Pitcher Mike Clevinger Back In The American League, Agrees To A Contract With The Chicago White Sox

By Jordan Long

The Chicago White Sox are looking to improve on their 81-81 record this offseason.  They have a new manager in Pedro Grifol who takes over for Tony La Russa.   Chicago also decided it was time to upgrade the starting pitching, agreeing to a contract with Mike Clevinger.

            Clevinger spent the last 3 years with the San Diego Padres.  In 2020, the COVID shortened year, he was traded to the Padres on August 31, 2020.  This was after starting the season with Cleveland.  In a Padres’ uniform Clevinger pitched in 4 games, going 2-1 with an ERA of 3.18.  The Padres were anticipating he would improve on those numbers.  Unfortunately, he underwent Tommy John Surgery on November 7^th, 2020, forcing him to miss the 2021 season.

            This past year for the Padres Clevinger pitched in 22 games.  He went 7-7 with an ERA of 4.33.  Clevinger was able to strike out 91 batters.  With his pitching, the Padres finished with a record of 89-73, earning a playoff spot as 1 of the 3 Wild Card teams In the National League.

            In the postseason, the Padres managed to advance to the National League Championship Series.  They lost to the  Philadelphia Phillies in 5 games.  In that playoff run, Clevinger appeared in 2 games, lasting 2.2 innings.  Batters were able to smack his pitches for base hits, giving up 9.   Teams scored 8 runs on him with 7 of them earned, not exactly the postseason Clevinger wanted.

            When game 5 was over of the NLCS, Clevinger was a free agent.  The Padres could have kept him as the back of the rotation pitcher, but decided to let him test free agency.  The White Sox agreed to a 1-year $8 million contract with him.

            Clevinger hopes to help the White Sox earn a playoff spot in 2023.  The move puts Clevinger back in the American League where he was from 2016 to August 31, 2020.  Clevinger had his best years in the American League with Cleveland.  From 2017 to 2019, he won 10+ games each year including a career best record of 13-4 in 2019. 

            The White Sox want Cleavinger to be a pitcher who can win 10+ games for them. If he does, it will be more than enough for the White Sox to be better than the 81-81 record they finished with this year.  At least it is only a 1-year deal.  The worst case is it doesn’t work out and the White Sox could either let him go following the 2023 season or trade him during the season if the results aren’t there.