The White Sox made a decisive move Thursday, optioning Jonathan Cannon to Triple-A Charlotte after a disastrous stretch of performances. Wikelman González was recalled to replace him. It is another example of the White Sox being willing to shake things up when a young player is struggling.
Cannon's Struggles
Cannon's performance left the White Sox with no choice but to send him down. He had been one of the team's most durable starting pitchers all season, covering 96 innings over 17 starts, but has fallen off a cliff recently. He allowed 18 runs in his last 12 innings, including getting shelled for seven runs in just 1.1 innings in his most recent outing against the Seattle Mariners. His overall season numbers now stand at an inflated 5.34 ERA, 5.25 FIP, 1.46 WHIP, and .274 batting average against, while ranking at the bottom of MLB in every pitching metric. Cannon did miss nearly all of June with a lower back strain, which could help explain his poor performance of late.
White Sox Aggressive Decision Making
Sending Cannon down midseason is not the first instance of the organization making an aggressive move this season. They pulled Colson Montgomery out of Triple-A and sent him to Arizona earlier this season when he was struggling, and that decision appears to have paid massive dividends. They also pulled pitchers Hagen Smith and Jairo Iriarte from their minor league affiliates earlier this season for biomechanics work and refinement.
There is no indication that Cannon will start from scratch in Arizona, but a stint in Triple-A could be the reset he needs to get back on track. Manager Will Venable was candid about Cannon's performance while talking to reporters after his last start, "We've got to figure out what the issue is and get him back to being Jonathan, somebody who has been a big part of this club…for us to be good, we need him to be good."
Potential Replacements
Replacing Cannon in the rotation is another factor in the equation. The aforementioned González has spent the majority of the season in the bullpen, but has a starter's background. He could be a potential replacement. Mike Vasil falls into the same category. The team also just acquired 25-year-old right-hander Duncan Davitt from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Adrian Houser trade. Davitt pitched well in his Knights debut, so he could be on the team's radar. As could 24-year-old left-hander Shane Murphy, who has been one of the organization's best pitching prospects this season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons. Yoendrys Gómez has pitched well in Triple-A, and Martín Pérez could also re-enter the equation once he returns from an elbow injury. The White Sox have several depth options who could take the ball in the big league rotation.
Silver Lining
Sending Jonathan Cannon down to Triple-A at this point is a win/win proposition. His starts had been nearly a guaranteed loss as of late, so removing him from the equation temporarily helps the team have a better chance to win and continue their positive momentum. For Cannon individually, this demotion can serve as a reset for him to get right again and correct his flaws in a low-pressure environment without the scrutiny and pressure that comes with being in the big leagues. The White Sox proactive approach to handling young players is refreshing. They aren't messing around anymore.
