White Sox Sign Right-Hander Chris Flexen for One Year, $1.75m Deal

In a significant move, the White Sox sign Chris Flexen, a right-handed pitcher. The Chicago White Sox have reportedly agreed on a one-year contract with Chris Flexen, worth $1.75 million. This contract also includes the potential for an additional $1 million in incentives.

This signing adds to the team’s depth in the rotation and presents a rebound opportunity for Flexen after a challenging 2023 season.

A Frustrating 2023 Season

Flexen’s 2023 campaign was far from ideal, with a disappointing performance that led to his designation for assignment by the Seattle Mariners and subsequent trade to the New York Mets.

He struggled with significant home run issues, resulting in a high ERA of 7.71 in 42 innings with the Mariners.

The Mets, however, only had interest in acquiring reliever Trevor Gott from the deal and promptly released Flexen.

The pitcher then signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies and eventually made his return to the majors after two starts in Triple-A. However, the challenges continued for Flexen, as he posted a 6.27 ERA over 60 1/3 innings with the Rockies, bringing his combined ERA for the season to 6.86.

His home run rate of 2.20 per nine innings was the highest in the league among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched.

Previous Success with the Mariners

Despite Flexen’s struggles in 2023, his performance in the preceding two years with the Seattle Mariners showcased his potential as an effective pitcher.

Initially signed to a two-year, $4.5 million deal by the Mariners, Flexen compiled a 3.66 ERA while starting 53 of his 64 appearances.

Although his strikeout rate of 16.5% was below average, he demonstrated good control and a better ability to limit home runs.

The White Sox’s Outlook and Payroll

The White Sox are focusing on strengthening their roster for the upcoming season, following a disappointing 2023 season where they finished with a 61-101 record and secured the fourth position in the AL Central.

While their payroll is currently around $150 million, which is lower than the previous year’s Opening Day mark of $181 million, they continue to work on rebuilding the team.