“Deep Dive” focuses on the depth of each position in the Chicago White Sox organization. The relievers will be written up in five parts:
- Depth in the lowest levels (Dominican through Great Falls)
- Depth in Class A (Kannapolis and Winston-Salem)
- Depth in the highest levels (Birmingham and Charlotte)
- Under the Radar-type detail on one of the White Sox players at that position
- Free-agent options at that position, plus sneak peeks into available players in the upcoming 2019 MLB draft
Inherently, few of the top prep pitchers are actually relievers; as for college, many relievers are moved into the rotation during their junior seasons. Thus, due to the volatility of projecting relievers at this early date, I won’t hazard to make any suggestions presently. However, as we actually get closer to draft day next year, I’ll provide information regarding potential draft possibilities at that time.
Without further ado, let’s look at this year’s right-handed relieving free agency class.
Free Agents
(age as of April 1, 2019)
Adam Ottavino
Colorado Rockies
2018 bWAR: 2.5
Stats: 6-4, 6 SV, 2.43 ERA, 77.2 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 4.2 BB/9, 13.0 K/9
Age: 33
A definitely qualifying offer candidate, but with Colorado a bit budget-strapped, it held back. Could make the jump to closer.
Craig Kimbrel
Boston Red Sox
2018 bWAR: 2.3
Stats: 5-1, 42 SV, 2.74 ERA, 62.1 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9, 13.9 K/9
Age: 30
Wants a six-year contract? Hmm.
Kelvin Herrera
Washington Nationals
2018 bWAR: 2.3
Stats: 2-3, 17 SV, 2.44 ERA, 44.1 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
Age: 29
Jeurys Familia
Oakland Athletics
2018 bWAR: 1.5
Stats: 8-6, 18 SV, 3.13 ERA, 72 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9, 11.5 K/9
Age: 29
Tyler Clippard
Toronto Blue Jays
2018 bWAR: 1.3
Stats: 4-3, 7 SV, 3.67 ERA, 68.2 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
Age: 34
Shawn Kelley
Oakland Athletics
2018 bWAR: 1.1
Stats: 2-0, 0 SV, 2.94 ERA, 49 IP, 0.90 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
Age: 34
Adam Warren
Seattle Mariners
2018 bWAR: 1.1
Stats: 3-2, 0 SV, 3.14 ERA, 51.2 IP, 1.32 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, 9.1 K/9
Age: 31
David Robertson
New York Yankees
2018 bWAR: 1.0
Stats: 8-3, 5 SV, 3.23 ERA, 69.2 IP, 1.03 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9, 11.8 K/9
Age: 33
Joakim Soria
Milwaukee Brewers
2018 bWAR: 0.9
Stats: 3-4, 16 SV, 3.12 ERA, 60.2 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
Age: 34
Old friend alert. Rumored to have several teams, including contenders, hot on his trail. Looking smart that he declined his option for 2019 to test the waters.
Joe Kelly
Boston Red Sox
2018 bWAR: 0.5
Stats: 4-2, 2 SV, 4.39 ERA, 65.2 IP, 1.36 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
Age: 30
Santiago Casilla
Colorado Rockies
2018 bWAR: 0.5
Stats: 0-0, 1 SV, 3.16 ERA, 31.1 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 5.7 BB/9, 6.3 K/9
Age: 38
Sergio Romo
Tampa Bay Rays
2018 bWAR: 0.4
Stats: 3-4, 5 SV, 4.14 ERA, 67.1 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 10.0 K/9
Age: 36
An opener!
