Breaking: White Sox sign Steve Cishek

(Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Steve Cishek (41) mugs for the camera during the game between the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros on May 28, 2019 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

Just when you thought it was safe to log off Twitter, the White Sox have made another move, signing veteran reliever Steve Cishek away from the Chicago Cubs.

With most quality bullpen arms already off the free agent market, Cishek may have been the best remaining option. Over a nine full seasons in the big leagues, Cishek has been worth 12.3 bWAR — pretty dang good for a non-elite reliever. In 2019 the sidearming righty posted a sub-3.00 ERA for the seventh time, and his 132 career saves provide a bit of insurance should Alex Colome struggle in 2020.

So why did he come so cheap? Well, despite the shiny surface numbers Cishek’s peripherals took a big step back last season. His K-rate dropped by nearly 6% while his walk and home run rates ticked upward, leading to a 4.54 FIP and a 4.95 xFIP. Because of the underlying numbers, Fangraphs’s Steamer projections see him as a replacement level player next year.

Still, at one-year and $6 million gauranteed it’s a low-risk venture for Rick Hahn and Co. They only need one of Cishek, Kelvin Herrera, Evan Marshall, or Jimmy Cordero to step up and provide a righthanded 7th/8th inning complement to lefty Aaron Bummer. It’s also perhaps even more indicative than any move yet that the Sox have designs on competing in 2020. The bullpen was a much less obvious hole than any Hahn has filled so far, so you can forgive Sox fans for feeling disoriented by all the actual major league players who project to be on the team come Opening Day.

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roke1960

Hahn is really trying to add some needed depth to the roster. They may actually be able to put 26 bona fide major leaguers on the roster this year.

Eagle Bones

I might have preferred another arm, but this is fine. Since I usually look at a bunch of non-ERA stats first, I actually kind of glossed over the fact that he seems to be a pretty well defined peripherals beater. Anyone know where you can find strand rate for inherited runners? Wondering how he’s done there (since he doesn’t seem to have any trouble cleaning up his own messes).

Also, since I’ve been updating this along the way, I’ve got the 2020 payroll at $126 mil and change with this move.

Jim Margalus

Under Finders & Advanced Stats on his B-Ref page.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cishest01-pitch.shtml#pitching_reliever::none

Eagle Bones

Thanks Jim! Did a quick check and he looks like he did ok there last year (not great, not terrible) and he’s been better in that area in the past.

Eagle Bones

Also, FWIW, BaseballSavant seems to like his ability to suppress hard contact quite a bit. They had him in the top 1% of the league last year in average EV.

Yolmer

Good move. His K-rate and home runs are a little concerning, but he did not lose velocity and generated above average for his career soft contact. He seems as good a bet as anyone remaining to provide above average relief innings. The Sox will have 6 out of 8 bullpen sports filled in my opinion (Colome, Bummer, Herrera, Marshall, Cordero, and Cishek). That still leaves 2 slots for players like Fry, Hamilton, Burdi, Tyler Johnson, Fulmer, ect. to seize the opportunity or give to Rodon, Dunning, or Gio Gonzalez (assuming Kopech eventually bumps him out of the rotation).

Eagle Bones

I think we all need to re-calibrate our home run meter. Homer suppression has been one of his best traits over his career. Yes, he had more trouble last year, but so did every other pitcher. He was still 50th out of 158 qualified relievers in HR/9 last year.

Also, have to think Fry has a spot (at least to start the year).

roke1960

I agree that Fry likely has a spot. There should be pretty good competition for that last spot- and if a couple of the young guys surprise, Marshall’s job could be in jeopardy.

MrStealYoBase

Is Marshall eligible to be optioned or would he have to be waived?

I think that might play into things at least for the first few weeks of April. I’m also expecting Fulmer to get one last hard look since he’s out of options.

As Cirensica

I think the “happy ball” will also be gone this year

iowasox1971

A very good signing, especially because we are only on the hook for one year if he doesn’t pan out.

Based on his career stats, though, I would be surprised if didn’t have at least a decent year for us. His worst ERA+ for any of the past four seasons has been the 144 mark he had in 2016.

He also has appeared in a combined 150 games for the Cubs the past two seasons, so he will take the ball on a consistent basis.

fasteddy

Sliders and Sinkerballs too.

asinwreck

Aside from my admiration of you for conveying this news in a timely manner, I would like to commend all involved in this article for the choice of accompanying photograph.

Jim Margalus

Thank our Patreon supporters for the ability to access such photos.

ParisSox

You’re welcome 

asinwreck

I thank us. That money is going to excellent use.

Milky✌️

It’s money well-spent

As Cirensica

How so? Aren’t those pictures free? I know nothing about media publishing rights.

