If you were still trying to get accustomed to the idea of Mike Clevinger being the White Sox's first move of the offseason, the White Sox aren't waiting for your comfort.
Friday's rumors of strong interest have blossomed into a full-blown pending agreement, with Ken Rosenthal seeing the scoop through from start to finish.
We discussed earlier today the pros and cons of signing Clevinger, and the way the White Sox have worked wonders with previously unremarkable back-end signings in each of the last two seasons.
But there are a few differences at this point between Clevinger and Carlos Rodón/Johnny Cueto, and we'll start with the timing. The White Sox and Rodón returned to each other at the end of January, and Cueto didn't come aboard until early April. Clevinger is the White Sox's first proper acquisition of the offseason, and will probably command a more lucrative commitment than the $3 million that Rodón signed for/Cueto earned in a prorated fashion.
I'm also slightly uncomfortable with the idea of Clevinger being the highest priority, because it brings to mind the way they jumped the market to sign a washed-up Adam Eaton in early December 2020. As I wrote about when the Sox DFA'd Eaton the following July, the eagerness signaled conviction they should never have possessed, and closed off areas that required stronger upgrades.
The Sox's track record with extra starters is better than their history with bargain outfielders, and Clevinger's presence shouldn't mean the Sox will ease up their search for position players the way the White Sox thought Eaton addressed right field and their handedness issues. The question is mostly about what kind of salary Clevinger can command in his present, limited form, and how much that will detract from their attempts to address more glaring weaknesses.
Further updates when terms are announced.
