The White Sox have signed left-hander Hector Santiago to a minor league contract, according to Roster Roundup. Santiago was most recently with the Mets, who designated him for assignment last Friday.
This will be the third White Sox tour for Santiago, whom the team selected in the 30th round of the 2006 draft. Santiago wound up pitching with the White Sox from 2011-13, during which he notched a 3.41 ERA/4.49 FIP in 224 2/3 innings.
Chicago dealt Santiago to the Angels in a noteworthy three-team trade heading into the 2014 campaign. After stints with the Halos and Twins, Santiago returned to the Sox on a minors deal in February 2018. He went on to throw 102 innings (49 appearances, seven starts) of 4.41 ERA/5.09 FIP ball with 9.09 K/9 and 5.29 BB/9 at the big league level last season.
Now, Santiago will once again try to turn a minors pact with the White Sox into a major league opportunity. He’ll have to perform better than he did as a Met, though. While Santiago did log a 3.35 ERA over 43 innings with the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate this year, his run prevention success came with far less encouraging peripherals. The 31-year-old then fell flat over eight innings with New York, where he gave up six earned runs on 10 hits and five walks (with six strikeouts).
So excited
A fan favorite who is worth another chance. If it doesn’t work out nothing lost
Good man good plan
A fan favorite? Do White Sox fans have favorite players? Hard to tell when their is nobody at the games
Even though they averaged 30K+ in their recent home series but ok
He’s like a bad cold, you just can’t shake it.
Why not?!
I was hoping this wouldn’t happen.
Can’t be any worse than Carson fulmer! I really don’t want to see him start again
He has a 4.88 FIP so the Sox ought to resign tough luck Chris Volstad again who has a 4.69 FIP.
Budget must be tight…
Damn, I know things are tight on the south side, but a legit jersey shouldn’t be too much of an ask.
That was from a couple years ago. They signed him just before the team photos and didn’t have time to do his uniform.
This should really advance their playoff run.
Danny Farquhar will be next.
I’ve never understood why guys like Santiago and Milone continue to get opportunities. They are what they are. I guess they aren’t terrible as injury fill ins for spot starts, but they really aren’t worthy of a significant duration on a 25 man roster so teams are seemingly a lot better off just using their own AAAA depth kind of guys who have options IMO.
With the way Despaigne has pitched, Santiago might get his 3rd tour with the Sox very soon. Cease is in a rut right now (much like what Kopech did last year around this time), so I see Santiago in Chicago before Cease. Obviously I expect Cease to have far more success in Chicago this season than Santiago, but Cease needs to get out of his rut first. The sooner, the better.
I’m sure Cease will have his struggles this year in Chicago. It’s better he has his struggles this year when the Sox aren’t in competitive mode yet. Yes, I’m aware they’re not that far from the 2nd WC spot, but they have way too many holes to realistically expect being in the WC race in Sept. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see it this year.
Anyway, it would benefit Cease (and the Sox) to learn from any horrendous outings he will have in Chicago this year, when it’s not as vital for him to be counted on as an ace of the rotation. He will get lit up from time to time in Chicago this year (hopefully not too often), it’s how he learns and responds to those bad outings that will be key.
Though it may sound like I’m Mr. Negativity, I’m getting excited about next year. I might be wrong about them not being playoff bound until ’21, they might be playoff bound in ’20 (especially being in the worst division in MLB).
With key pieces coming up later this year or next year, along with Kopech and (eventually) Rodon coming back next year, it’s hard not to get excited about ’20 and especially ’21. I’m looking forward to the state of the team this time next year. So any negativity I have for the current team will be replaced with excitement for the vastly improved version of this team next year and beyond.