Tony Barnette
Texas Rangers
2018 bWAR: 0.4
Stats: 2-0, 0 SV, 2.39 ERA, 26.1 IP, 0.91 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9, 8.9 K/9
Age: 35
Brad Brach
Atlanta Braves
2018 bWAR: 0.3
Stats: 2-4, 12 SV, 3.59 ERA, 62.2 IP, 1.60 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9, 8.6 K/9
Age: 32
Carson Smith
Boston Red Sox
2018 bWAR: 0.3
Stats: 1-1, 0 SV, 3.77 ERA, 14.1 IP, 1.40 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9, 11.3 K/9
Age: 29
Blake Wood
Los Angeles Angels
2018 bWAR: 0.3
Stats: 1-1, 0 SV, 2.31 ERA, 11.2 IP, 1.29 WHIP, 5.4 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
Age: 33
Jordan Lyles
Milwaukee Brewers
2018 bWAR: 0.2
Stats: 3-4, 0 SV, 4.11 ERA, 87.2 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, 8.6 K/9
Age: 28
Cody Allen
Cleveland Indians
2018 bWAR: 0.0
Stats: 4-6, 27 SV, 4.70 ERA, 67 IP, 1.36 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9, 10.7 K/9
Age: 30
Bud Norris
St. Louis Cardinals
2018 bWAR: 0.0
Stats: 3-6, 28 SV, 3.59 ERA, 57.2 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9, 10.5 K/9
Age: 34
Peter Moylan
Atlanta Braves
2018 bWAR: 0.0
Stats: 0-1, 0 SV, 4.45 ERA, 28.1 IP, 1.77 WHIP, 5.7 BB/9, 7.3 K/9
Age: 40
John Axford
Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 bWAR: -0.1
Stats: 4-1, 0 SV, 5.27 ERA, 54.2 IP, 1.35 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9, 8.9 K/9
Age: 36
Fernando Salas
Arizona Diamondbacks
2018 bWAR: -0.1
Stats: 4-4, 0 SV, 4.50 ERA, 40 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
Age: 33
Randall Delgado
Arizona Diamondbacks
2018 bWAR: -0.1
Stats: 2-0, 0 SV, 4.76 ERA, 11.1 IP, 1.50 WHIP, 4.8 BB/9, 4.0 K/9
Age: 29
Greg Holland
Washington Nationals
2018 bWAR: -0.2
Stats: 2-2, 3 SV, 4.66 ERA, 46.1 IP, 1.62 WHIP, 6.2 BB/9, 9.1 K/9
Age: 33
Jeanmar Gómez
Chicago White Sox
2018 bWAR: -0.2
Stats: 0-2, 0 SV, 4.68 ERA, 25 IP, 1.56 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9, 9.7 K/9
Age: 31
Daniel Hudson
Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 bWAR: -0.4
Stats: 3-2, 0 SV, 4.11 ERA, 46 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, 8.6 K/9
Age: 32
A.J. Ramos
New York Mets
2018 bWAR: -0.5
Stats: 3-2, 0 SV, 4.11 ERA, 46 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 6.9 BB/9, 10.1 K/9
Age: 32
Ryan Madson
Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 bWAR: -0.6
Stats: 2-2, 0 SV, 6.41 ERA, 19.2 IP, 1.63 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
Age: 38
Jim Johnson
Los Angeles Angels
2018 bWAR: -0.6
Stats: 5-3, 0 SV, 3.84 ERA, 63.1 IP, 1.36 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, 6.4 K/9
Age: 35
Zach McAllister
Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 bWAR: -0.6
Stats: 1-2, 0 SV, 6.20 ERA, 45 IP, 1.49 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
Age: 31
Josh Tomlin
Cleveland Indians
2018 bWAR: -0.9
Stats: 2-5, 0 SV, 6.14 ERA, 70.1 IP, 1.48 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9, 5.9 K/9
Age: 34
Junichi Tazawa
Los Angeles Angels
2018 bWAR: -0.9
Stats: 1-1, 0 SV, 7.07 ERA, 28 IP, 1.82 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, 5.1 K/9
Age: 32
Matt Belisle
Minnesota Twins
2018 bWAR: -0.9
Stats: 1-1, 0 SV, 7.86 ERA, 34.1 IP, 1.75 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, 6.6 K/9
Age: 38
Brandon Maurer
Kansas City Royals
2018 bWAR: -1.2
Stats: 0-4, 1 SV, 7.76 ERA, 31.1 IP, 2.14 WHIP, 7.2 BB/9, 8.9 K/9
Age: 28
Blaine Boyer
Kansas City Royals
2018 bWAR: -1.8
Stats: 2-1, 1 SV, 12.05 ERA, 21.2 IP, 2.08 WHIP, 5.4 BB/9, 3.7 K/9
Age: 37
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Summary
The newly acquired Alex Colomé now joins Nate Jones and Juan Minaya in being the only White Sox relievers with more than two years experience, so the White Sox may be in the market for additional, experienced bullpen options (Rick Hahn has said as much).
Of course, the White Sox have a multitude of young, high-end, right-handed bullpen options who will either begin in Chicago or could be ready by the end of the year (Ian Hamilton, Jose Ruiz, Ryan Burr, Zack Burdi, Zach Thompson, Carson Fulmer, Matt Foster, Tyler Johnson). Thus, I don’t expect the White Sox to go totally crazy — unless they decide to spend big elsewhere via free agency. See, if the White Sox spend whopping amounts of cash on the likes of Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, they may want to splurge on experienced relievers to help the team compete for a 2019 playoff run.
Craig Kimbrel is the only right-handed reliever who received a qualifying offer. Thus, the White Sox would relinquish a second-round draft pick and $500,000 in international bonus pool money if they signed him.