The White Sox announced today that they have selected the contract of veteran righty Ervin Santana. He’ll make his first start for the club today after inking a minor-league deal this spring.
The groundwork for Santana’s ascension to the MLB roster had already been laid by the Chicago front office. There was already a 40-man roster spot to work with and the team optioned righty Carson Fulmer back to Triple-A yesterday.
It’ll be interesting to see what the 36-year-old Santana has left in the tank. He was sidelined for much of 2018 with a lingering finger injury and wasn’t effective when he was able to pitch. But he was stellar in the prior two seasons, turning in a 3.32 ERA over 392 2/3 total innings. The peripherals didn’t support quite those results, and expectations ought to be tempered, but there’s reason to hope he can return to being a solid MLB starter.
As for Fulmer, he’ll need to earn his way back into the majors or await an opening. He has now seen action in parts of four MLB seasons but hasn’t come close to fully harnessing the talent that led the South Siders to pick him eighth overall in the 2015 draft. Through 70 1/3 innings at the game’s highest level, Fulmer owns a 6.53 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 5.9 BB/9.
might as well DFA Fulmer at this point.
Not yet. Give him once last extended chance. If he hasn’t dramatically improved by the end of the season, then cut him. The Sox aren’t going to be competitive this year, it’s not going to hurt giving him one more chance.
Embarrassing. Can we start trying to win now? What are we waiting for? Santana, come on.
Ugh!
Santana not working out too well today.
Bring back Fulmer!
It’s a good switch for Fulmer with his 5:40 ERA.
I disliked Santana as an opponent, but wish him nothing but success with the Sox! Good luck today!
It’s not possible to argue the results he had in Minnesota. I expected regression from him every year; it just never happened. He’s probably the best contract the Twins have made since… probably Denard Span’s ridiculously team favorable contract in 2010.
That said, with a loss of 4mph last year when he finally returned from all the setbacks, I believe Santana’s results are going to hinge 100% on whether or not his lost velocity has returned.
Santana pitching 93-94mph fastballs was very effective.
Santana pitching 89-90mph fastballs got clobbered.
PEDs, he signed then was immediately suspended and magically had a few good years after he’d looked to be on the decline a bit. *thinking emoji*
“He has now seen action in parts of four MLB seasons but hasn’t come close to fully harnessing the talent that led the South Siders to pick him eighth overall in the 2015 draft. ”
FYI – the Mets drafted him in the 2011 draft and then traded him to DET for Cespedes in 2015.
No. Different Fuller.
You got the wrong Fulmer, pal. You are referring to Michael Fulmer and not Carson.
Lol and that’ll do it!
Most of those Carson Fulmer numbers were posted as a starting pitcher. The White Sox have recently moved Fulmer to the bullpen where he had success in college as a closer in addition to being an ace pitcher at Vanderbilt. They have also quit messing with his mechanics and are allowing him to resume his more high-octane delivery from his NCAA days.
Fulmer pitched decently enough in relief yesterday after his one day promotion, tossing 3 bullpen frames following Carlos Rodon’s abbreviated 4.2 inning start. Fulmer allowed a run and 3 hits while walking two and fanning 3. The primary reason he was optioned back down to AAA Charlotte to make room for Ervin Santana was his unavailability for the next couple of days due to to his 47 pitch outing.
The White Sox could just have easily demoted any of their other relievers with remaining options, most of whom have struggled immensely in their bullpen thus far in 2019. If Fulmer continues to show progress in his new role at AAA while the other relievers continue to get pounded on the big league roster he will be back in short order.
They might as well give Fulmer one last chance later this year while the team still isn’t competitive. Maybe he has finally figured it out. There’s only one way to find out. And if he shows he still hasn’t figured it out by the end of the year, then get rid of him. The guy has immense potential and has shown flashes of brilliance, but all that means nothing if he gets pounded most of his appearances. The Sox already have one of those types in the rotation (Giolito). I’m all of giving Fulmer one last chance, but he better produce consistently this season or I want nothing to do with him ever again.
