2:34pm: The White Sox announced that they have indeed claimed Garcia off outright waivers. He’s been optioned to Triple-A Charlotte. Liam Hendriks moves from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
1:27pm: The White Sox have claimed right-hander Deivi Garcia off waivers from the Yankees, reports Erik Boland of Newsday. The Yankees had designated the former top prospect for assignment earlier in the week. The teams have not yet announced the move (or, in Chicago’s case, a corresponding 40-man transaction).
Garcia, 24, was considered one of the sport’s top pitching prospects not long ago, ranking on most top-100 lists prior to both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The right-hander blitzed through the lower minors after signing as an amateur out of the Dominican Republic, reaching the Double-A level as a 19-year-old back in 2018. He had success both in High-A and Double-A the following year before being hit hard in Triple-A, but struggling at the minors’ top level as a 20-year-old facing vastly older competition hardly stood as any kind of red flag.
The canceled 2020 minor league season could well have impacted Garcia more than many other prospects. With no minor league games in which to play, he was rushed to the big leagues as a 21-year-old, turning in a 4.98 ERA in six starts (34 1/3 innings). His 22.6% strikeout rate and 4.1% walk rate were both encouraging, but Garcia was tagged for six home runs in that debut effort and struggled to strand runners once he’d allowed them to reach.
As with his 2019 struggles as one of the youngest players at the Triple-A level, however, Garcia’s lackluster 2020 results weren’t considered particularly damning. Jumping to the big leagues as a 21-year-old with only 40 innings of Triple-A experience is hardly an easy task, and at insofar as his ability to miss bats and limit walks, he more than held his own. The next two years, however, told another story.
From 2021-22, Garcia logged only 8 1/3 big league innings. In 2021, that was at least partially due to a lack of opportunity. The ’21 Yankees received 29 or more starts from each of Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery and Jameson Taillon, with another 18 from Domingo German, 16 from Corey Kluber and 14 from Nestor Cortes. There weren’t many extra starts to go around, but Garcia’s performance didn’t necessarily merit much of a look anyway. He was torched for a 6.85 ERA in 90 2/3 innings at Triple-A that season, and his 2022 results weren’t any better; Garcia logged a combined 6.89 ERA in 64 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in ’22. He didn’t pitch in the Majors that season.
It’s been largely the same in 2023. A move to the bullpen in Triple-A hasn’t been much help, evidenced by a 5.67 ERA and sky-high 14.6% walk rate in 48 innings. Garcia allowed just one run in 5 2/3 big league frames earlier in the year, but he did so with more walks issued (four) than strikeouts (three). Command has emerged as a major problem for the right-hander, who’s doled out a free pass to 14.2% of his opponents en route to a 6.52 ERA in 214 career innings at Triple-A.
There were always some concerns about the manner in which Garcia would be able to handle a starter’s workload. Listed at 5’9″ and 165 pounds, he’s considerably slighter in frame than the overwhelming majority of big league starters. Garcia indeed has spent time on the injured list in each of the past three seasons, and his fastball velocity has fluctuated accordingly. He averaged 95.1 mph this year in a pair of relief outings — a notable bump from the 92.1 mph he averaged as a starter in the Majors from 2020-21.
Whether the White Sox plan to use Garcia as a starter or reliever isn’t clear at this point, but he’s spent the bulk of the ’23 season coming out of the Scranton bullpen. For a Chicago team that’s already waved the white flag on the 2023 season, there’s plenty of sense in scooping up a former top prospect and seeing if a change of scenery can do him any good. Garcia is in his final minor league option year, meaning he can be sent to Triple-A for the remainder of the current season without needing to go through waivers. However, he’ll be out of options next spring, so the Sox will need to either keep him on the Opening Day roster or designate him for assignment themselves — if he’s even able to stick on the 40-man roster that long.
