Maikel Cleto designated for assignment by White Sox
Apr 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher
Maikel Cleto(39) walks off the field after being relieved in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
In a release this weekend by the Chicago White Sox, they announced they have designated for assignment relief pitcher Maikel Cleto.
Cleto hasn’t produced like a reliever should this season for the White Sox. The right-handed reliever has a 5.14 ERA this season, allowing eight earned runs in just 14 innings of relief, equaling 13 relief appearances.
I really don’t have a problem with Cleto being off of the big league roster right now. This bullpen has underperformed for most of the season, and change is needed for the team to improve and to take the next step.
The starting pitching has also been inconsistent this season, but I’m still never confident when Robin Ventura has to go to the bullpen when the White Sox have the lead, or even trail by a run or two. They’ve been known to blow a save or put the team out of reach of even thinking about a comeback win.
Before the season, and even early on, I thought Cleto would have performed better than what he has this season.
In the move, the White Sox purchased the contract of RHP Frank Francisco.
If he does go to the White Sox minor league system, I hope he’s able to fix whatever they think his problems are, but right now, like I said earlier, the White Sox need to continue to make changes to this bullpen until they get the right players on the roster who can perform under pressure.
For the most part, in 2014, they haven’t.
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