White Sox Still Need Starting Pitching Help for 2019
White Sox still need to add another starting pitcher to the rotation for next season. There are some viable candidates the team can sign.
With the talk of the offseason from White Sox fans being focused on the franchise signing a top free agent, not enough attention has been paid to the need for starting pitching. The Sox still need to acquire another starting pitcher before the start of next season.
After trading for Ivan Nova this offseason, the Sox filled one of their needs in the starting rotation. However, with Michael Kopech missing 2019 recovering from Tommy John surgery, the Sox still have a hole in their rotation. The Sox have three starting pitchers for 2019 along with Nova in Carlos Rodon, Lucas Giolito, and Reynaldo Lopez.
This leaves four starting pitchers entering next season and the Sox are unlikely to rush any of their pitching prospects out of Spring Training. If the Sox want to field a competitive team in 2019, the starting rotation has to be strong. While Dylan Covey can be a candidate to fill the Sox starting rotation void internally, he hasn’t shown any consistency over a full season in the Majors.
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There are veteran pitchers available the Sox could sign to fill in their void for 2019. Gio Gonzalez, who was traded twice by the Sox, could be a nice addition for next season. Gonzalez pitched a combined 171 innings this past season with the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers. He posted a 10-11 record with a 4.21 ERA.
At 33, Gonzalez could work on a one-year deal with the Sox that has a team option for the 2020 season. Gonzalez likely won’t be the same pitcher he was when he went 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA with the Nationals in 2017, but he would bring valuable experience to the Sox starting rotation.
Another pitcher the Sox could target this offseason is Wade Miley. Miley pitched in just 16 regular season games for the Milwaukee Brewers this past season as he missed time due to an oblique injury. In 16 starts with Milwaukee, Miley went 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.215 WHIP. In the postseason, Miley made four starts and posted a 1.23 ERA through 14.2 innings pitched.
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Much like Gonzalez, Miley would not only bring valuable experience to the Sox but another left-handed starting pitcher. The Sox have just one left-handed starter in Rodon for next season. Either Gonzalez or Miley would make good additions to the Sox. The Sox need for another starting pitcher can’t be ignored by the franchise as 2019 is another important year for this current rebuild.