The White Sox currently have baseball’s fourth-worst record, which gave them waiver priority over all but three teams. Each of the A’s, Royals and Rockies apparently passed on placing a claim on Garcia. The Rays were among the other teams to place a claim on Garcia today, tweets Boland, though Tampa Bay has the third-best record in MLB (and thus the third-lowest waiver priority).
That was fast!
Basically if you’re a P cut by an MLB team get a ticket to Chicago. You’ll get a job.
Hey you gotta wanna play for the Twinkies more then the White Sox, since they pass failed physicals(Carlos Correa) remember?
@Captain-Judge. I have a question for a Yankees fan but I wanted to make sure I got on answer from one that isn’t a homer. Yankees fans, you don’t need to defend against that comment. Every team has homer fans.
I read a lot of comments about Cashman being overrated but to me that seems like it isn’t the case at least within Yankee fandom. In your estimation, is that accurate or IS Cashman respected and beloved by Yankee faithful? Also, if Yankee fans DON’T think highly of him, did they ever?
I’m a confirmed Yankee hater, but isn’t this true for all fan bases? The NYY won 99 last year, and the NYMs won 101, and folks have their pitchforks out. Plenty of RS fans couldn’t wait to get rid of Theo. Plenty of Cub fans couldn’t wait to get rid of Theo as well. Cards fans up in arms as well, and they win 90 every year.
@SalaryCapMyth- Great question. The problem is Cashman isn’t the worst GM ever, he’s had some good trades and signings in his tenure. One thing to keep in mind the Yankees haven’t one a championship since 2009 though, so that’s been over 13 years. It’s definitely time for someone new now. It’s been said “If Cashman was let go or fired someone would scoop him up right away”. I like many Yankees fans would be alright with that at this point. It’s definitely time for a change.
That pretty well sums it up Captain.
I think all GM’s have a short leash with fans. Front offices also aren’t truthful to the fan bases. Not good for ticket sales. You can only trade your prospects and drain the farm system so much. The luxury tax and penalties have been pretty effective as well at reigning in some teams spending. Cashman has a budget that he didn’t have early on. He also tied up big $ on the bright shiny players. Remember how the yanks fleeced the fish with Stanton? That’s been the gift that keeps on giving. Had to chuckle when Michael Kay said what an advantage the Mets have over the yanks with their unlimited payroll. So ironic. The yanks have an owner who likes money more than winning, but does just enough to keep fans on the hook.
Thanks for the answer. I got the impression that if baseball fans think Cashman is overrated it wasn’t because of Yankee fans bragging him up. But I absolutely agree that Cashman would be picked up pretty quick. There’s just a shortage of GM’s that maybe even the Mets would swallow their pride and pick him up.
Trading for Stanton was not Cashmans idea or desire, that was 100% Hal Cash would have much preferred going after Harper or Machado that offseason
Cashman would be a very solid GM for a small to mid market team. Unfortunately with his Yankee checkbook he is able to sign very expensive players that for some reason he has fallen in love with. Jacoby Ellsbury and Rodon are prime examples. Cashman has a pretty good eye for talent with position players. Luke Voit, Didi, and Gio show he has the ability to see value where others don’t. He got DJL for peanuts when he first hit FA but then the checkbook got him in trouble resigning him. His main problem is that checkbook. The Yankees currently have half the luxury tax tied up with 4 players and 3 of them are continuously injured. If he was on a team like the As, Reds, Marlins or Mariners his strengths would shine and he wouldn’t have the checkbook to get him into trouble. Once Hal finally cuts him loose another team will grab him and I have no doubt he will turn a floundering team into a perennial contender. As long as he isn’t able to talk the owner into signing one of his man crushes like Rodon. At least with the Rodon signing the Yankees are finally getting some use out of the Carl Pavano Memorial MRI Tube again. Just like every casual baseball fan said they would after his signing was announced.
True
White Sox are just like America in bad condition
I know Franklin, climate change is wrecking havoc on the good ol’ US of A.
And fascism taking rights away from vulnerable communities. Ah what a time to be alive.
