The White Sox will select the contract of veteran right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne from Triple-A prior to tomorrow’s game, according to Francys Romero of Las Mayores (Twitter link). Another move is forthcoming to create space for Despaigne on both the 25-man and 40-man rosters.
Despaigne is lined up to start Chicago’s game against Washington on Monday, as the 32-year-old is set to get his first taste of Major League action in the 2019 season. Despaigne joined the White Sox in mid-May on a minor league contract, just days after opting out of another minors deal with the Reds signed last winter. Over 59 1/3 combined inning for both clubs’ Triple-A affiliates, Despaigne has produced some pretty solid numbers — a 3.34 ERA, 8.5 K/9, and 2.8 K/BB rate.
The White Sox were already thin on MLB-caliber pitching talent to begin the season, and they’ve seen that depth further stretched due to injuries; Carlos Rodon was lost to season-ending Tommy John surgery and Dylan Covey hit the 10-day injured list just earlier today with shoulder inflammation. Despite a breakout performance from Lucas Giolito, the Sox rotation as a whole still ranks at or near the bottom in most cumulative starting pitching categories.
With this in mind, there’s plenty of opportunity for Despaigne to win himself some regular work, and try to firmly establish himself as a starter in his sixth big league season. Despaigne has a career 4.94 ERA, 5.6 K/9, and 1.76 K/BB rate over 349 2/3 career frames in the majors, spending time with the Angels, Marlins, Orioles, and Padres since 2014.
Guess we got our answer on who replaces Covey. It should be another 4-6 weeks before we see Cease in Chicago, barring injury or a complete collapse before then.
Hey, I’d like to see him in Chicago sooner myself, but seeing the recent history with Hahn promoting SP’s, it will be sometime after the ASB up to early August, though I have a feeling it will be July this time.
As long as Cease fares better than he did today.
Per James Fegan on Twitter:
Dylan Cease is done after 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 0 HR, 20 of 40 pitches for strikes in Charlotte
Didn’t get helped by his defense—passed ball on Collins scored a run among other issues—and White Sox don’t like their prospects throwing over 40 pitches in an inning when he departed in the first inning.
Btw: The relief pitcher allowed two of those runs to score when Cease left the game with the bases loaded.
On a brighter note, Nick Madrigal has 3 multi-hit games since being promoted to AA Birmingham last Thursday. He went 3 for 4 in each of the first two games and was 2 for 3 in the second game of a doubleheader that is still on-going.
Cease probably upset when he heard Renteria before Sox game saying it would NOT be him coming up to replace Covey.
Someone has to go from 40 man roster for this move and another when Jay is activated. Delmonico and Burr to the 60 day dl?
Adolfo and Nicky
Lol
Would they just bring up cease already! I would like to see him get some mlb experience this year. If he struggles this year, it would be better than him struggling next year when they hope to compete
Sox want to manage his innings in the minors.
With more outings like today’s in Charlotte Dylan Cease could pitch until February and not have an innings issue. lol
I’d just assume the White Sox manage Cease’s innings with the big club sooner rather than later. He likely gets the call next month or just after the July 31st trade deadline, especially if the White Sox are fortunate enough to move Ivan Nova in a deal. Their m.o. over the past couple of seasons has been to promote their best SP prospects at AAA to the MLB roster during that time frame. It happened with Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez in 2017 and they did likewise with Michael Kopech last season.
Fortunate is a good word. Any partial cash dumps of Nova, Yonder and Castillo would be welcome.
They should really name an award after Despaigne. Every year give it to the baseball player most in need of a nickname. I say call it the Odie Award.
O.D. should feel right at home on the South Side of Chicago as yet another Cuban national on the White Sox. Perhaps that will inspire him to be their next Jose Contreras or “El Duque” Hernandez. The team might provide him with a locker near Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada and Yonder Alonso as well.
Despaigne will make it rain, as he’s well suited for games against the likes of the Royals, Twins, Rangers, Stros, and other games taking place in the heartland
I can hear it now, Giolito and Despaigne and pray for rain!
As a White Sox fan, my favorite refrain was Sale and Quintana and nothing mañana!