White Sox Sign Mike Clevinger

According to Ken Rosenthal, the White Sox have agreed to a deal with right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger, pending a physical. He will likely serve as the White Sox fifth starter, meaning Johnny Cueto will not return.

Jon Morosi added that Clevinger’s deal with the White Sox is for one year, with all money guaranteed.

Clevinger was a once dominant starter in Cleveland. From 2017-20, he produced a 2.96 ERA over 489 1/3 innings. The former fourth-round draft pick also posted an excellent 19 K-BB%, placing him amongst the game’s best pitchers. In 2018 he pitched 200 innings posting a 3.02 ERA. He won 13 games and racked up 207 strikeouts. He was part of a nine-player trade in 2020 that sent him to San Diego.

The soon to be 32 year old is only two years removed from Tommy John surgery. In his first season back, he posted a 4.33 ERA, 18.8 K%, 7.2 BB%, and 35.2% groundball rate in 114 1/3 innings. He also started a pair of playoff games, allowing seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

A little rust was to be expected, but there were alarming numbers in his 2022 season. He ranked in the bottom half of the league in hard hit percentage, expected batting average, expected slugging percentage, barrel percentage, strikeout percentage, whiff rate, fastball velocity, and curveball spin.

There are also some health concerns to consider. Before the season, Clevinger bragged that he felt “healthier than I have in my entire career.” Shortly after, he sprained his knee, which forced him to miss the start of the season. Just three starts into the season, he was placed on the IL again due to a tricep strain.

Story to be updated. Stay tuned for more information.