Bargain Additions Andrus, Cueto Help Keep Chicago White Sox Afloat

Baseball production is anything but linear or predictable. Take a look at the White Sox, who are in a three-team race for the AL Central title.

They flopped out of the gate despite a record Opening Day payroll of $193.4 million but have been brought to life by two veterans they acquired for a veritable pittance. Johnny Cueto, signed to a minor-league deal that pays him $4.25 million, has been the team’s second best starting pitcher while shortstop Elvis Andrus has racked up a staggering 1.1 WAR in a month while earning a pro-rated share of $700,000, the major-league minimum.

These godsends are castoffs whose previous contracts were worth a combined $250 million. The South Side of Chicago has proven to be the right place to resurrect their flagging careers, although it remains to be seen where they will be in 2023 and beyond.

Cueto, a star with the Cincinnati Reds at the start of his career, signed a six-year, $130-million deal with San Francisco after leading the National League in innings pitched in 2014 and then, following a mid-season trade, helping the Royals win the 2015 World Series. He signed the deal entering his age-30 season and did not age particularly well, thanks in part to elbow issues that led to his having Tommy John surgery in 2018.

Cueto pitched decently last season, going 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA while making 21 starts, but the Giants signed Carlos Rodon and Alex Cobb rather than reinvesting in him. The White Sox stepped in to scoop him up after he lingered on the free agent market through spring training, signing him to buy time for Lance Lynn to recover from knee surgery.

Heading into a weekend start at Detroit, Cueto is 7-8 with a 3.09 ERA in 139 2/3 innings. He has pitched efficiently with a fastball that averages 91.5 mph, using funky arm angles and a Luis Tiantesque swivel to add effectiveness to his slider and changeup, both of which are rated as plus pitches. Only Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease has pitched more innings than Cueto, whose success has helped offset the inconsistency of Lucas Giolito.

Like Cueto, Andrus was available at the exact right time for White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn. The Athletics released the long-time Texas shortstop on Aug. 17, which was 11 days after Tim Anderson tore a ligament in the middle finger of his left hand. The White Sox used utility man Leury Garcia and rookies Lenyn Sosa and Romy Gonzalez at shortstop until Andrus arrived on Aug. 19. He’s been such a fixture that the team is now facing questions about what to do with him if Anderson is able to return this season.

Andrus, 34, put up a slash line of .305/.353/.526 in his first 23 games on the South Side. He also improved the Sox defensively and on the bases, using his aggressiveness to help steal a couple of victories.

Oakland released Andrus despite his being on the way to a 2-WAR season (he had registered 1.4 rWAR in 106 games). He was hitting .237 with eight homers while providing a veteran presence to a young team. Some wondered if the released was related to his $15 million vesting option for 2023, which kicks in at 550 plate appearances.

Andrus was on track to get exactly 550 plate appearances if he played the remaining 45 games when Oakland released him (he’d averaged 3.64 in 106 games played). He entered Wednesday only 62 short of the threshold with 20 games to play.

It will be interesting to see how the White Sox handle that contractual issue over the next three weeks. Hahn said Tuesday that Anderson has been cleared to begin baseball activities, with a return possible as early as next week.

Andrus has most recently been serving as the White Sox’s primary leadoff hitter, reaching base 40 percent of the time from that spot. He could shift over to second base when Anderson returns but has never played anywhere except shortstop in his 14 seasons in the major leagues.

Given Jerry Reinsdorf’s investment in the 2022 White Sox, it seems unlikely he would ask his staff to manipulate Andrus’ playing time down the stretch. It’s possible Andrus will be a short-term bargain and an expensive addition in the long term.

The White Sox likely will try to re-sign Cueto but he may have performed well enough to generate a lively turn as a free agent. Hahn could sign him to an extension before he reaches free agency but that will likely depend on whether Cueto is happy enough in Chicago to stay put at a discounted price.