White Sox re-sign Clevinger with potential fit in bullpen

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox agreed to terms with right-hander Mike Clevinger on a Minor League contract on Friday, which includes a non-roster invite to Spring Training. Clevinger is expected on Saturday at Camelback Ranch, bringing the team¡¯s total to 71 players in camp.

Clevinger, 34, begins his third stint in three years on the South Side, having originally signed prior to the 2023 season (one-year, $12 million deal with a $12 million mutual option featuring a $4 million buyout). The right-hander was arguably the team¡¯s most consistent starter in ¡®23, posting a 9-9 record with a 3.77 ERA over 24 starts, despite battling through right wrist and right biceps injuries.

After testing free agency, Clevinger returned to the White Sox on April 4 last season via a one-year, $3 million deal. But he only threw 16 innings over four starts, recording a 6.75 ERA, before he was ultimately shut down due to season-ending disk replacement surgery on his neck on Aug. 1. The White Sox watched Clevinger throw recently and analyzed the date he¡¯s sent to them, and general manager Chris Getz thinks there might be a bullpen fit for the right-hander at this point, with closer being a possibility.

¡°So much of it will be how he responds, and to get a chance to see how that plays out in Spring Training, it made sense,¡± Getz said. ¡°We are open minded in terms of [his] role. I know he is as well.

¡°I¡¯ve always had a little bit of a curiosity of what [he] could look like in a bullpen role. He¡¯s someone that wants a look, and we are willing to give him one.¡±

The recovery road
Ky Bush was in the White Sox clubhouse within their Camelback Ranch facilities Friday, sporting a large brace on his left arm attached to players who have just undergone Tommy John surgery. He¡¯ll be in that brace for five to six weeks, according to the left-hander, during his ongoing recovery process..

¡°I sleep on my back, so luckily, that's worked out pretty well. Obviously, it's not super comfortable,¡± Bush said. ¡°I had a really good offseason, [and I] was working really hard. I felt like I was in a good spot to try and compete for a job.

¡°Then it just happened. And now you¡¯ve just kind of got to wait until your time comes next year.¡±

Bush was throwing a live BP session on a field in Arizona, where he lives, when he felt a pop on one pitch in particular. His first inclination was the Tommy John surgery possibility, although his elbow started to feel better as he was waiting for an MRI confirmation.

It all took place about one week before the first workout for White Sox pitchers and catchers on Feb. 12, leaving him sidelined for 12 to 15 months.

¡°Some guys get just the brace, and that's usually a shorter stint,¡± Bush said. ¡°I had the full reconstruction, so it's going to be a longer haul. So probably 12, 15 months, if I had to guess.

¡°You feel like, as a pitcher, you're due at some point in your career to get this surgery. Obviously, you don't want it to happen, but I feel like in this situation ¡­ guys are coming back better, so you can just use it to almost make your career better and come back stronger than before.¡±

The 25-year-old finished with a 5.60 ERA in 17 2/3 innings over four starts last season.

Get your scorecards ready
Luis Robert Jr. will start in center field in Saturday¡¯s Cactus League opener against the Cubs at Sloan Park, flanked by Oscar Colas in left and Mike Tauchman in right. Miguel Vargas will start at third, with Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth up the middle at shortstop and second base.