White Sox morning roundup

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From the weekend:

The White Sox won three straight, defeating Arizona on Friday, Milwaukee on Saturday and San Francisco on Sunday. Important notes to glean from the games: Philip Humber looked good, A.J. Pierzynski hit an inside-the-park homer and Chris Sale continued to be a work in progress as a starter. The Sox also played a split-squad game Friday, with Dylan Axelrod struggling against the Dodgers.

Hector Santiago joined the closer mix and nailed down the save in Sunday's game. The screwballing lefty has been fantastic this spring, striking out nine -- although the safest bet still appears to be on Matt Thornton landing the role out of spring training.

Jesse Crain, who was considered a candidate for the closer job when spring training began, threw a successful 35-pitch bullpen session over the weekend. He's still working his way back from an oblique injury suffered earlier this month.

The Sox pulled of a pair of minor deals, acquiring outfielder Greg Golson from Kansas City and trading minor league infielder Greg Paiml to Atlanta. Golson will head to Triple-A Charlotte and, as Larry writes, was acquired to fill the hole left by the season-ending injury to Brandon Short.

Dayan Viciedo's spring OPS dipped to .288 -- he has just four hits in 40 at-bats with two walks and 14 strikeouts -- and part of that rough line could be the product of his defensive lack of comfort.

Jared Mitchell finally took a walk over the weekend, but he's still struck out nine times in 24 at-bats. On Friday, Buddy Bell said the Sox wanted Mitchell to be aggressive at the plate, but not to the level he's taken it this March.

And finally from the Sox, Chris Kamka has a nice read on left-handed Opening Day starters in Chicago baseball history. Spoiler alert: the Sox have the majority of them, between Mark Buehrle, Wilbur Wood and Billy Pierce. Only one righty has started Opening Day for the White Sox since the turn of the millennium, with that being Jose Contreras in 2007.

Around the division: Kansas City made the curious decision to go with Chris Getz and Yuniesky Betancourt at second base over Johnny Giovatella, Miguel Cabrera will likely be ready for Opening Day, Chris Perez is progressing nicely for Cleveland and Justin Morneau's pair of homers against Tampa Bay were an encouraging sign.

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