White Sox sign utlity infielder

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The White Sox reached an agreement with utility infielder Tommy Manzella on a minor-league contract Thursday.

In a corresponding move, the franchise released Dallas McPherson from their Triple-A squad. The 32-year-old had put up a .253.335.463 line with 12 homers and 47 RBI in 61 games in Charlotte prior to his release.

Manzella was drafted in the third round in 2005 by the Astros and has since bounced around to the Diamondbacks and Brewers. He began 2010 as Houston's projected starting shortstop, but didn't hold onto the job for long, putting up a .225 average with a low .531 OPS.

The 29-year-old journeyman has never shown much with the bat, posting a .260.320.362 line in more than 3,000 career minor-league plate appearances. But he can play all three infield positions and is fluent at shortstop with more than 700 professional games coming there.

With Eduardo Escobar now in Minnesota as part of the Francisco Liriano trade, the White Sox called up Ray Olmedo to fill in as the utility infielder with the big league club. Manzella's signing provides insurance in case Olmedo struggles.

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