ESPN

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox's need to pay cash for a backup outfielder Monday brings to light all of the issues that have continued to torment highly-regarded prospect Jared Mitchell.

The former first-round draft pick, whom the White Sox continue to hold in high regard, can't seem to catch a break and the White Sox's acquisition of Casper Wells from the Oakland Athletics on Monday only seems to highlight that.

The early-season injury to Dayan Viciedo, and the fact that the team started the season with only four outfielders, has brought the White Sox's major-league ready depth into focus. On the lower levels, the White Sox have some of the most impressive outfield talent around, but when it comes to players who can jump into the major leagues now, it isn't nearly as strong.

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CHICAGO -- Following today’s game versus the Tampa Bay Rays, the Chicago White Sox optioned outfielder Blake Tekotte to Triple-A Charlotte.

Tekotte, 25, appeared in three games (one start) with the White Sox this season after being recalled from Charlotte on April 20, going 0-2 with a walk.

The White Sox will make a corresponding roster move prior to Tuesday night’s game at Texas.

CHICAGO -- As expected, the Chicago White Sox put outfielder Dayan Viciedo on the 15-day disabled list Saturday and recalled outfielder Blake Tekotte from Triple-A Charlotte.

Viciedo was diagnosed with a left oblique strain. He injured himself on a swing Thursday night at Toronto and was immediately removed from the game.

“We’re hoping it’s two weeks,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Sometimes, those can be longer. He doesn’t necessarily have a patient or deliberate swing; it’s a violent swing. That’s the other thing. You let him go back out there and swing and it will probably be worse. You see people down for a long time.”

Viciedo continues to insist the injury isn’t serious, although he was wincing in pain immediately after he was removed from Thursday’s game.

“It’s very disappointing, but those are some of the things you can’t control,” Viciedo said through an interpreter. “I’m just going to take it one day at a time, and I’m going to work to get better so I can help the team as soon as possible.”

The power-hitting left fielder was batting .229 with a .417 slugging percentage over his first 14 games, hitting two home runs with five RBIs.

Tekotte, who was acquired in November from the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitcher Brandon Kloess, has 30 games of major league experience. The Missouri native was a third-round pick in the 2008 first-year player draft.

“[Tekotte] can run a little bit, so he could be running late, going in defensively, getting a start here and there,” Ventura said. “We’ll just have to move it around and make it work.”

CHICAGO -- Without a ton of depth, good health was imperative for the Chicago White Sox, and so far things have gone nothing like the team hoped.

Not only does John Danks continue to recover from last summer’s shoulder surgery, but Dayan Viciedo is now on the disabled list with an oblique strain, joining fellow Opening Day starter Gordon Beckham, who fractured the hamate bone in his left hand/wrist.

In addition to that, utility man Angel Sanchez has already gone to the disabled list, along with reliever Leyson Septimo.

“I don’t remember an April where we’ve had five guys on the DL, but that’s just part of the gig and that’s where we’re at right now,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “Fortunately, nothing seems that long term. We expect all of these guys to be back in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, we’ll give some other guys opportunities.

“You’ve seen Conor Gillaspie make the most of his chance to get more regular at-bats, and here’s a chance now for guys like [Jordan] Danks, [Blake] Tekotte and Dewayne Wise to step up and play a larger role.”

While Viciedo was still trying to find his way in the early going, Beckham was off to a solid start before he was injured. Taking advantage of his spot toward the end of the White Sox’s order, Beckham was batting .316 after the first seven days, although he had yet to deliver an extra-base hit.

With Jeff Keppinger moving over to second base, Gillaspie has made the most of his opportunity at third base. He closed out the road trip on an 0-for-6 slide but was still batting .364 with a .485 slugging percentage at the start of play Saturday.

Gillaspie was acquired at the start of spring training as a nod to the club’s lack of depth. The White Sox’s system is not highly regarded by baseball publications, like Baseball America, that monitor the minor leagues.

Hahn was asked whether the injuries and a 7-9 start have tempted to tinker with the roster via trades.

“Given all the injuries, it’s been fairly easy to tinker and scratch that itch, so to speak,” Hahn said. “It certainly is a temptation to explore other options, but it’s way too soon to avert from the plan except when forced to due to injury.

“We’d rather get up to at least 6-8-week sample before you start drawing any sort of long-term conclusions, whether it be the guys who have gotten off to fantastic starts or the guys who have struggled early.”

Health issues haven’t been exclusive to the roster. Pitching coach Don Cooper missed the entire 10-game road trip with a digestive issue that required hospitalization in Washington D.C.

“It wasn’t a good road trip,” Ventura said of his club, which went 3-7 on its three-city swing. “Not only losing players, but you’re losing staff members. But again, it’s part of the game, and you just have to be able to have somebody come in and pick it up and keep going. That’s just part of baseball and being a long season and being able to make it work.”

The Chicago White Sox acquired outfielder Blake Tekotte from the San Diego Padres in exchange for RHP Brandon Kloess.

The 25-year-old Tekotte has hit .269 with 65 home runs, 242 RBIs and 110 stolen bases over five minor league seasons in the Padres organization. He bats lefty and throws right-handed.

Kloess went 6-3 with a 2.69 ERA with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last season.