Good thing we have plenty of Hollywood celebrities, so that they can manufacture, create and portray a very “progressive” America.
poor Deivi!
That didn’t take long! That a boi Chi-Sox!
Better then Oakland or KC.
I don’t know about that. At least KC and Oak are realistic about where they are, and would have no hesitation in trying Garcia at the major league level. CWS are still telling the fan base they plan to contend next year. That may make it harder to get that opportunity.
OAK and KC are pitching black holes though. I think CHW is more likely to fix him.
You just proved your lack of knowledge of W. Sox coaching all through the system DarkSide.
What did they claim he did?
He escaped the Andujar and Clint Frazier destiny I see
Yet another Yankees can’t miss prospect goes from untradeable to unusable!
At least Deivi should get another shot in the majors with the White Sox.
I think you have the White Sox confused with a major league team.
Predictable. I wish the Sox would understand that signing washed up players like Garcia is not the way to rebuild their pathetic farm system. I hope they’re collecting players no one else wants, that have ERAs in the 5-9 range and hitters who can barely hit over .200 are a stop-gap method of making believe they have a major league team until some of those A and AA players they got in trades are ready. I figured somewhere around 2026.
I wish the Sox would understand that signing washed up players like Garcia is not the way to rebuild their pathetic farm system.
============================
This in no way impacts their ability to develop other talent.
@avenger65- The kids only 24, far from washed up, no reason why he can’t succeed pitching out of the bullpen right now, power stuff.
All the coaching in the world won’t change the fact that he is around 5’8″. He doesn’t have a chance unless MLB raises the mound height to pre-1968 levels.
Captain: That’s why the Yankees kept him
Tom “Flash” Gordon has entered the chat.
@Finlander – Remember Tom Gordon? He was listed at 5’ 9” but that must have been with cleats on. He was a decent starting pitcher and a dominant closer, especially for the Red Sox. Also, Marcus Stroman is listed at 5’ 7” tall and he’s been quite successful to say the least. Height has very little to do with it when all’s said and done.
@Joe
Agreed. it’s not like the White Sox AAA, Charlotte team is chock-a-block with talent chomping at the bit to make the bigs. It’s pretty slim pickins’ there so stash Garcia and see if they can at least make him a pen addition next Spring. if it fails, cut him loose.
Like the Cubbies
Well, he is same height as Pedro Mtz. and where is Pedro Now?
I was trying to remember if he was a can’t miss or not…then I remembered they all can’t miss in the Bronx.
Hahahaha, you’re absolutely el righto…i’m a yankee fan all the way since 1975 and you hit the spot. The team has left tremendous opportunities to get stablished impact players b/c they don’t want to depart with those can not miss players. Just excuse my gramatical errors. Not an american, just a guy from south of the border.
Steve Stone will call this move a major turning point of the Chisox next pennant winning team.
I remember when Stone worked in the Cubs booth, and he was often openly critical about the moves the organization made as well as the performance of players. Seems now he’s been indoctrinated (a la Bobby Valentine with the Angels) with CWS and has donned the rose colored glasses permanently.
@solaris. Yes, very true Solaris. But ever since the Cubs made the decision a number of years ago to move on from Stoney – it seems Stoney went through this period of ‘darkness’ towards the Cubs. It was at its peak when the Hawkeroo was still around. But young Benetti seemed to revive Stones animosity- at least when Stone and Benetti, both still were in denial that the White Sox were the hot mess they obviously have become.
Solaris: Stone, with the Sox, always points out player’s mistakes during games. He just doesn’t get all emotional about everything the Sox do. He’s not at all a homer. He’s trying to find what’s good in a crap team. He was more critical with the cubs because they were such a bad team.
dogbone: What do you want Stone and Benetti to? They’re under contract to call the games of a very bad team. They have to make the best of a bad situation. I’m sure the A’s announcers do the same thing.
