The White Sox announced that they have claimed right-hander Gus Varland off waivers from the Dodgers and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte. The righty was recently designated for assignment in the wake of the Dodgers making multiple deals ahead of the trade deadline. The Sox had three open roster spots from their own trades and their 40-man roster count now jumps to 38.
Varland, now 27, was able to make his major league debut with the Brewers last year after that club took him from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 draft. But he allowed 11 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings and was sent back to the Dodgers in late May.
The Dodgers selected him to their 40-man roster in August of last year but he has mostly been on optional assignment since then. He made eight major league appearances for the Dodgers last year and seven more this year. Between those and his time with the Brewers, he has a 5.81 earned run average in 26 1/3 innings with a 17.3% strikeout rate, 15% walk rate and 46.5% ground ball rate.
The Sox are surely more interested in his Triple-A output. Last year, he logged 33 1/3 innings for Triple Oklahoma City with a 2.16 ERA while striking out 29.3% of opponents and giving out walks just 6% of the time. This year, the results haven’t been as nice, but with a lot of bad luck. In 32 2/3 innings at Triple-A in 2024, he has a .372 batting average on balls in play and 18.5% home run per flyball rate, which undoubtedly helped produce his 53.1% strand rate. The 7.99 ERA isn’t pretty but his 23.8% strikeout rate, 8.6% walk rate and 44.3% ground ball rate are all decent metrics.
The Sox already had one of the weaker pitching staffs in the league and just subtracted from it by trading away Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech and Tanner Banks prior to the deadline. By claiming Varland, they can fill in some of the lost depth with potential benefits down the line. Varland still has a full slate of options and less than a year of service time, making him a potential long-term play if things break right for him.
Dodgers are a feeder team for the White Sox
just sadly for Getz it’s from the wrong end of the roster.
A better question is why he was on the Dodgers roster in the first place.
Mers: Tylor Megill optioned, Blackburn activated.
Oddly, the same thing happened with the Mets.
The White Sox should just give up on baseball. They need to try a business that they could be good at. Can’t imagine what, though.
Real estate, tax strategy.
They gave up baseball years ago. Now they sell jerseys and great food.
White Sox business ventures:
–Holding Disco nights and 10 cent beer promotions to cause riots?
–Shooting fans during a game and covering up the inquiry?
–Letting fans come onto the field and beat up a Royals coach?
Oh, the possibilities….
LOL. But it was the Indians who had the 10 cent beer night.
Thanks, that’s right. But Reinsdorf can’t abide anything innovative, so he’ll recycle all bad ideas.
Just hop on the bus, Gus. And set ya self free.
@roob
no doubt they’re bad at winning. but are they bad at making money? let’s see the books Jerry.
Those numbers are very easy to find, Forbes is one spot. Sox have lost $$ the last 5 years.
2020 -$40M
2021 -$9.5M
2022 -$53M
2023 -$53M
2024 -$28M
Too bad the Twins didn’t get him..
Could have reunited with Louie.
Chi-Sox had first chance with their W-L record and didn’t give anybody else a shot.
Varland was hoping to catch on with a major league team. He’ll have to settle for the White Sox
Ata boy Chrissy!
Enjoy Charlotte, Gus.