By Jordan Long
The Chicago White Sox are looking to improve on their 62-100 record. They have agreed to a contract with reliever Kelvin Herrera for 2-years worth $18 million. It also includes an option for a 3rd year. This is in hopes of bolstering the bullpen.
Herrera is expected to be the closer for the White Sox. He was the closer for both the Royals and the Nationals. Herrera had a total of 17 saves and blew 2 games last year. He ended with a record of 2-3 with a 2.44 ERA.
He improves the bullpen for Chicago. Herrera will come into games to shut the opponents down. Herrera’s strength is his fastball which is clocked at around 100 miles per hour. That is difficult for a batter to swing at to make contact. It helped him strikeout 38 batters.
The downside is his pitching location. If he uses another pitch, hitters will key on it and smack the ball for base hits. Hitters will also be patient at the plate which works the count on Herrera. Those can be walks which equals more traffic on the base paths. Last year Herrera gave up 10 walks which isn’t a bad number but it can’t happen since that adds a base runner.
Herrera is not a top closer in the league. In his 8 years in Major League Baseball, he has 60 saves. His top season for saves was in 2017 for the Kansas City Royals when he totaled 26. The White Sox are hoping he can be their closer and shut down opponents at the end.
Chicago is taking a risk. They are hoping Herrera doesn’t blow games next season. When he enters the game he has to be able to use his fastball to force batters to swing. If hitters work the count and Herrera walks batters, this creates traffic and possibly a blown save. When Herrera is on his game he will make saves for the White Sox which equal more wins. They should see improvement in the standings, but not enough to make the postseason. fffff fffffff
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