He is older now
“Yankees can’t miss prospect”…Just to give you an idea of how the analytics mindset has ruined the Yankees, all those guys(Frazier/Andujar) plus Gary Sanchez could’ve been traded for Gerrit Cole(2017 I believe)or JT Realmuto, but the Yankees OVERVALUED them all and held onto them until they were worthless.
mlb fan;
Yankee fans dump on a few players as the reason the team is not in contending status; and now have added analytics.
Analytics is and has been a part of all big and medium sized businesses IN THE WORLD, along with some small businesses.
Like baseball teams, analytics are not the same for every organization. Some systems are better than others. Teams don’t make most of their decisions using the publicly available data you read about here and elsewhere – they make them based on their own internal / proprietary systems designed and programmed by their employees.
The Yankees were late to the analytics game (people went to work for other teams that were hiring). They may not have the best systems or personnel, and for sure Cashman has no clue how to interpret the results by factoring in multiple variables that went into the programming that generated the results. The quality Yankees scouting people that worked minimally – if at all – with analytics but built a strong farm sysem with Bernie, Mariano, Jeter, Pettite, etc. have long since retired. Hal and Cash are clearly lost (as is Cohen with the Mets, along with the White Sox, Rockies, Angels, Cardinals and others).
In pro sports not only do players compete on the field, but front offices compete against one another. The Yankees front office is one of the crummiest ones in MLB. That’s not the fault of analytics.
Some good points.
I’m not sure if it was James or Beane or someone else,but part of the issue with analytics is that they get old real fast. I think the issue at the time was older players. The conventional wisdom was that you don’t want old players. Fine, but if 29 other teams don’t want older players, then you own that sandbox. You should be looking for older players.
Fast-forward, if everyone is looking for 2400 rpm, then maybe you should be looking for fewer rotations with greater velocity. Even if something is sub-optimal, it can still pay off if you are the only player at the table.
“…but part of the issue with analytics is that they get old real fast.”
Not really Joe.
TQM has a Continuous Improvement Process to it. Quality analytic systems are constantly being refined.
Working for the Cardinals under Jeff Luhnow, Sig Mejdal developed a system to rank and project college players for drafting. His systems led to the drafting of the players that became a part of the best minor league system in MLB for years and won the Cardinals the 2011 World Series.
He left with Luhnow and Mike Elias for the Astros, perfecting his system to take in high school players as well as players from other countries. His systems were used for the great Astros drafts that were the basis for the Astros teams that have been in contention since 2015, won 2 WS plus numerous AL pennants.
He then left with Mike Elias to rebuild the Orioles. Still perfecting his system he’s been in charge of all the Orioles drafts. I saw/heard him in a discussion after the 2022 draft. He kept saying your “look at the numbers and trust the system”. That led to the Orioles taking Jackson Holiday with the 1st pick of the draft. Holiday has played at 3 levels in the minors in 2023 – A, A+, AA. As of today his combined slash line is: .338 / .462 / .534 / .996. Jackson is 19 years-old and should be playing with the O’s at some point in 2024 if he remains healthy. Other players were drafted as well that we’ll be hearing about.
–
Sig holds the title of: “Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Analytics” with the O’s. He now has a small staff, and they’ve developed systems for improving player performance. We’re seeing the O’s reworking failed relief pitchers, and slowly developing starters (as the Astros do). Sig’s system are used here, and are constantly being improved to take in variables in regards to the ever-changing way ML baseball is played.
The Yankees are an organizational disaster! The current disaster needs a complete rebuild starting with major changes with management then dealing with aging players and horrible contracts.
You’re certainly right. That seems to be one of the themes for this season. That and underachieving teams. This season is going to go down as one of the more unique ones in my memory.
I remember when Brian Cashman (the most overrated GM in baseball and possibly in all pro sports in the US) refused to include Garcia in numerous trades a few years back (just like with Chance Adams).
Then again Cashman would have made another one of his egregious trades where he gets damaged goods or takes on an albatross contract.
Correct. No Gm overvalues talent like Cashman. So many quality ball players we missed out on because he refused to include players like Andujar, Frazier, etc.
