3 free-agent relievers for the Chicago White Sox to consider
The Chicago White Sox could use pitching reinforcements. In 2020, it became evident that they did not have enough pitching depth.
During the Wild Card Series against the Oakland A’s, Lucas Giolito threw a masterpiece in the first game but Dallas Keuchel was unable to close out the best of three series in Game 2. Keuchel laid an egg forcing a do or die Game 3. Rick Renteria turned to rookie Dane Dunning who didn’t even make it out of the first inning. The White Sox were promptly eliminated after a bullpen meltdown.
During the offseason, Rick Hahn addressed the problem by trading for Lance Lynn. The move panned out well. Lynn put up a Cy Young caliber season and joined Carlos Rodon in the All-Star game. The combination of Giolito, Lynn, Dylan Cease, Keuchel, and Rodon boasted one of the best rotations in the American League. However, when the playoffs rolled around they collapsed.
Lynn allowed five runs in 3.2 innings in Game 1. Giolito couldn’t make it out of the fifth inning in Game 2. Cease got yanked after 1.2 innings in Game 3, and Rodon emptied the tank in 2.2 innings in Game 4. In total, White Sox starters combined for a pathetic 12.1 innings in the ALDS.
Carlos Rodon is heading out the door in free agency meaning Micheal Kopech will take his place as the fifth starter. Despite Dallas Keuchel’s struggles during the regular season, he is unlikely to be jettisoned from the rotation. Because Lance Lynn has already been signed to an extension, another starter will probably not be added in free agency.
The Chicago White Sox could really use another reliever before the 2022 season.
But that doesn’t mean the White Sox won’t add any pitchers. Their bullpen was a major issue in 2021. The bullpen was projected to be a strength of the team but they did not live up to their lofty expectations. Evan Marshall, Jace Fry, Zack Burdi, Jimmy Lambert, Mike Wright Jr, Codi Heuer, Craig Kimbrel, and Matt Foster all finished with an ERA north of 5.00 in their appearances out of the White Sox bullpen.
Rick Hahn has already added Kendall Graveman to address the issue. But with Micheal Kopech heading into the rotation and Craig Kimbrel likely to be traded, the bullpen could use some reinforcements. Here are three free agents the White Sox should target:
Ryan Tepera
Ryan Tepera returning to the Chicago White Sox would be a marvelous decision.
During the trade deadline, Rick Hahn acquired Ryan Tepera to help solidify the White Sox bullpen. He did just that. There is absolutely no reason the White Sox should let Ryan Tepera walk in free agency this offseason.
Liam Hendriks has established himself as the closer so there is no point in adding another reliever like Craig Kimbrel. The White Sox need guys with clearly defined roles to build a bridge to the ninth inning. Tepera excelled late in games as a setup man. He is a perfect guy for the seventh inning to pass the baton to Graveman in the eighth.
Last season Tepera picked up NL Reliever of the Month honors in May as a member of the Chicago Cubs. He had a 2.91 ERA, 22 holds and 2 saves before being dealt to the White Sox. Upon coming to the south side, Tepera picked up right where he left off.
He posted a 2.50 mark for Tony La Russa’s squad and picked up six holds and a save. Despite the bulletin board material that he provided the Astros during the ALDS, he was solid in the postseason as well.
He tossed a perfect sixth inning in Game 2, needing only five pitches to dispatch the Astros. In Game 3, he ensured the White Sox kept the momentum by throwing a 1-2-3 fifth inning in just nine pitches then striking out the final two hitters he faced in the sixth, making it nine in a row retired by Tepera.
Ryan Tepera is comfortable pitching in Chicago and fills an obvious need. Resigning him should be a no-brainer.
Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly coming to the Chicago White Sox would be a great move.
The 2021 ALDS proved that the Houston Astros are the White Sox biggest roadblock to reaching the World Series. If the White Sox want a notorious Astros hater coming out of their bullpen in October, then Joe Kelly is the man for the job.
Kelly became an instant fan favorite when he caused a bench-clearing scuffle after throwing at Alex Bregman, then mocking Carlos Correa after a strikeout. This was a year after the Dodgers lost to the Astros in the World Series and it was revealed that they had been stealing signs.
Kelly is the perfect character for the White Sox clubhouse as well. He sports a mullet and wild mustache which would add another wild hairstyle to a bullpen that already features the “ponytail gang.”
He traded a jersey for a mariachi jacket being worn by a trumpet player performer at Dodger Stadium. He then wore the mariachi jacket to the White House. Him paired with Liam Hendriks would be a duo of personalities too good to pass up.
His results on the mound are just as good. Joe Kelly is coming off his best season in a Dodger uniform. After undergoing shoulder surgery to remove a cyst, he dominated when he returned to the lineup in May. Kelly posted a 2.86 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, which is a new career-best. These numbers came in one of the best divisions in the National League, which featured a 100 win San Francisco Giants team and a menacing San Diego Padres lineup.
Even more promising is that Kelly actually threw harder post-surgery than he did heading into the offseason. However, it was the changeup that was the key to his success. Kelly threw his changeup 115 times, the most since he joined the Dodgers in 2019.
This uptick in offspeed pitches helped set up his fastball and make it even more effective. The results speak for themselves. Kelly struck out 27.5 percent of batters he faced. He picked up a pair of saves and had 13 holds.
His overall solid body of work as a reliever is consistent. Kelly has a career ERA of 3.83 throughout 10 Major League seasons. He is also ripe with playoff experience as evidenced by his two World Series rings.
In 40 postseason games, Kelly has a respectable 3.55 ERA. In the 2018 World Series, he went 1-0 and had a perfect 0.00 ERA for the Boston Red Sox. The 33-year old could be just what the bullpen is missing.
Brad Hand
The Chicago White Sox could really use a pitcher like Brad Hand in the bullpen.
Having a left-handed specialist in the bullpen is a great luxury. The White Sox currently have two dominant lefties in Garrett Crochet and Aaron Bummer but another southpaw wouldn’t hurt. Especially if that lefty is a grizzled veteran who knows how to get high leverage outs, like Brad Hand.
Hand has accumulated 126 saves in his 11-year career. During that time he has made three All-Star teams. He isn’t the dominating force he once was but still has plenty left in the tank. In 2018, he posted a 2.28 ERA and then followed that up with a 2.05 ERA in 2020.
Hand started the 2021 season with the Washington Nationals and notched 21 saves before being moved to Toronto. He struggled with the Blue Jays but a change of scenery in New York did him good. Overall, he finished the season with a 3.59 mark.
While the White Sox would not need him to close games, he showed that he can be an effective setup man with the Mets. He had a solid 2.70 ERA in 16 games. An added bonus is that if Liam Hendriks ever needed a rest day, Hand could fill in for the ninth inning if the situation arose.
For a short-term deal, Hand would be a cost-effective option as another setup man.
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