White Sox Make Very Puzzling Roster Move

The White Sox have claimed infielder Vinny Capra off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, per a team announcement. Given that he is out of minor league options, Chicago must open up a spot on their active roster to accommodate Capra's arrival.

Capra's Offensive Woes

Capra, 28, has played in 44 MLB games over four seasons but has slashed just .105/.170/.163 in 96 career plate appearances. He made the Brewers' 2025 Opening Day roster out of spring training, yet hit just .074 in 59 plate appearances with Milwaukee this season. Most notably, he went through a stretch of 34 plate appearances over 16 games where he failed to record a single hit. The Brewers had seen enough, as they designated Capra for assignment earlier this week, exposing him to waivers and subsequently losing him to the White Sox in the process.

Puzzling Roster Move

The acquisition of Capra is puzzling for multiple reasons. For one, he has never shown much of an ability to hit at the professional level. He has a career .750 OPS in 233 games at the Triple-A level, and at 28 years old, it feels unlikely that the switch will suddenly turn on for him. This news also comes on the heels of the team parting ways with infielder Gage Workman, who is several years younger than Capra and has higher upside as well. Given the team's current situation, it is hard to provide a logical explanation for choosing Capra over Workman. 

Capra's Defensive Versatility

One thing Capra does provide is defensive versatility. He has played shortstop and third base primarily in professional baseball but also has experience playing second base and outfield. He even appeared as a catcher in the minors. The White Sox value players who can move around the diamond. Brooks Baldwin, Josh Rojas, Chase Meidroth, Lenyn Sosa, and Miguel Vargas all fit into this category. Capra will now join them.

Because the White Sox will need to open up a spot on the active roster to accommodate Capra, someone will head out. Brooks Baldwin has struggled as of late, and the team could send him back to Triple-A for a mental reset to get back on track. Jacob Amaya could also be on the hot seat. He has played a similar role for the White Sox as Capra did in Milwaukee. Perhaps the White Sox view Capra more highly than him. A potential IL stint is also possible, as Chase Meidroth and Josh Rojas have battled injuries this season.

White Sox Roster Churning Continues

It will be interesting to see how long Vinny Capra ultimately lasts on the White Sox roster. The organization has shown no hesitancy in churning the roster as much as needed to find a winning combination of players. With right-handed pitcher Yoendrys Gómez appearing in today's game, 41 different players have played in at least one game for the White Sox this season. Capra will be the newest member of the team soon.