excellent shot to be a backup outfielder. A lifetime .271 hitter who has spent his entire nine-year career with San Francisco, Benard struggled with injuries last year and hit .197 in 46 games.
But he can play all three outfield spots and ranks 11th among active players with 52 career pinch hits.
“He’s a veteran with a short stroke,” Williams said. “Obviously, Aaron [Rowand] is the guy [in center], but we will occasionally need a left-handed bat.”
Also past his prime is Jackson, who was out of baseball last season after getting cut by Arizona. But Williams wanted to give the 39-year-old reliever one more chance. After saving 79 games for Cleveland in 1998 and 1999, Jackson performed well for Minnesota (3.27 ERA in 58 games) in 2002.
“The guy always has been a leader on the club wherever he has gone,” Williams said. “If it works out, we have something. If not, he’ll have a positive influence on the younger guys in spring training.”
Reed and Joe Borchard, who struggled in Triple A last year, will be among the position players participating in workouts that begin Feb. 25.
“Our mind-set is they need more seasoning,” Williams said. “But you can never overlook the unforeseen. If somebody goes down and they perform well, you could start a season with these guys.”
