CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have claimed right-handed pitcher Alex Speas off waivers from the Texas Rangers and released outfielder Tyler Naquin.
Speas, 25, went 5-2 with a 2.86 ERA (18 ER/56.2 IP), .170 (34-200) opponents average, 85 strikeouts (13.5 per 9.0 IP) and four saves over 49 appearances (one start) this season between Class AA Frisco and Class AAA Round Rock in the Rangers minor-league system. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Speas also made three relief appearances with Texas in July, and allowed three runs with four strikeouts in 2.0 IP. He made his major-league debut on July 19 vs. Tampa Bay.
Speas, a native of Powder Springs, Ga., is 10-11 with a 4.20 ERA (67 ER/143.2 IP), 11 saves and 222 strikeouts (13.9 per 9.0 IP) in 106 games (14 starts) over six seasons (2016-19, ’21, ’23) in the Rangers organization. He originally was selected by Texas in the second round of the June 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of McEachern (Ga.) High School.
Naquin appeared in five games with the White Sox after his contract was selected from Class AAA Charlotte on September 26.
Following the moves, Chicago’s 40-man roster remains at 40.
