Roster shuffling: Josh Rojas, Caleb Freeman, Tyler Gilbert join the White Sox

Ellard injured, Murfee demoted, Dalbec released

As befits a team on pace to lose 118 games, the White Sox made another round of reshuffling on Sunday, adding and subtracting three players from the 26-player roster.

“Ballyhooed” (by price tag, at least) free agent acquisition Josh Rojas, slowed in late spring by a right toe fracture, finally joins the active roster. The 30-year-old was signed to play, unlike the more speculative depth moves like Dalbec, Mike Tauchman and Michael A. Taylor, so his health bolsters infield depth at every position. As much as fans have been clamoring for Tim Elko to come up from Charlotte, Rojas’ ability to play third base could shift Miguel Vargas into more first-base reps and Andrew Vaughn to more bench time.

Burying the feel-good lede is the promotion of Caleb Freeman from Charlotte. Freeman was drafted in the 15th Round back in 2019 as a wild, spec reliever out of Texas Tech and pre-pandemic was cited by future GM Chris Getz as the “reliever to watch” in the White Sox system. His fast rise was slowed by the cancellation of the 2020 minors season and arm surgery. The 27-year-old has a 1.35 ERA over 13 ⅓ innings in Charlotte and Birmingham this season and has given up just six hits all year (and just one against righties).

Tyler Gilbert, who had an ace opener stint last weekend in Sacto but found himself demoted on April 30, is back. He’s 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA and 14 strikeouts over nine appearances (three opening starts) with the White Sox in 2025.

To make room on the active roster, Fraser Ellard was placed on the 15-day IL with a left lat strain. Ellard is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA and 10 strikeouts in seven appearances over two stints with the Sox this season.

Penn Murfee, struggling with a 7.82 ERA in 15 relief outings with the Sox, was demoted to Charlotte.

To make room on both the active and 40-man roster, Bobby Dalbec was designated for assignment. There’s a chance Boston (Dalbec’s previous forever home) could make a claim to bring him back given that roster’s injuries, but otherwise expect the utilityman to clear waivers and report to Charlotte in a week. The veteran played in seven games for the White Sox, including a rather stunning start at shortstop, hitting .222/.333/.278.