White Sox's Roberto Pena: Returns from injury Monday
Rotowire
Pena (undisclosed) was activated from the disabled list at Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Pena has been sidelined since the beginning of July, but it appears the three-plus-week absence was enough to get him back to full health. That said, his uninspiring slash line with the Triple-A club has him locked into an organizational depth role for the foreseeable future.
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White Sox's Roberto Pena: Placed on minor-league DL
Rotowire
Pena was placed on the 7-day disabled list with an undisclosed injury.
Pena was struggling with Triple-A Charlotte before landing on the disabled list, slashing just .179/.231/.231 with one homer through 39 games. The move is retroactive to June 25, so he'll be eligible to return anytime after Sunday. He should continue to serve as organizational depth once he is activated from the DL.
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White Sox's Roberto Pena: Signs with White Sox
Rotowire
Pena signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on Monday, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.
He was drafted in 2010 by the Astros and reached Triple-A last season for the first time in his career. Omar Narvaez, Kevan Smith and Alfredo Gonzalez are all likely ahead of Pena on the organizational depth chart, but it is a very weak position for the White Sox, so playing time could become available. That said, he has never posted a wRC+ above 90 in seven minor league seasons, so the offensive upside is very limited.
Unless the Astros make a move for outside catching help, Pena is likely to open 2016 as the No. 2 catcher behind Jason Castro, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pena lacks experience above Double-A and is hitting just .192 over 28 Grapefruit League plate appearances. If he does open 2016 with the Astros, his stay in Houston may be short-lived, as it's widely assumed the team will make a move for outside catching help with Max Stassi (wrist) on the shelf until May at the earliest.
