For the third straight spring, Mike Clevinger will once again don a White Sox uniform. According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, Clevinger has agreed to a minor-league deal with the team, which includes an invitation to Spring Training.
During his first two seasons in Chicago, Clevinger owned a 9-12 record, 4.09 ERA, and averaged 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. He only threw 16 innings for the White Sox last season, after undergoing season-ending disc replacement surgery in his neck in August.
He entered the 2024 season behind the eight-ball. Clevinger only threw 16 innings in the big leagues this season after remaining unsigned in free agency until April 4th. The 33-year-old right-hander was also placed on the 15-day injured list in May. After tossing four innings of one-run ball in a rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on July 14 and was scheduled to make another one on July 23 before being pulled due to neck stiffness.
During the four starts he did make for the White Sox, Clevinger owned a 0-3 record with a 6.75 ERA and 15 strikeouts. During that stretch, he posted a -0.2 WAR, 11.5% walk rate, 35.2% ground ball rate, and a .295 expected batting average against him. Injuries played a factor.
At the time White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said that the team planned to reevaluate him before ultimately deciding to shut him down for the season.
Clevinger is already not well-liked by the majority of the fan base after domestic abuse allegations were levied against him, which included physical, verbal, and emotional abuse of the mother of his 10-year-old daughter, as well as child abuse. Clevinger was not punished for the allegations after a league investigation on the basis that he would enter therapy.
The move could signal that the White Sox don’t believe Drew Thorpe will be ready for Opening Day, despite him throwing 21 pitches during a bullpen session on Tuesday. Thorpe has spent the offseason recovering from season-ending surgery to shave down a bone spur. Even if he is feeling better the White Sox would be wise to not rush him back until he is fully healthy.