Jim Margalus

Nope, they have copyrights. Most photos do, unless they’ve been explicitly granted for our/public use, or the copyright has expired.
We’re small enough that we could probably get away with using most photos, but if photographers found their photos on our site without their knowledge, they could demand compensation or sue for copyright infringement.

John SF

Would it be helpful for us to try to take some good photos of the players at games and then give them to you for exclusive SoxMachine usage?   

I’ve got a pretty good Nikon, and the Sox are in the Bay Area for 6 games next year.  I could probably snap decent shots of plenty of guys if I put my mind to it and bought good seats.   Plus, I might be going to spring training which is another opportunity.   

——

Obviously wouldn’t help for when the Sox sign random new guys like this time, but it would get you a little library of most of the 25-man roster.   I’m sure I’m not the only Sox Machine Patreon supporter who also have an amateur photography hobby.   

Edit:  we’re never going to get any quality sports journalism photos as good as the one used for the header in this post though and I mean that sincerely.  

Jim Margalus

@John SF Thanks. I wouldn’t say “no” to contributed photos. Oakland in particular could be possible for decent photos, especially of the bullpen since they warm up right along the lines.

As Cirensica

Thanks Jim.

John SF

You’re welcome!

Sophist

Nice job, Greyg.

zerobs

It’s a fairly creepy photograph, but that could be from the Cubs blue infesting it.

Neat_on_the_rocks

1 Year at 6mil with that juicy team option kicker makes me a happy sox fan.

One thing to note about Cishek is he can get Lefties out as a RHP. With the 3 batter minimum that has a bit more value than it used to. Righties have a career .553 OPS against, while lefties have a career .695 OPS against (228 innings). Thats a definite Plus with the new rule.

oldtimer

Excellent point! Hopefully Rick/Coop can manage the bullpen at a high level this year. Every game could now be critical!!!

seven11

Thanks! Every time I start to get giddy about this year’s team someone reminds me we still have Ricky.

ParisSox

White Sox Baseball: What Are You Smiling About?

burning-phoneix

At least bullpen management was one of the better things last year for the Sox.

Willardmarshall

Ad campaign could do worse than “Now with Actual Major League Players!”

dongutteridge

Nice. Keep going! I don’t want to ever see Covey, Fulmer or Banuelos in a White Sox uniform again!

lil jimmy

“Nick Bitsko was thought to be one of the most talented high school arms for 2021. But the Bucks County East High School (Doylestown, Pa.) product will graduate early. That will make the 17-year-old eligible for the 2020 Draft.”

MLB reports. Will be a top 10 pick.
Jiminy Cricket!

fasteddy

And always let your conscious be your guide. Give a little whistle.

lil jimmy

“at least one scout sees Justin Verlander-type potential”
Turns 18 the week after the draft.
Frangraphs added him at #17. Baseball America had him #1 high school player in 2021.

Denman

Fgraphs has him at 17; so there’s a chance he’ll be available at the 11th pick.

knoxfire30

Interesting, still would prefer a college arm but added talent to this draft class could push other players down to the 11th pick. Figuring this is the last year the sox will be drafting this high its good to see someone from the 2021 class jump to 2020.

lil jimmy

Kopech, Cease, and Giolito, all High School drafted. The College guys where not good enough to be drafted out out high school. Any of Bitsko, Abel or Kelley at #11 would be great value. After them, there is a fall off.

knoxfire30

Keeping my eye on it, teams always claim “best player available” but if stiever and dunning look good out of the gate, come June it may be much more realistic for the sox to take a high school starter knowing they already have some high minors depth at SP. This would help them create a wave of talent 3 or 4 years down the road with Dalquist and Thompson in the mix as well.

lil jimmy

I see MLB added him at #9. The breezes that blow through to top of the draft, send College hitters, then College Pitchers up the board, and high school hitters, then high school pitchers, down the board.

peanutsNcrackerjack

And smart, if he graduates a year early.  

lil jimmy

4.0 grade average as per Perfect Game

karkovice squad

Cishek had a spin rate jump with the Cubs. Maybe he’ll update the Sox’ ball-doctoring recipes.

shaggy65

Really surprised a player with this track record came this cheap. I must say—great job, Rick, waiting out the market and finding good value. 

3 FA pitchers—3 reliable ground-ball guys to suppress HR’s in Sox park. It’s almost like there’s some sort of coordinated plan…

craigws

It is really on brand of the White Sox to finally, finally put together a promising team right as the world is about to end.

burning-phoneix

The Sox now have a lot of hitters and pitchers who are beating their peripherals. This is gonna be a wild season,boys.