After Odrisamer Despaigne's second consecutive dud, Rick Renteria said the overmatched starter was "here until he's not."
Despaigne no longer "here." The White Sox designated him for assignment, using the roster spot to recall Jon Jay from his rehab stint in Charlotte.
I'd say the dismissal of Despaigne throws the White Sox rotation into further chaos, but not really. For one, if Dylan Covey is able to return, he's a better bet to throw a decent four-plus innings. Even if Covey isn't fully functional, it became evident that a Despaigne start was a bullpen day by a different name regardless.
Jay will surface in the White Sox outfield after being out of the major-league plans for about four full months. His spring training was truncated by a vague hip/back/groin/leg issue that brought Brett Lawrie Syndrome to mind, but unlike Lawrie, a specific body part came into focus (hip), and he was actually able to complete a lengthy rehab stint. He played in 16 games between Birmingham and Charlotte, hitting a very Jay-like .333/.354/.365.
If he's Jay-like at the majors, he'll be a decent option for Rick Renteria at the top of the order against righties, as well as an above-average corner outfielder.
It would've been more poetic if he replaced Yonder Alonso, but Despaigne was one of two roster spots destined to give way, and the clock was ticking before his spot in the rotation came back around.