Which trades do you remember that Cashman wouldn’t include Garcia to complete?
Cashman is either an idiot or thinks by saying this people are going to beg him – nj.com/yankees/2020/09/mlb-rumors-yankees-turned-d…
Probably A’s because at one point I wanted him .
@madhatter
Hopefully you’re not actually expecting an answer. That would require facts that are not available to support the narrative. Teams rarely discuss trades that are never completed. That’s why its only speculation. Chances are that trade he didn’t do was proposed by somebody on this board.
A big yes here. I’ve probably seen this a thousand times in here. I almost never hear GMs discuss exact trades that they turned down. There would be no reason for such honesty outside of being in the bar among friends. The chances of Bloom telling the press that Cashman offered the RS Judge in a trade is -0-.
Yeah. I think if someone else highly covets your 5’9 pitching prospect and wants to give you good major leaguers you should definitely pull that trigger.
The odds are ridiculously in the favor of that not working out. I can’t compile the data—but off the top of my head Stroman is the only guy I can think of where you would’ve been burned in the last decade.
Dumpster Diving Fight Sox!
Season has been over, nothing wrong with buying low and hoping you find a serviceable arm for next year. Lose nothing, maybe win something.
Not at all! Just being a self admitted troll to all the Sox fans who called the cubs dumpster diving!
Think this is a great pick up..why not
Yeah, Because the W. Sox are so great at developing their own P’s. They should have him straightened out in 5 or 6 years.
Unclemike1526;
They aren’t very good at developing position players all-round games either.
Still throws hard and could be usable – why not?
Used to be that the Sox got veterans who were last good 3-5 years ago. Now with Naquin, Patino, and Garcia, they’re doing this with young guys. I don’t mind upside plays in a lost season, but they don’t exactly have a great track record of developing, much less fixing, young talent.
Naquin is 32.
In White Sox eyes, he’s 27, right in his prime!
Not entiely true. It isn’t Tampa level success, but they have mixed results in picking up these guys, like most organizations. They did fine with Santos, for example. They seem to have made Scholtens useful and are having some success with Toussaint
sliding: Yes, those players have done alright. The problem is, they aren’t the future of this team. I’m not really sure what the Sox are trying to do, but if they were serious about building a contender they should have re-signed Gio and Lopez. They are in their walk seasons, but why did they trade Burger? He’s young, he’s having a breakout year, and he’s controllable for the next few years. That one hurt. With Cueto and Burger on their team, I really hope the Marlins make the PO. They deserve better than the White Sox.
Interestingly enough, now that their season is virtually over and the battle lost, the WS are just now playing with a little energy & fire, taking 2 of 3 from the Yankees yesterday. This suggests to me that’s it’s not necessarily talent holding them back, but culture, leadership, mindset and attitude.
Yes, where the heck was this sudden intensity in 2022 and earlier this year? Still don’t have any hope for 2024…
acoss13;
Losers play their best when the pressure’s off.
Winners play their best when the pressure’s on.
It really is that simple.
@mlbfan
And not enough games against the Yankees.
It’s guys like Lynn and Giolito that were trying to hold them accountable
I think that the talent evaluators are purposely overvaluing Yankee prospects and everyone knows it except for the Yankees. Volpe? His age 22 season isn’t even remotely comparable to Jeter and yet he’s a “franchise shortstop” by the evaluators. Granted Jeter’s teammates were mostly criminals, cheaters and drug users (hell, look it up) but they weren’t in last place.
I hate the Yankees as much as anybody(one of only 2 teams I always root against)and really always have. But even I have NEVER called ANY Yankee “criminal”, because I wasn’t there to prove, report or document any of these somewhat ridiculous accusations. In my honest opinion using the word “criminal” in the same sentence as “Derek Jeter” is totally baseball malpractice and quite possibly slanderous.
John Wetteland arrested in 2019
Jim Leyritz arrested in 2007
Steve Howe suspended 7 times by MLB
Dwight Gooden arrested 7 different times
Darryl Strawberry arrests and prison sentences
That’s the tip of the iceberg, really, it is a lot worse with many more players in this organization.
