White Sox: Additions to Bullpen Should Pay Dividends

White Sox bullpen much improved with additions of Luis Avilan and Joakim Soria. That could be a key to success in 2018.

Look out everyone, the Chicago White Sox have a bullpen. After trading away their entire bullpen at the trade deadline, general manager Rick Hahn did a great job by adding Luis Avilan and Joakim Soria. The pair have experience and that should pay dividends for this team.

Avilan and Soria did a great job for the Dodgers and Royals respictively last season. Avilan had a 2.93 ERA in 61 apperances. Soria had a decent season for Kansas City, posting a 3.70 ERA in 59 games.

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What’s important is Soria could step in the closers role for this season. That was an area of concern for the White Sox headed into this offseason. Soria could easily step into that role because he has 204 career saves. He is also a two-time All-Star. He was a very successful closer. That may not be the case lately, as he’s had only three saves in the past three seasons. But he would have the most experience out of the bullpen. That would make him a logical choice for closer.

Avilan gives the Sox a left-handed reliever. He has been effective as a reliever and has a career ERA of 2.97. The Sox needed a left-handed reliever and they got one. Avilan is also just 28. After this season, the Sox will have one year of control before he reaches free agency in 2020. If he is successful, the White Sox could look to sign him long term. After all, they’re going to need bullpen arms.

Next: White Sox 2018 MLB Amateur Draft Strategy

Rick Hahn has certainly delivered this offseason. Sure, his decisions aren’t the flashiest but he’s done a great job adding to the roster. By no means has he made a splashy signing but sometimes less is more.

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