TODAY: The White Sox announced that Woodford cleared waivers and chose to become a free agent rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A.
JUNE 7: The White Sox have designated right-hander Jake Woodford for assignment, reports Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. He’ll be replaced on the roster by righty Jonathan Cannon, who’s being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.
Drafted by St. Louis with the No. 39 overall pick in 2015, Woodford spent his entire career prior to the 2024 season in the Cardinals organization. He signed a minor league contract in Chicago over the winter. The 6’4″ righty has started two games for the South Siders but been tagged for 10 runs on 15 hits and five walks with seven strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. He had a rough go in Charlotte as well, pitching 49 2/3 innings of 5.26 ERA ball across 10 starts.
Woodford did notch a 3.26 ERA in a swingman role with the Cardinals from 2021-22, although a paltry 15.4% strikeout rate and some very good fortune in terms of homer-to-flyball rate prompted fielding-independent metrics to take that number with a grain of salt. Woodford 3.93 FIP and 4.65 SIERA were both far more bearish.
In parts of six Triple-A seasons, Woodford has pitched to a 4.19 ERA with a 19.5% strikeout rate, 10.2% walk rate and above-average ground-ball tendencies. He’s out of minor league options, so any team that acquires him in a small trade or claims him on waivers will need to add him directly to the MLB roster. If he clears waivers, he’d have the right to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency. The Sox will either trade him or put him on waivers within the next five days, with waivers themselves representing a 48-hour process. Within a week’s time, Woodford will know the result of his DFA.
Cannon, 23, made his big league debut earlier this season but was hit hard in his first three MLB starts. He’s been hit hard in the minors as well, recording a 5.50 ERA in 37 2/3 frames, but the reeling White Sox will give him another look in the big leagues at a time when Garrett Crochet and Erick Fedde are their only two reliable starting pitchers. Cannon, a third-round pick in 2022, ranks among Chicago’s top pitching prospects and will likely receive ample opportunity to cement himself as a viable big league starter as the Sox navigate their latest rebuilding effort.
F22
His HR off Clayton Chokeshaw is one of the best moments in MLB history.
MLB-1971
Woodford gets the crap pounded out of him by the Red Sox then get a DFA. He is having a really bad week…
No Soup For Yu!
That was Brandon Woodruff, but don’t let that stop you from your incredibly clever “Chokeshaw” comment.
brodie-bruce
@f22
Well in chokeshaw’s defense he has more rings and money than 99% than anyone on this site has, not to mention a most likely hof at the end of the day
avenger65
Cannon ranks among Chicago’s top pitching prospects? Explains a lot.
CluHaywood
Cannon is far from the worst player they have had trot out there.
andrewf
Yeah, also it looks like Cannon simply got hit around far more than his strikeout and walk rates suggested. He should have had a better ERA than the one he had in his previous MLB stint
Dumpster Divin Theo
Looked pretty effective in his 3 inning save
avenger65
Tonight is an exciting for the White Sox. They will set the franchise record for consecutive losses. They’ll need to add someone to keep up with the number of records of ineptitude they will certainly set this year. By the way, has anyone asked Getz, or the great blowhard himself, the owner of this mess of an organization, their opinions of the team they put together this year. Oh, and, of course, let tlr explain his continuing role as an advisor to Reinsdorf.
mohoney
Reinsdorf is keeping LaRussa around basically to get him health insurance.
CluHaywood
And access to AA. Jerry might be his sponsor.
Fever Pitch Guy
avenger – Ummm …. they set the record last night, 14 straight. Previous record of 13 was exactly a century ago.
