The Chicago White Sox announced on Wednesday that they designated right-hander Mike Clevinger for assignment and selected the contract of right-hander Steven Wilson from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. There was talk of Clevinger potentially serving as the team's closer entering the 2025 season, but that never came to fruition and now he may be out of the organization completely after allowing five earned runs on five hits while walking eight and striking out three in 5 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Pale Hose. It was never a very pretty picture at the back of Chicago's bullpen, but things have gotten uglier in the early portion of the season. Fantasy managers desperate for save opportunities are the only ones with Jordan Leasure on their rosters. Wilson should work in a middle-relief role and isn't worth a waiver-wire pickup.
Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger is reportedly near the top of the list for ninth-inning options heading into the regular season. White Sox manager Will Venable said he might use multiple players in the closer role, but said Clevinger could be an early favorite for saves on the South Side. The veteran right-hander has done a nice job through a few spring appearances, but this will be his first time being a full-time reliever. Clevinger only made four starts for the White Sox last season, but posted a 3.77 ERA across 24 starts in 2023. Honestly, Clevinger might be a viable closing option, but the White Sox probably aren't going to give him enough chances to warrant rostering him in most fantasy formats.
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mike Clevinger could be making the transition into the bullpen. The right-hander recently signed a minor-league deal with the team. The assumption is that Clevinger would be competing for a spot in the starting rotation. That might not be the case as Clevinger reportedly could be headed to the bullpen. It's unclear if the team plans to use him in a late-inning type of role or a long relief pitcher. Regardless, it's unlikely that Clevinger could be a viable fantasy option in either of those roles. He posted a 3.77 ERA across 24 starts with the White Sox in 2023. Clevinger looks to rebound in 2025 after posting a 6.75 ERA in what was a injury-plagued 2024 season for the right-hander. Possibly a move to the bullpen could help Clevinger get his career back on track.
Mike Clevinger Signs Minor-League Deal With White Sox
Right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox. Clevinger will also be invited to spring training. The 24-year-old logged just 20 2/3 innings with the White Sox last season as he battled numerous injuries. During this small stint, Clevinger posted a 6.75 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP. He tallied just 15 punchouts. He underwent disc replacement surgery in July, which cut his season short. However, during the 2023 season, Clevinger held a solid 3.77 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP across 131 1/3 innings with the White Sox. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training, as Clevinger could compete for a spot at the back of the starting rotation. Clevinger will likely compete alongside Bryse Wilson, Jake Eder, and Jared Shuster. In addition, Drew Thorpe (elbow) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, which could also provide Clevinger with a viable path to earn a spot.
The Chicago White Sox announced on Saturday that starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (neck) will undergo season ending surgery on August 1st. The disc replacement surgery became necessary after Clevinger suffered setbacks during his minor league rehab assignment for a prior elbow injury. It's a disappointing end to the 33-year-old's season that saw him accumulate a 6.75 ERA in just 16 IP. Fantasy managers that haven't already cut ties with the right-hander should feel free to do so now with his season ending. Those looking for a replacement for Clevinger in the White Sox rotation should look towards someone like Jonathan Cannon who has some positive regression heading his way (4.43 ERA vs 4.29 xERA). However, you can likely find better options on the waiver wire that will give you extra value by having an offense on their side that can help collect a win, something the White Sox severely lack in 2024.
Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Clevinger (elbow, neck) has been pulled from his minor-league rehab assignment with an apparent setback. Clevinger was scheduled to make his fifth minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte last Tuesday after recently suffering a setback due to neck stiffness. Last Tuesday's rehab start was his third minor-league outing since his neck injury, but he apparently is now dealing with yet another setback. The 33-year-old veteran hasn't been good in six starts with Charlotte, either, allowing 13 earned runs on 27 hits (four homers) while striking out 20 and walking seven in 21 2/3 innings. There's no timetable for Clevinger's return to the big-league rotation. In four starts in Chicago earlier this year, he went 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.94 WHIP with 15 K's in 16 innings. Clevinger belongs on the waiver wire in mixed fantasy formats.
Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Clevinger (elbow, neck) looked good in his fourth minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday, allowing one earned run on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out three in four innings of work. In Clevinger's second start since his rehab assignment was restarted due to neck stiffness, he threw 35 of his 51 total pitches for strikes. The 33-year-old isn't sufficiently stretched out, but the White Sox haven't ruled out Clevinger returning to the big-league roster for the start of the second half as he continues to build his pitch count. Either way, Clevinger is going to be a shaky streaming option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues once he rejoins the worst team in baseball from the 15-day injured list. Clevinger landed on the IL on May 28 with right-elbow inflammation.
Mike Clevinger Could Continue Build-Up In Big-League Rotation
Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Clevinger (elbow) threw 61 pitches in 2 2/3 innings during his minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday night. Manager Pedro Grifol said the team will find out how Clevinger is feeling on Wednesday. If he's healthy, it's possible he could be built back up on the fly in the big leagues with him making shorter starts in the White Sox's rotation. At best, the 33-year-old will be a matchup-based streamer for those in deeper fantasy leagues, but not until the second half of the season when his arm is built up more to go deeper into games. Clevinger has been sidelined since late May with right-elbow inflammation after getting a late start to the season, and he also suffered a setback due to a neck issue. He didn't look good in his first four starts before landing on the injured list, posting a 6.75 ERA.
Chicago White Sox right-hander Mike Clevinger (elbow, neck) is expected to rejoin the starting rotation on the team's next homestand. "I don't think it's going to be too long," White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said on Sunday. "He's going to come back here and get worked on. But it's not something that we feel is going to cause a lot more [missed] time." Clevinger made two minor-league rehab starts with Triple-A Charlotte but was recalled from his rehab assignment on June 26 with neck stiffness. As of Sunday, the organization was trying to figure out where he'd pitch next after his rehab start for Charlotte was rained out on Saturday. In his two rehab starts, the 33-year-old gave up seven earned runs over 7 2/3 innings, so the White Sox would like to see better results before activating him from the 15-day injured list.
Mike Clevinger Heads To Injured List With Elbow Soreness
The Chicago White Sox are placing right-hander Mike Clevinger (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 25) on Tuesday due to right-elbow soreness after he was scratched from his scheduled start against the Toronto Blue Jays. With Clevinger out, the White Sox have recalled Jake Woodford from Triple-A Charlotte to make the spot start on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Clevinger got a late start to the year after re-signing with the White Sox after spring training had already started and hasn't looked very good in his four starts in 2024, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.94 WHIP with nine walks and 15 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. Clevinger could be stream-worthy in deeper fantasy leagues once he returns healthy, but managers in shallow-mixed leagues can continue to ignore him. If Woodford pitches well against Toronto on Tuesday, he could stick around for another spot start.
