Veteran short man leaves Charlotte, takes a few days off, arrives in Chicago — just like they wrote it up
We haven’t really gotten the full story here, and even the worst case is not really a big deal, but it’s been a hell of a week for Dan Altavilla.
On May 24, possibly facing an opt-out of his contract (as a major league veteran signed on an MiLB deal), the White Sox released Altavilla. Presumably that was due to pending free agency and not because the team decided Altavilla was unworthy of remaining in the org. Such a move would have been asinine, as the 32-year-old had a 2.49 ERA in 20 games with Triple-A Charlotte this year, holding opponents to a .171 average.
After Miguel Castro tore his right patellar tendon (i.e. knee) on a wet field late in Wednesday’s game at New York — yep, he’s likely gone for the season — the White Sox buzzed Altavilla and not only asked him back into the org but promoted him to the majors. The veteran assumes Castro’s roster spot and fills the org roster back up to 40 players.
Terms are for ONE … MILLION … DOLLARS, and let’s just say that if you are a AAAA player looking to sign with a team for Dollar Store (sub-$2 million) prices, the White Sox are your club.
For you pronunciation completists, the White Sox release claims Altavilla pronounces his surname ahl-tuh-VILL-uh rather than the Latin ahl-tuh-VEE-yuh, so make note in your scorecards.
The 5´11´´, 235-pound Altavilla has gone 8-8 with a 4.36 ERA, .223 average against, one save, 12 holds and 134 strikeouts in 124 career outings over seven major-league seasons with Seattle (2016-20), San Diego (2020-21) and Kansas City (2024). He’ll don No. 58.