If there’s one game the ChiSox win in this series, it will be tonight. Crochet has actually been pretty good this year.
olmtiant
FPG… I know you are the man!! But I have to disagree!! If the WS win a game it will be Sunday!!! How do I know this?? Exhibit A… 1986.. Roger Clemens loses 1 game on road to 24-4 season yup and I was there!! Later on Pedro sailing through game… bring in reliever to give up 3 run bomb to a very young Joe(MF my nickname for him) Crede…, another loss… Chris Sale..vs Carlos Quintana years later… if not for the heroics of Devin Marerro best game as a mlb player) and my original guy Sam Travis I would have been saddled with another L.. oh still need convincing… Pap gives up tying Hr in bottom of 9 th to Jermaine Dye and another L in I believe 15/16 innings.. Defense rests your honor..Other than that the Red Sox love it when they come to Chi-Town and I’m attendance… one last nugget… I believe the 80’s Milt Wilcox has perfect game 8.2 innings only to give up a single to another friend of mine… Jerry ( can’t say what I call him) Hairston … buddy was huge Tigers fan… in closing…. If I’m there… Fisk’s homer goes foul/ Roberts comes off the bag and we’re still waiting….
Fever Pitch Guy
olm – Are you sure you didn’t change your mind and go to last night’s game? Was that you who threw those nips? It’s always something at Comisk ….. err US Cell ….. ehh Guaranteed Rate Field!
I have never in my life seen a player score on an appeal throw to first base! Brilliant decision by Duran to steal home though, he was either going to be called out on the appeal or going to score …. so absolutely nothing to lose.
Clearly Crochet was rattled by Wolf’s horrendous checked swing call, glad it didn’t decide the game.
Now just watch the BoSox win by 10 runs today!
olmtiant
No we’re on for tomorrow… me and my C 33 Mrs and hero of 18 good ol Nate and youngin with R.D!!! Rest of family really Cubs fans but tomorrow they root for the NATION!! As for tonight I hope you’re right… as for tomorrow.. I told Cora OLMTIANT can get you one out!!!( might give up 8 runs but I will get one out!!!)
Fever Pitch Guy
olm – See that’s what I get for being optimistic! Probably the worst loss of the season. Bello imploded again and the offense was non-existent against a 10-ERA pitcher except for one pitch to Bobby Dee.
Even though it’s a BoSox Bullpen Day tomorrow, I will double down and predict they pull out the series split …. because they will sense that YOU are in the house!
Unclemike1525
That’s 2 men off the 40 man. 38 to go.
BigBallsLongBat
Plus there’s the Sox Crawl before the game!
Fever Pitch Guy
Knew this was coming, Jake was absolute garbage last night and neither the manager nor pitching coach ever bothered to come out and talk to him while he was imploding. He was totally hung out to dry.
User 4245925809
Fever- Saw nothing, from 1st pitch of the game for any coach to correct. like he was some kind of sacrificial lamb, o place holder just tossed out there and everyone in the chisox dugout was holding their noses entire time.
Might have been one of the worst performances seen for some time tho. Ryan weber-esque.
realsox
It seems as if every player on the forty-man roster is a “placeholder.” What’s scary is that all the kids they promote from the minors fail repeatedly. Even if they trade all of their potentially valuable assets for “prospects,” I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. It’s ironic that the owner’s explanation for hiring Getz from within was that team improvement could be achieved quickly than by going outside the organization.
Aiden Awe
If the Wsox were honest and said,” we can’t win in 2024.” Then everyone would be fine and I would have said ok. But of course they choose to be the opposite and spread BS and lies.
kroeg49
Extremely mismanaged organization! It starts at the top!
DeepDownSouth
Another, yep, White Sox coaching staff don’t know anything reply. Are you a Red Sox fan? If so you must be enjoying this weekend series of Sox vs Sox. lol
HBan22
Woodford, whatchu Goodfor?
Dumpster Divin Theo
Absolutely 0. Say it again!
lesterdnightfly
Again! Not about the Reds.
Chicago Bias !!!
Aiden Awe
BN: Wsox finally won a game
DeepDownSouth
2 in a row against the once mighty Red Sox
Dumpster Divin Theo
Karma for stealing home on an appeal. Day after they had 2 guys advance on a sacrifice fly while up 11 runs. And to think that during Houcks nono bid, Sox broadcasters were discussing how even down 11 runs, the team would show care in following the unwritten rules of baseball by not bunting to breakup the nono. All bets are off in the future. Anything goes against Alex Cora
Dumpster Divin Theo
Gets DFAd and then declares free agency rather than getting remedial training. Rather travel around and take selfies than get better at his job. Damn millennial.