White Sox Sign Left-Handed Journeyman To Minor-League Deal

The White Sox have reportedly added left-handed pitcher Ricardo Sanchez to a minor-league deal, according to MLB.com. The 26-year-old has struggled to find an MLB home since being signed by the Los Angeles Angeles as an amateur free agent in 2013. Since then, he has bounced around between six different teams.

In 2015 the Angels traded Sanchez to the Atlanta Braves in a package deal for Kyle Bubitza. Three years later, the Seattle Mariners purchased him from the Braves. He threw 146 Double-A innings for the Mariners affiliate in Arkansas. In 27 starts, he posted an 8-12 record, with a 4.44 ERA and 3.40 FIP.

In 2020 the St. Louis Cardinals selected him off waivers, just two years removed from his arrival in the Mariners organization.

The Cardinals gave him his first and only taste of MLB action. In 2020 he tossed 5.1 innings between three appearances, allowing four runs on five walks, five hits, a hit batter, and four strikeouts. Sanchez may have gotten more of an opportunity had he not tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of the season. The virus delayed his MLB debut to July in the 60-game-shortened season.

Upon his arrival in the big leagues, he experienced elbow pain which sidelined him after five games. He missed the rest of the season and then underwent Tommy John surgery in the offseason to repair his left throwing elbow.

Later that offseason, he was granted free agency on November 2 but opted to resign with the Cardinals just 14 days later. He remained in the St. Louis organization for one more year until he was released on March 30, just before the start of the 2022 season. He did not pitch during that time while recovering from surgery.

The Philadelphia Phillies swooped in and signed him the following day. After four and a half months in the Phillies farm system, Detroit decided to take its turn in picking up the southpaw. The Tigers purchased him from the Phillies on August 14 but had buyer's remorse and released him on October 27. That season he logged a 4.95 ERA in 116 1/3 innings over 26 starts for both the Tigers and Phillies Triple-A teams.

It's easy to see why he has bounced around so much. Coming off the surgery. His 19.8 percent strikeout rate didn't blow anyone away, and his 2.51 WHIP was a red flag. However, he did post a low 7.9 percent walk rate, which, paired with a nearly fifty percent ground ball rate. This was enough to garner some attention.

After an entire off-season of waiting, the White Sox came calling. The White Sox have already added a slew of cost-effective arms this offseason. Rick Hahn selected San Francisco Giants pitcher Nick Avila with a Rule 5 Draft pick, acquired right-handed reliever Gregory Santos and Keyan Middleton, traded for former Red Sox minor league pitcher of the year Franklin German, claimed right-handed pitcher A.J. Alexy off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and signed longtime Guardians reliever Bryan Shaw.

Sanchez is still just 26 and is now two years removed from Tommy John surgery. Growing pains are understandable while shaking off the rust from a one-year layoff. The Venezuelan comes with some pedigree. In 2015 Baseball America ranked him as the No. 3 prospect in the Angels farm system.

The White Sox are likely trying to bolster their pitching depth in the wake of the Mike Clevinger investigation. Sanchez's odds of making the team are slim. However, the other starters on the 40-man are Davis Martin, Jimmy Lambert, Jonathan Stiever, and AJ Alexy. All of them have yet to reach 65 MLB innings, so Sanchez is in good company. He has less than a year of service time, which made him even more attractive to a team like the White Sox.

It's hard to see any scenario where he makes the team, but he does give the club some added insurance without taking up a roster spot. If Sanchez can work his way to the big leagues at any point this season, he will need to clear waivers if he is sent back down since he is out of options. The way Sanchez's career has gone, one would think another club would take a flier if given a chance.