As a lifelong Yankee fan i can safely tell you that the Yankees were full of criminals during that time. Not accusations but actual convictions. Simple google search could show you the facts
The Yankees should be grateful that the Chi-Sox claimed Garcia. Had he gone to Tampa or Houston, their pitching labs would have fixed him this month and had him ready to contribute to the big club by Labor Day.
Chicago… not so much.
@CTbronx7…True that. The WS aren’t very good at running a high stakes baseball club; I’d LOVE to get them into a high stakes Poker game, I’d probably end up OWNING the WS at the end of the night, Lol.
For a century-plus the national baseball media has been located in the industrial northeast. Everyone having anything to do with the teams there – Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and to some degree Phillies gets outrageously favorable publicity.
For years ESPN (located in Connecticut) couldn’t seem to broadcast a national game unless the Yankees or Red Sox were one of the teams…..and often times were the teams playing one another. The Announcers and reporters are buds with the players, managers and FO people. and know one another by first name.
It’s no surprise that Yankees, Red Sox and Mets prospects have been wildly overrated by the free scouting services that have grown the past 10 or so years.
Samuel: You’re absolutely right. I haven’t counted how many times the networks have shown the Yankees but I know it’s a ridiculous amount of times. It’s sad when the networks still hold onto the belief that the whole country are Yankee fans. So, while the Braves are playing the Astros, we get the Yankees playing Oakland.
Samuel, you’re wrong about the Red Sox prospects. Look at Duran, Devers, Casas, Bello, Houck, Crawford, with more coming. This team has won championships with plenty of homegrown players over the decades. When they’ve shot themselves in the foot, it’s with valuations of other team’s players. But they develop extremely well. The record shows that.
I think when it all boils down- there are many more can’t miss players who miss than those that live up to that billing. All MLB teams have had this done to them. The Sox raided the farm team to get arms in the Majors. Thus they need srms in the Minors.
Keep collecting these types of arms. Please no more spending half the payroll on relievers.
Dumpster Diving Ricky!
The media does a great job hyping up these Yankee pitching prospects.
You are so bad that the other 3 teams who have a worse record passed.
I wouldn’t judge a move based on what KC or Colorado do.
Plus A’s might not want to pay him, as little money as it might be.
Anyone so long as they can walk the building home for the Sox.
(or, in Chicago’s case, a corresponding 40-man transaction)
Come on, Steve. It’s “or in Chicago’s case, a corresponding 40-man transaction.” Are you being paid by the comma or something? Would explain your fetish for them. You include them in all kinds of places they don’t belong.
And what the hell kind of sentence is this?
“and at insofar as his ability to miss bats and limit walks”
Looks like someone was trying so hard to sound smart that he tripped over himself and failed badly, creating a grammar disaster. What a surprise that this would come from that hack Steve Adams.
In a bowl of 400 blueberries, you are the one that still has the stem stuck to it.
There, I added the same amount to this conversation as you did, and I even wrote a longer, more confusing sentence than anyone, excluding people who write long sentences for a living, but including those people who like to ramble on incoherently about nothing in particular, on an ev spotty . x
No one has any clue what you’re talking about.
DFA Rick Hahn.
Why not? Sox are going nowhere this year. Maybe they can get Garcia turned around. Ethan Katz will bring a different perspective. Oh and…just to be absolutely crystal: Tim Anderson, the eternally red-arsed Sox infielder got knocked spark out by The Battlin’ Dominican, Jose Ramirez. Yep. Got cold-cocked by the Pillsbury Doughboy. Marvelous.
Had the Yankees dealt Deivi and others in the farm system in 2019, do they land enough MLB talent to beat Houston in the ALCS? Maybe, Maybe not.
This pitcher is still a “kid” at 24. He probably needed a change out of Yanks and I hope he develops into a consistent pitcher. He is a bit small in height tho. Good luck