White Sox will need another veteran in its starting rotation for next season. Could free agent hurler be a good fit on the South Side in 2018?
The Chicago White Sox won’t spend big this offseason for free agents, but they will need to fill holes for next season in their starting rotation. One pitcher that could make sense on a one-year deal is Scott Feldman.
Feldman will be a free agent this season and could provide the Sox with some stability in their starting rotation in 2018. The Sox starting rotation will be relatively young next season with Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Carlos Rodon. Although the team has James Shields in the rotation, the Sox could certainly use another veteran starting pitcher.
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As the Sox continue their rebuild, having more than one veteran starting pitcher could help the younger pitchers throughout the season. Feldman has pitched 13 seasons in the majors and is coming off a serviceable 2017 with the Cincinnati Reds. The 2002 41st round draft pick of the Houston Astros went 7-7 with a 4.77 ERA in 21 starts.
Feldman pitched 111.1 innings for the Reds last season but has never finished a year with more than 189 innings pitched. For his career, Feldman is 78-84 with a 4.33 ERA. He has pitched for contending teams as he was with the Texas Rangers when they made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. Feldman also pitched with the Houston Astros in 2015 and went 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA that season.
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If the Sox are able to sign Feldman, he won’t be relied upon to be a workhorse for the team in 2018. However, he could give the Sox a much-needed veteran presence in the clubhouse. Feldman will be 35 in February, but he has shown he can still pitch at the major league level. The Sox aren’t expected to contend next season, but having a veteran like Feldman in the starting rotation could help with the continued development of the team’s top young pitchers.