Matt Davidson, Carlos Sanchez among White Sox cuts

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox had to make several difficult choices on Tuesday morning.

But the end results of those discussions with Matt Davidson and Carlos Sanchez is the team feels it has much more depth than with which it began the spring.

Davidson, Sanchez, reliever Tommy Kahnle and infielder Leury Garcia were optioned to Triple-A Charlotte and outfielder Jason Coats was also sent to minor-league camp. The White Sox, 6-2 winners over the Texas Rangers at Camelback Ranch, have 31 players left in big league camp and only one roster decision to go.

“These conversations were difficult ones, but difficult from a good problem to have standpoint,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “It’s nice to have viable options at multiple positions that you feel should there be an injury or underperformance that you have options internally to bring up and hopefully not miss a beat.”

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of a strong camp for the team, Davidson has raked all spring. The third baseman hit .413/.438/.783 with a team-high five home runs and nine RBIs. Davidson also had two doubles in 46 at-bats and had good success after making several changes in the offseason to simplify his swing. But after the acquisition of Todd Frazier means there’s no guarantee of regular at-bats in the big leagues for Davidson, who has struggled the past two seasons at Triple-A Charlotte.

[SHOP: Gear up, White Sox fans!]

The White Sox would love for Davidson to continue this type of production at Charlotte.

“It’s tough,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “A guy comes in here and has a camp like that … This is the best we’ve seen him since we acquired him. You continue to go down that path and continue to play well.”

A popular teammate, Sanchez’s chances to make the team similarly were disrupted by an offseason acquisition when the White Sox traded for Brett Lawrie and moved him to second base.

A slick defender, Sanchez also had a nice camp at the plate, hitting .333/.368/.593 with six doubles, a triple, two home runs and six RBIs in 54 at-bats. But the White Sox want Sanchez to continue to play every day and know what they have should they need his services.

“That’s a tough one, too,” Ventura said. “Some of the acquisitions that we’ve got kind of changes the dynamics.

“(But) I don’t think you ever go through a season where you don’t need guys from the minor leagues, so I think that’s the message to him.”

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