Santana is old, mediocre and injury prone… par for the course with FA signings by the Sox.
Another “transitional” year for the Sox with their busted rotation. They need to find an Ace next year, and they shouldn’t waste time waiting for Kopech and Cease to develop into one. Not happening, I know. The ownership group of this franchise is downright pathetic.
Giving up on Kopech and Cease already? Wow. I agree with your assessment of Santana, but you might want to at least give Kopech and Cease a chance before burying them.
Not giving up on them at all. I’m saying the Sox shouldn’t wait on them. Given the surgery and rehab, it may be a few years before Kopech is ready. Cease projects as a dominant closer someday, and that’s fine. The Sox can take a lot of pressure to rush these guys by grabbing an ace during the offseason (if one is even available).
What is wrong with you? Dylan Cease projects as a dominant TOR pitcher along with Michael Kopech. The White Sox have an abundance of big arm closing candidates among their top-30 prospects such as Zack Burdi, Ian Hamilton and Tyler Johnson just to name a few. If Cease ultimately becomes a closer rather than an effective rotation member that will be a major disappointment to the organization and its fan base.
Btw-Kopech is already doing some restricted throwing in his rehab from last September’s TJ surgery. The organization is taking a wise and cautious approach and will likely not let him pitch in any game situations through the course of the upcoming season. Kopech is expected to be at full strength and with zero limitations once camp begins next February in Glendale, Arizona.
There have been a number of power pitches who have shown no ill effect from the TJ surgery including the Nationals Stephen Strasburg who is a pretty decent comp when it comes to Kopech’s potential as an MLB starting pitcher.
What is wrong with me? Wth is wrong with you? You sound like some dumb, Captain Obvious cubbie fanboy, spouting useless cliches and superlatives.
I’m a realistic sports fan. Nearly forty years of Chicago sports has made me pragmatic and thoughtful. The reality, prospects rarely pan out or develop at the rate you expect them too. Kopech may be an ace someday, but it’s going to take time before we know for sure. In regards to Cease, I’ve read reports describing him as a dominant reliever. Yeah, a dominant closer/reliever under control for 5-6 years would be such a “disappointment”. That’s asinine (ridiculous and dumb). Frankly, your expectations aren’t reasonable, but you claim to be a chubbie fan, so it makes sense. Never a cloudy day in your fantasy world, right?
What reports are you referring to that talk about Cease as a reliever? I’ve not seen those. I’m not saying they’re not out there, but just curious.
Everything I’ve read and heard about him has him as a potential high end starter.
Cease threw two pitches prior to getting drafted by the cubs—fastball and a curve. Since then, he’s been working on becoming a complete pitcher. If he can add a few more pitches to his repertoire and show good command with them, he’ll be a starter. If that doesn’t work out, his 98 mph heater makes him a strong candidate as a high end reliever. Either way works, what’s the big deal?
As a team just entering year 3 of its rebuild, 2019 always figured to be another “transitional” year for the White Sox.
Trading for Ivan Nova’s final $9.167M contract year at the expense of a non-top 30 prospect and some international signing money and signing veteran FA Ervin Santana to a minor league flyer was done in order to stabilize a young rotation with some veteran presence, especially since future ace and top starting pitching prospect Michael Kopech was going to miss the 2019 season anyway following his TJ surgery last September. The other White Sox top SP prospect and co-future ace Dylan Cease figures to join the big league rotation later this summer as he fine tunes his craft in AAA for the first time in his young professional career. Cease will likely replace either Nova or Santana who will hopefully have enough trade value to be flipped by the July 31st deadline.
I suspect that the White Sox will still be in the market for another veteran starting pitcher in 2020 as they begin their transition from rebuilders to contenders. That veteran could potentially be added following this years June Rule 4 Draft when Mark Buehrle clone Dallas Keuchel will lose his qualifying offer tag and could be signed as a free agent without the loss of their second round draft pick and $500k of international bonus dollars. This could become more likely if the White Sox are willing to offer Keuchel a guaranteed multi-year deal rather than a pro-rated one year pillow contract that some contenders might prefer.
