Chicago White Sox: Season preview of starting pitchers

Dallas Keuchel

The addition of Dallas Keuchel will do wonders for this deep and young rotation. The 32-year-old provides not only knowledge of how to compete for a struggling team looking to turn things around. He also provides post-season experience with his 11 starts in 12 games (59.2 innings).

Knowledge can only go so far. What is the point of having a pitcher who knows how to pitch in the postseason if the team cannot get there? Adding a former Cy Young to your rotation could help that problem. After not signing with a team until after the draft in 2019, Keuchel shined for the Atlanta Braves, helping them earn a division title. Unfortunately, they did not make it past the Division Series. He still provided the lift Atlanta needed anyway.

In 112.2 innings, Keuchel posted a 3.75 ERA with 91 strikeouts. Those are not superstar numbers, but for 3 years and $55.5 million, the return the team gets should be solid. Keuchel also lifts pressure off Giolito’s shoulders. In mid-2019, when a highly anticipated pitching prospect was called up to the White Sox, Giolito assumed the mentor’s role.

This is good because it shows Giolito’s growth as a player, a team captain, and an ace, but to ask a 24-year-old coming off of the worst season any qualifying starting pitcher to mentor a prized prospect because he was doing really well for three months is outrageous. Giolito will continue to be a team captain and mentor the young prospects, but Keuchel provides knowledge Giolito does not have.