Levine: White Sox Sign Geovany Soto To Minor League Deal
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) The White Sox have signed catcher Geovany Soto to a minor league deal.
Soto will receive an invitation to spring training, so he'll have his chance to challenge for a spot on the 25-man roster.
Soto, 32, had an injury-plagued 2014 season, as he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery. In a combined 24 games for Texas and Oakland, Soto hit .250 with one homer and 11 RBIs. He also played 16 games in the minors, hitting .255 with one homer and three RBIs.
Soto was drafted in the 11th round of the 2001 amateur draft by the Cubs and came up in their system. He was the Cubs' starting catcher for 4 1/2 seasons before being traded to the Rangers at the deadline in 2012.
Catcher certainly remains a question mark for the White Sox. Incumbent Tyler Flowers hit .241 with 15 homers and 50 RBIs and a .693 OPS in 2014. Reserve Adrian Nieto hit .236 with two homers, seven RBIs and a .635 OPS.
In addition to Soto, here are the other non-roster invitees to spring training for the White Sox:
INF Tim Anderson
RHP Chris Beck
RHP Scott Carroll
OF Tony Campana
RHP Jesse Crain
RHP Tyler Danish
OF Courtney Hawkins
INF Micah Johnson
C George Kattaras
INF Andy LaRoche
RHP Brady Penny
LHP Carlos Rodon
RHP Jairo Asencio
RHP Logan Kensing
RHP Arcenio Leon
RHP J.D. Martin
LHP Zach Phillips
LHP Joe Savery
INF Juan Diaz
OF Michael Taylor
RHP Nolan Sanburn
INF Dan Black
OF Jared Mitchell
White Sox pitchers and catchers report to Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 20. Position players report Feb. 24.
