Chicago White Sox Sign Mike Clevinger

The White Sox have reportedly added to their rotation. According to multiple reports, veteran starter Mike Clevinger is set to join the Sox rotation.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal tweeted about the deal first, and though the exact details of the contract are not fully known yet, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweeted that Clevinger is headed to Chicago for at least one year and that his guaranteed dollars are expected to be more than $8 million. The deal is pending a physical with the White Sox.

Clevinger will be in his age-32 season in 2023, and he will join a Sox rotation that already consists of Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, and Lance Lynn.

In 2022, Clevinger posted a 4.33 ERA in 22 starts for the San Diego Padres. He pitched in both the division and championship series for the Padres this October. Clevinger was a part of the Cleveland rotation that went to the World Series in 2016; he also pitched for Cleveland in the 2017 and 2018 postseasons.

The Sox are coming off of a disappointing 81-81 season, one where they were expected to contend for the division and make a deep playoff run. Chicago had made back-to-back playoff appearances in 2020 and 2021, their first consecutive postseason berths in franchise history.

Headed into the winter meetings, the Sox are projected to have a 2023 payroll of about $171 million before adding Clevinger’s contract details. They also have significant needs and second base and in the outfield that will have to be addressed if the Sox hope to take a step forward from the down year in 2022.