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Should Chicago White Sox extend Alex Colome?

By Joshua Finkelstein

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 16: Alex Colome #48 of the Chicago White Sox pitches in the ninth inning during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 16: Alex Colome #48 of the Chicago White Sox pitches in the ninth inning during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /
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Alex Colome was impressive in his first season with the Chicago White Sox. With other needs to address this offseason, should the team look to extend their closer? 

In 2019, Colome registered a 2.80 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and 1.066 WHIP while recording 30 saves on the year. He also averaged 8.1 K/9 as compared to 3.4 BB/9.

The 30-year-old has been very consistent throughout his career with a 3.07 ERA career ERA spanned over stints with three teams, with the other two being the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners.

With Colome set to enter his final season of arbitration in 2020, the team will have a decision to make within the next year with regards to keeping him around long-term or not.

According to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, Colome is projected to make $10.4 million through arbitration this offseason.

With that being the case, the team should extend him as the likelihood is that the difference between what he would make annually on a new contract and what he is expected to make next season through arbitration won’t be too significant.

This is just an estimate, but Colome probably would be in line for a deal around three-years, $40-$45 million if he were to be extended.

By signing him to the deal now, the team could simply forego his last season of arbitration. If they are concerned about saving money for other needs this offseason, they could even backload the deal and pay him less in 2020.

To me, the only way extending Colome doesn’t make sense is if they don’t view him as a long-term piece on this team and would rather have a more established closer in the future.

If that’s the case, then they should probably trade him this offseason as his value will go down every single day after Opening Day as pretty much every player with one year of control left does.

dark. Next. How many starters do White Sox need to add this offseason?

So essentially, if the Chicago White Sox believe he’s the closer of the future or at least a key reliever for the team, they should really try to extend him this offseason.

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