Clevinger to White Sox...

[Lipman 1]

Being reported by multiple sources tonight. Expected one year around eight million more or less.

Random Thoughts:

On paper this could be a good move for the Sox, when healthy he’s put up solid numbers and is better than dumpster diving guys like Vince Velasquez. And at eight million (instead of the projected 10 million) that helps the Sox budget

But…

Like a member of the mainstream media told me tonight this guy has a lot of baggage than goes beyond just an anti-COVID vaccine stance.

Like so many other Rick Hahn moves this could completely blow up in his face.

And what happens when JR tells him to cut his hair?

[34rancher]

Wow. Thanks Lip. Hope he’s fully recovered from TJ. If he’s healthy this is a great pick up.

[Nellie Fox]

And what happens when JR tells him to cut his hair?

What makes you think he'll be told to cut his hair? The team has dreadlocks, sideways hats, unbuttoned jerseys, multiple gold chains, lumberjack beards, do-rags, ponytails, neon-colored shoes and batting gloves, etc. Why would long hair suddenly become an issue?

[thomas35forever]

Nice way to round out the rotation. Hope he finds his form again with us.

[LITTLE NELL]

What makes you think he'll be told to cut his hair? The team has dreadlocks, sideways hats, unbuttoned jerseys, multiple gold chains, lumberjack beards, do-rags, ponytails, neon-colored shoes and batting gloves, etc. Why would long hair suddenly become an issue?

You learn something new everyday, I had to look up what a do-rag is.

[HomeFish]

I wish Clevinger all the best in his recovery from TJ surgery and hope he catches fire (or rather throws it) on the South Side. But this is a classic cheap White Sox move. The White Sox will not truly contend until JR is gone and a new owner can clean house and totally change how this team is run.

[LITTLE NELL]

I wish Clevinger all the best in his recovery from TJ surgery and hope he catches fire (or rather throws it) on the South Side. But this is a classic cheap White Sox move. The White Sox will not truly contend until JR is gone and a new owner can clean house and totally change how this team is run.

My thoughts exactly, the modus operandi is to wind up in second place.

[Bobby Thigpen]

Like a member of the mainstream media told me tonight this guy has a lot of baggage

Wasn't that the red flag against AJ when he got here too?

[Domeshot17]

I don’t mind him as the 5th starter, which is what he is. In 2020 some thought he was the crown jewel of the trade deadline. He could be a bust but give me a guy that has some pedigree behind him with Katz instead of a Velasquez polishing a turd type.

[Dumpjerry]

And what happens when JR tells him to cut his hair?

Wrong pinstripes.

[ChiTownTrojan]

I wish Clevinger all the best in his recovery from TJ surgery and hope he catches fire (or rather throws it) on the South Side. But this is a classic cheap White Sox move. The White Sox will not truly contend until JR is gone and a new owner can clean house and totally change how this team is run.

I'm reserving judgement until the rest of the offseason plays out. We all know there's a budget. If this move allows them to bring in an outfield upgrade and address 2B, I'm good with it. Of course I'd love for the Sox to sign Judge, Nimmo, and Rodon but that's not realistic.

[KenBerryGrab]

The ransom the Padres paid Cleveland for Clevinger shows how dangerous all-in deadline deals often are.

[HomeFish]

My thoughts exactly, the modus operandi is to wind up in second place.

Yeah, I guess there's nothing wrong with signing Clevinger to this kind of prove-it contract. While Clevinger looked awful upon his return from TJ surgery, the reality is that TJ surgery is a rite of passage for elite pitchers these days and all sorts of guys have recovered from it, been All-Stars after it, had long and successful pitching careers after it. Not everyone, of course, but post-TJ success is more commonplace today than ever before.

The problem is that this is all the Sox do. Contenders hand out deals like this but as a supplement to signing superstars, not as a replacement for it. Rather than signing one proven superstar to $30 million per year the Sox sign 10 mediocre guys to $3 million year deals. And most of those signings don't work out so they spend the same amount of money with less WAR to show for it.

Everyone remembers Esteban Loaiza in 2003 or Ceuto in 2022. But you don't remember the 12 or so other guys signed to those deals who were terrible, at least not until they're a trivia question one day.

[MrX]

And at eight million (instead of the projected 10 million) that helps the Sox budget

Jim Bowden tweeted a few hours ago that he’s heard it’s 1 year, $12 million.

[Lipman 1]

Have no idea how reliable this source is, but this tweet I found interesting:

"The White Sox front office wasn’t allowed to issue a QO to Rodon. The owner thought $18MM was too risky for an SP with his injury history so he directed his GM to let Rodon walk for free This is sourced info btw."
Quote Tweet

MLBExecutiveBurner
@HotStoveintel
·
1h

"Carlos Rodón off a 4.9 fWar yr entering his age 29 season wasn't worth $18.4M for 1 Yr to White Sox Mike Clevinger off a 0.4 fWar yr entering his age 32 is worth $12M for 1 Yr to White Sox.

Sound Process"

JR strikes again it seems.