White Sox ace Jose Quintana wasn’t aware Friday that the Cardinals were the latest team connected to him in potential trade talks.
“The last two weeks, I haven’t paid any attention to the rumors,” Quintana said. “I don’t want to talk about rumors.”
According to a report from FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Cardinals could be a “sleeper team” for Quintana, who will make his first opening day start Monday against the Tigers.
Quintana survived the spring without being traded, and with the season starting he should be safe for at least a couple months, before teams start thinking about deals. He understands the deal.
“It’s not a distraction,” Quintana said. “Just pay attention to my work and help the team, and that’s all I have control over. I’m happy to be here and am ready for my first opening day. It’s pretty exciting, I can’t wait. It’s pretty special since I’ve never been there before.”
Roster decisions: The Sox will finalize the opening day roster on Saturday, manager Rick Renteria said before Friday’s exhibition game against the Brewers.
“I don’t want to create any news tonight,” Renteria said.
There will be no shockers, with most of the spots set. The Sox outrighted outfielder Rymer Liriano and reliever Giovanni Soto to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday after both cleared waivers.
Cody Asche seems a good bet to spend a lot of time at designated hitter, though Renteria will rotate several players, including Jose Abreu, Todd Frazier and Melky Cabrera.
Is Abreu OK with more time at DH?
“No man,” he said in English.
Asked to explain, he went back to Spanish.
“I respect the DH, but I like to play (first),” he said. “I’m going to take it whenever Rick asks me to rest my body, but I don’t like to be the DH.”
Will it be hard for Renteria to convince Abreu that it’s everyone’s best interest for him to play more DH?
“It depends on how you’re trying to approach it,” Renteria said. “Most guys don’t want to put themselves in a position where they believe they are DHs. And I certainly don’t see any of our guys as true DHs. I see them as being able to play the positions they’re doing right now.
“It’s more just using it to get them off their feet, anything that can help us keep them out there as fresh as possible because it’s a long season.”
Waiting game: The fifth starter’s spot created by Carlos Rodon‘s arm injury may not be decided Saturday. Dylan Covey (7.82 earned-run average this spring) and Anthony Swarzak (3.97 ERA in only 11 1/3 innings) are among the options, Renteria said, along with unnamed minor leaguers who aren’t named Lucas Giolito or Reynaldo Lopez, the two starting prospects acquired this winter in the Adam Eaton deal.
“None of our youngsters we project to be a part of our future are in that mix to take that slot,” Renteria said.
With two early off days the Sox can skip the fifth guy and stick with the four veteran starters until April 17 against the Yankees. Renteria said that’s a possibility being considered by management and pitching coach Don Cooper.
http://embed.sendtonews.com/player2/embedcode.php?fk=MgMyoC4n&cid=4591
