The White Sox announced today that right-hander Mike Clevinger recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. He starts today’s game against the Rays. Friend is right Dominic Leone was placed on the 15-day injured list due to back tightness, which resumed on May 5, in the accompanying walk.
Clevinger, 33, is a veteran with more than five years of major league service. That means he cannot be chosen for children without his consent. But he remained in free agency for a long time this winter, not agreeing with the White Sox until early April, and agreed to be sent down the farm to get fit for a starting job.
Last week it was reported that the Sox would be changing their rotation, with Clevinger as well Brad Keller taking roles, although it is not yet clear who will be cast. The little ones Nick Nastrini again Jonathan Cannon each club has made multiple starts, but both have been selected to return to the minors in recent weeks. Erick Fedde he has had the strongest results so far this year with a 3.46 earned run average. Garrett CrochetA 5.31 ERA doesn’t look good but his 32.3% strikeout rate and 5.5% walk rate are both solid.
Michael Soroka has a 6.48 ERA on the year and uninspiring peripherals to match. His 47.8% ground ball rate is solid but he has walked 12.6% of the batters he has faced while striking out 10.6%. Chris Flexen he also has some pretty impressive upside, including a 13.6% strikeout rate and a 9.6% walk rate, but his 4.85 ERA is at least passable.
Soroka is still listed on MLB.com as tomorrow’s starter with Flexen the next day. Maybe each will get a chance to pitch again before the Sox make a decision, but the club now has six players to choose from with Clevinger, Keller, Fedde and Crochet also.
The Sox are 8-26 at this point and are clearly not going to contend this year. Still, Clevinger’s return will hopefully serve as a strong addition to the rotation as he perhaps positions himself as a potential trade candidate this summer.
Clevinger was a borderline ace from 2017 to 2020, throwing 489 1/3 innings with a 2.96 ERA, 28% strikeout rate and 9% walk rate. But he needed Tommy John surgery after 2020 and is yet to return to his previous form. He missed 2021 and had a 4.33 ERA in 2022, his strikeout rate dropping to 18.8%. Last year, his strikeout rate slightly increased to 20% and he lowered his ERA to 3.77, but it still didn’t match his pre-surgery levels.
He may have been a trade candidate last summer, as the Sox also traded at the time, though his health may have played a role there. A right biceps strain sent him to the injured list in mid-June and he was inactive until July 27, just before the deadline. He was later cleared on waivers and was not waived, though that may have been because his contract had a $4MM buyout for the same option, so any team that wanted him would have to pick up that cost. It was also reported in early 2023 that he was being investigated for domestic violence, which could have affected the league’s interests, although that investigation was concluded in March of last year without MLB handing Clevinger any punishment.
This year’s deal is a one-year deal with a $3MM base salary and $3MM in incentives. If Clevinger is healthy and pitching well this summer, the Sox will certainly make him available in a trade given their ongoing rebuild and poor record.
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