The Chicago White Sox continued their busy 2019-20 offseason on Tuesday, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $6 million with veteran sidewinding reliever Steve Cishek.
Cishek, a ten-year MLB veteran who has spent time with the Marlins, Cardinals, Mariners, Rays, and Cubs, will add quality and experience to a White Sox bullpen that will look to improve after a shaky 2019.
The deal also has an option for a second year at the same $6 million price tag.
It won’t be a long move for the 33-year-old righty, who spent the past two seasons on the North Side of Chicago with the cross-town rival Cubs. Cishek was excellent with the Cubs over the past two seasons, compiling a 2.54 ERA over 134.1 innings.
The Massachusetts native owns a 2.69 ERA in 572 career appearances, having racked up a grand total of 584 strikeouts.
Cishek, who is renowned for his excellent fastball, will probably serve in a late inning role with the White Sox. It’s still too early to tell whether he or Alex Colome will be named the closer for the 2020 season, or if they will share time at the position.
He is expected to report to White Sox Spring Training in Glendale, Arizona to join his new team next month.
