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The Chicago White Sox made three moves before tonight's game against the Cleveland Indians:
- Reinstated Yoan Moncada from the 10-day DL
- Purchased the contract of LHP Jace Fry
- Requested waivers on Derek Holland to grant his unconditional release.
Starting with Moncada, the White Sox top prospect and pillar of the rebuild was hitting .188/.328/.356 in 30 games before his shin injury required time off. Returning this quickly (soonest was yesterday) gives Moncada a chance to play in 50 games this year and the more action he sees, the better for his development arch.
Jace Fry is a left-handed reliever who appeared in 33 games with the Birmingham Barons. Selected in the third round in 2014, Fry started ten games in 2015 before needing surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. Fry missed all of 2016 and was moved to the bullpen this season. In 45.1 innings, Fry recorded three saves with a 2.78 ERA striking out 52 and walking 24. Fry will help carry the load against lefties as Aaron Bummer has already appeared in 18 games since July 27th.
Finally, the White Sox have decided to move on from Derek Holland. Timing to request waivers is a bit curious after James Shields was hit by a line drive in yesterday's loss to the Indians. If Shields would need to miss a start or two, the White Sox could use Holland to eat innings. Instead, those starts will go to either Carson Fulmer or David Holmberg.
Holland finishes 2017 with a record of 7-14 and a 6.20 ERA - the worst of his career. In 26 starts - the most made since 2013 - Holland allowed a career-high in walks (75) and was one home run allowed shy (31) of tying his previous worst in 2012 (32). At the halfway point, Holland was 5-9 in 17 starts with a 4.91 ERA. After the All-Star game, Holland's ERA ballooned to 8.93 while allowing 37 walks with 26 strikeouts in 12 appearances (nine starts).
It's hard to tell what Holland's future is in the majors moving forward. Will a team give him an opportunity to come out of the bullpen, which didn't work in-season with the White Sox? Or, will another team give Holland one more shot to start games in 2018? This season was meant for Holland to prove he has something left in the tank, but since June 1st, the southpaw has been running on fumes. To his credit, Holland lasted much longer than Mat Latos did.