Jack

Egbert

Egbert, who hasn’t appeared in the majors since a two-game stint with the White Sox in 2009, held a 2.08 ERA over 17 games for Buffalo. Robert Carson was sent down in a corresponding move.

Egbert cleared waivers after being designated for assignment earlier this week. The 29-year-old right-hander will return to a 2.08 ERA at the Triple-A level this season.

Egbert was cleared to make room for Chris Young on the 40-man roster. He seems likely to pass through waivers unclaimed and return to a 2.08 ERA in the minors.

Like Gio Gonzalez, Egbert had an argument for a promotion to Triple-A months ago. The 2004 13th-round pick is 9-7 with a 2.64 ERA, 92 H and 114/29 K/BB in 116 IP in the Southern League. He might be a long-term reliever, but he’s a candidate to see time in the White Sox rotation later this season.

Egbert and Russell, along with Gio Gonzalez, all figure to be part of Triple-A Charlotte’s rotation, leaving them just one step away from the majors. Russell could end up in the pen long-term, but Egbert is a sleeper to contribute in fantasy leagues in 2008.

Egbert’s 11/10 K/BB ratio is unimpressive, but he has a 3.77 ERA in 14 innings in Arizona. The 24-year-old lefty went 12-8 with a 3.06 ERA, 138 H and 165/44 K/BB in 161 2/3 innings for Double-A Birmingham last season. He’s behind Gio Gonzalez in line for an opportunity, but he should make his major league debut at some point during 2008.

Egbert clearly wasn’t long for the majors after giving up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings during his first two appearances. The White Sox will likely replace him with another reliever prior to Saturday’s game.

Poreda was given a long look, but he didn’t deserve a job after giving up nine runs and posting a 7/7 K/BB ratio in 13 innings. Beckham greatly impressed, hitting .270/.325/.568. The White Sox are planning on leaving him at shortstop for now, and he’ll be a regular there in Double-A. The demotions of Russell and Wassermann suggest that Mike MacDougal has a legitimate shot to reclaim a spot in the White Sox pen. Also, Jack Egbert is still hanging around.

It should have been Egbert, not Marquez, who was on the fringes of the rotation race all along. Egbert, though, did impress as a reliever, amassing a 2.35 ERA in 15 1/3 innings, and he might get a look out of the bullpen during the first half of the season. Marquez had a 5.87 ERA in his 15 1/3 innings. Williams, who entered camp as one of the longest shots to make the team, ended up with a 1.35 ERA in 13 1/3 innings, so he could be looking at a quick callup if he keeps it going in Triple-A.

It figured that Egbert would be back in the rotation for Charlotte, but since he impressed as a reliever this spring, amassing a 2.35 ERA in 15 1/3 innings, he continued to work out of the pen in Triple-A and became the White Sox’s first pitching callup, even though he had allowed five runs in seven innings in Triple-A. He’ll work in middle relief.