3 players the Chicago White Sox need to designate for assignment
The Chicago White Sox are off to the franchise's worst start in club history. Considering the White Sox were established in 1900, that is saying something.
The offense makes scoring runs seem like it is against the law.
The Sox have been shut out six times over their first 16 games of the season. You would have to go back to when the Los Angeles Dodgers were known as the Brooklyn Superbas for the last time that has happened.
The Chicago White Sox join the 1907 Brooklyn Superbas as the only teams in MLB history to be shut out six times in the first 16 games, per @CodifyBaseball
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 16, 2024
The White Sox rank dead-last in the majors in runs scored, OPS, and home runs. They have the second-worst team batting average as only the Minnesota Twins are two points worse.
The expectation was the season was going to be bad, but no one could imagine it would be this bad. Having Luis Robert Jr., Yoan Moncada, and Eloy Jimenez on the IL has not helped. However, Eloy has just returned from the 10-day IL, so hopefully, he can add some power to the lineup. Although the White Sox should move on from Jimenez after the season as he can never stay healthy.
Speaking of moving on from players, there are three players the Chicago White Sox should designate for assignment as soon as possible...
Martin Maldonado
The catcher has never been known as a good hitter, but his .065/.094/.097 slash line this season is not even worthy of playing for the Woodstock White Soxx. He has a -54 wRC+ this season.
He was brought in for his defense behind the plate and to help handle the starting rotation. He is doing a great job of knowing when to call for a mound visit, otherwise his defense has been awful this season. His arm no longer makes would-be base stealers think twice.
You know who else can be good at a mound visit? Carlos Perez, Chuckie Robinson, Adam Hackenburg, or the pitching coach.
The Sox have three catchers at Triple-A Charlotte all capable of contributing a lot more than what they are getting from Maldonado. Korey Lee can start, and the Sox can be rid of a 37-year-old catcher who is no longer capable of playing in the big leagues.
Chris Flexen
The hope was the White Sox would get the 2021 and 2022 versions of Flexen when they signed the starting pitcher. He had ERAs under four during those two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.
Instead, they are getting the pitcher who was awful with the Mets over his first three seasons and the pitcher who got rocked last year with Seattle and then the Colorado Rockies.
Flexen has an 8.78 ERA and a 6.20 FIP. He has only made three starts but is already getting demoted to the bullpen. We think.
Jonathan Cannon to start for Sox tomorrow. Pedro Grifol noncommittal on Nick Nastrini, Cannon being part of rotation moving forward. Sox getting Erick Fedde, Garrett Crochet extra rest. Chris Flexen still starter for now but will pitch out of ‘pen “at some point,” per Grifol.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) April 15, 2024
Since the Sox have already called up Nick Nastrini and Jonathan Cannon, it does not make sense to keep Flexen. The Sox have Tanner Backs as the long reliever in the bullpen. Flexen has never been good coming out of the pen with a 5.07 career ERA in a relief role.
The Sox would be better served seeing what Nastrini and Cannon can do this season. If they struggle or someone else in the rotation gets hurt, Chicago still has Mike Clevinger, Brad Keller, and Touki Toussaint in the organization to provide depth.
Tim Hill
The White Sox have already moved on from veteran reliever Bryan Shaw. They need to do the same with Hill. He is struggling to get outs with an 8.31 ERA, three walks, and just two strikeouts.
The #WhiteSox gave Tim Hill and Chris Flexen major league deals despite both of them being awful pitchers and although that may have *seemed* like a bad idea at the time, it also seems like one today.
— Patrick Nolan (@SoxMach_pnoles) April 13, 2024
The 34-year-old lefty has given up a run or more over his last five games this month. He was one of the numerous former Kansas City Royals signed in the offseason, so maybe that is why he is still on the roster while the Sox had no patience with Shaw.
Hill has never been the most effective reliever during his career. He has had three solid seasons in his six-year career, but he came to the Sox after he posted a 5.48 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP for the San Diego Padres in 2023.
His struggles from last season seemed to have followed him to Chicago. The Sox have two other southpaws in the pen with Jared Shuster and Banks.
The White Sox also have other veteran arms at Triple-A Charlotte that can be called up to try to get outs during the latter part of the game.
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