According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Chicago White Sox have signed Steve Cishek to a one-year deal worth $6 million with an option for the 2021 season that could bring the total of the deal to $12 million over two years.
Cishek, 33, is coming off a very solid season with the Chicago Cubs in which he registered a 2.95 ERA, 1.203 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, and 4.1 BB/9 over 70 appearances (64 innings).
The only concerning part of his stat line was his FIP which was 4.54, suggesting that his defense helped him significantly in 2019. Unfortunately, Cishek will be transitioning to a White Sox defense that is not nearly as strong.
However, Cishek has been a model of consistency throughout his career with a 2.69 ERA and 1.151 WHIP which should mitigate those concerns.
His submarine style of throwing also bodes well to pitch deep into his 30s as he really doesn’t rely on a power fastball to put hitters away.
Obviously, the team needs to consider his splits given the three-batter minimum put into place for the 2020 season, but left-handed hitters still only had a .733 OPS against him which still isn’t too bad despite being much higher than the .583 OPS right-handed hitters had against Cishek in 2019.
This is definitely a smart signing for a White Sox team that needed bullpen help and someone they could rely on to be productive.
Signing someone like Daniel Hudson would have been a gamble on him performing as he did in 2019 while ignoring his larger body of work.
Cishek’s resume is strong both if looking at his very recent track record or his entire body of work at the major league level.
His role on the team likely will be serving as a set-up man for Alex Colome with Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall working alongside them.
Steve Cishek joining the South Side certainly helps address a need the White Sox had coming into the offseason as they prepare to challenge the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians in the AL Central this season.