Health isn’t enough reason to keep Holland
The White Sox made three roster moves Tuesday, including requesting release waivers for veteran left- hander Derek Holland, who struggled for most of the season after being signed to a one- year, $ 6 million contract.
The Sox also reinstated second baseman Yoan Moncada from the 10- day disabled list and purchased left- hander Jace Fry’s contract from Class AA Birmingham.
Holland went 7- 14 with a 6.20 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 29 appearances ( 26 starts). The Sox signed him to pick up the slack in the rotation after Chris Sale was traded to the Red Sox in December. While he was healthy after having battled through injury problems with the Rangers, he hadn’t regained his velocity from his good years in Texas.
“He was grateful for the opportunity, he was happy he got through the season healthy, but he was disappointed he couldn’t do more,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. “With the guys we brought up [ from the minor leagues], they’re going to be the ones taking up those innings.”
Fry, 24, who has had two Tommy John surgeries, has played the entire season in Birmingham, where he went 2- 1 with a 2.78 ERA, three saves, 52 strikeouts and just one home run allowed in 33 relief appearances. He has been hot recently: a 0.64 ERA with 21 strikeouts and just seven hits allowed in his final 14 appearances over a nearly two- month span.
Fry missed 2016 and most of 2015 after surgery. He has no previous major- league experience.
Moncada back in lineup
Moncada, 22, went on the DL on Aug. 25 with a bone bruise of his right shin. The top- ranked prospect in baseball, who is playing his first season with the Sox since being acquired from the Red Sox in December, was in the starting lineup against the Indians on Tuesday night but will likely get Wednesday off, Renteria said. He’s hitting .189 with six doubles, three homers and 11 RBI in 31 games.
“I won’t try to run him out there every single day,” Renteria said. “[ We’ll] see how he recovers tonight, and we’ll make the decision tomorrow morning. More than likely he’ll be off [ Wednesday].”
In 127 plate appearances, Moncada has struck out 46 times but walked 19, boosting his on- base percentage to .323. Asked what he hopes to accomplish the last few weeks of the season, he said, “Just do my job.”
“I don’t want to change anything,’’ he said through an interpreter. “I just want to keep doing what I’m doing, and the results are going to be there.”
Shields OK
A day after he was hit on the right knee by a batted ball and left the game, James Shields did his full workout and said he expects to make his next turn.
“I got lucky,’’ the right- hander said. “It actually hit me in the one spot around my kneecap you would want to get hit if I did get hit.”
Nicky knocking
Rookie infielder/ outfielder Nicky Delmonico ( sprained right wrist), batting .307 with six homers and 12 RBI in 22 games, could come off the DL as soon as Wednesday.