It appears the Mike Clevinger era in the White Sox organization has come to an end…for now
According to recent transaction logs, Clevinger was one of three White Sox players to elect free agency, joining infielder Jacob Amaya and outfielder Joshua Palacios. The moves were made on Oct. 2 and 3 but have not been formally announced by the club.
Major League free agents are not allowed to hit the open market until five days after the end of the World Series. However, eligible minor leaguers can start making their decisions immediately.
Players who qualify must be outrighted off their team’s 40-man roster during the 2025 season without being re-added. Additionally, they must have either multiple career outrights or at least three years of major league service time.
Mike Clevinger
Clevinger’s White Sox tenure was nothing short of a disaster. Shortly after being signed in 2023, domestic abuse allegations were levied against him, which included physical, verbal, and emotional abuse of the mother of his 10-year-old daughter, as well as child abuse. Clevinger was not punished for the allegations after a league investigation on the basis that he would enter therapy.
During his first two seasons in Chicago, Clevinger owned a 9-12 record, 4.09 ERA, and averaged 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. He only threw 16 innings for the White Sox in 2024, after undergoing season-ending disc replacement surgery in his neck in August.
He entered the 2024 season behind the eight-ball. Clevinger only threw 16 innings in the big leagues this season after remaining unsigned in free agency until April 4th. The 33-year-old right-hander was also placed on the 15-day injured list in May. After tossing four innings of one-run ball in a rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on July 14 and was scheduled to make another one on July 23 before being pulled due to neck stiffness.
During the four starts he did make for the White Sox, Clevinger owned a 0-3 record with a 6.75 ERA and 15 strikeouts. During that stretch, he posted a -0.2 WAR, 11.5% walk rate, 35.2% ground ball rate, and a .295 expected batting average against him. Injuries played a factor.
However, he was brought back for a third straight spring on a minor-league deal with the hopes he could be turned into a high-leverage reliever.
The experiment lasted just eight games after he was tagged for a 7.94 ERA in 5.2 innings
The White Sox designated Clevinger for assignment on April 16, and he spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Charlotte. Back in the minor league rotation, he posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, striking out 93 batters while issuing 36 walks over 22 starts and 100.2 innings.
Jacob Amaya
Amaya appeared in 59 games across two seasons with the White Sox after getting claimed off waivers from the Astros in 2024.
After slashing .179/.225/.194 in 23 games, he was claimed off waivers by the Orioles in January. However, the White Sox brought him back into the fold a month later when he was placed on waivers once again.
This marks the second time that Amaya has been DFA’d by the White Sox this season. The infielder has appeared in 37 games but has only recorded seven hits in 66 at-bats. While he does provide solid defense up the middle, his lack of offensive production has made it difficult for him to hold onto a roster spot.
Amaya struggled at the plate once again, logging just seven hits for the White Sox this past season. He finished the year hitting .106/.139/.121 with 8 RBIs in 36 games.
Joshua Palacios
Palacios appeared in 51 games for the White Sox this past season, hitting .203 with three home runs and nine RBIs.
He also spent time in Triple-A Charlotte, where injuries limited him to 21 games. The 30-year-old landed on the injured list from July 1 to Aug. 31, then again on Sept. 7, where he remained for the rest of the season. In 82 plate appearances at Charlotte, he hit .197.