I could see the White Sox gambling on Keuchel with a 3-year guaranteed deal with an AAV greater than the QO he refused from the Astros along with an additional vesting option or two. As a crafty veteran southpaw who achieves his success with soft contact and a high ground ball rate, Keuchel could be a fine addition to a future White Sox rotation that looks to feature mostly right-handed power arms with some concerns about their command. Like Buehrle, Keuchel also sports a World Series ring, has pitched at a high level in a very hitter-friendly home park and is also a Gold Glove fielder at his position.
I never thought of the comparison between Keuchel and Buehrle. Does he work just as quick because then I’d be fine with that signing.
The 3 things I always love about Mark was his grit/toughness, his speed of games, and how well respected he was. That’s why he was an ace that wasn’t prototypical.
The comparison between Dallas Keuchel and Mark Buehrle have been well documented, especially by yours truly ever since he became a FA this offseason.
Aside from what I’ve already mentioned here, Keuchel does possess one piece of hardware that eluded Buehrle, a Cy Young Award back in 2015. The one negative comparison is that Keuchel has been a little less durable with some down time in 2016 and 2017 due to nagging injuries, most of which were not arm related and with none requiring career threatening surgical procedures. Sandwiched around those two seasons were Keuchel’s CYA season when he lead the AL with 232 innings pitched and last year when he threw another 204.2 frames and led all AL pitchers in starts with 34. Each pitcher has collected 4 Gold Glove Awards. Buehrle earned 5 All-Star appearances, 4 with the White Sox and one with the Blue Jays. Keuchel has been honored twice thus far including his abbreviated 2017 season when he posted a 2.90 ERA over 23 starts and 145.2 IP’s.
Santana has been one of the most reliable, high innings pitchers in baseball over the past decade making virtually every eligible start (30+) every year for 2010-2017. If you took a glance and decided he was hurt in 2015, you’re wrong. He was suspended 80 games for a failed PED test.
Last year he decided to have an optional maintanence surgery which apparently had unexpected complications last year.
There’s nothing to suggest Santana is “injury prone.” I’m not any huge fan of Santana’s but at least have something to back up your hot take.
Carson Fulmer’s career path reminds me of another former White Sox 1st Rd flame out Matt Ginter.
The White Sox are ruining Fulmer, between all the demotions, shifts between rotation and pen, and tweaks with his delivery.
They need to commit him to being a high-leverage reliever and let him be himself. Why call him up only to send him back down immediately? That’s a terrible message to send to someone.
What you suggest is precisely the White Sox plan going forward as I already stated in an earlier comment here. The reason he was demoted following his one game promotion yesterday was also explained.
what you didn’t explain was why they would leave someone they had committed to being a High Leverage reliever stay in the game long enough to have to be sent down. Doesn’t sound like they were sticking to a plan.. Three inning stints tend to go to the long reliever.
Well that didn’t go well for him.
The Sox could certainly use a veteran starter. Keuchel is an excellent choice for a rotation spot in Chicago. We need another southpaw, and he is apparently an excellent fielder as well. How about a 2 year deal with a team option for a third? Our young pitching prospects need another year to develop and/or work through injuries. I am very impressed with the potential of hurlers like Cease, R. Lopez, Kopech, Dunning, and also Giolito. Sox have quality young bullpen candidates as well. The pitching will ultimately determine the Sox’ progress in the next couple of years.
Gerrit Cole or Kluber might be free agents this year, but yeah, not happening. Reinsdorf won’t spend money on good players. They’ll figure out a way to screw this rebuild up somehow.
It’s still very early, but that was a painful homestand to watch, definitely from the pitching end. It’s hard to stay interested when they’re getting blown out by the 3rd or 4th inning of each game. It’s a miracle they pulled out the 1st game against Seattle.
The only silver lining is TA and Moncada are still hitting (Eloy too, sort of). Yes, I’m really reaching for positives.
Do you think Muchado and Harper could have helped this team? If nothing else for butts in the seats. Did you see that paltry attendance? More than 100 losses again this year. Sell the club Reinsdorf.