The White Sox have released right-handers Noah Syndergaard and Penn Murfee. Syndergaard’s release was announced today, while Murfee’s MLB.com profile page indicates he was let go on Friday.
Syndergaard signed a minor league deal with Chicago in late June, which marked his first contract with any team since he was released by the Guardians in August 2023. Despite some interest from teams during the 2023-24 offseason, Syndergaard ended up not pitching anywhere in 2024, so the Sox started him off with some rookie ball outings just to get acclimated back to game action before reporting to Triple-A Charlotte. Syndergaard had a 2.93 ERA over his 15 1/3 frames of Rookie League work, but then was hit hard for a 10.13 ERA over two outings and eight innings at the Triple-A level. The ugly numbers in Charlotte included only two strikeouts, and a rather incredible five homers allowed.
While eight innings is obviously a small sample size, it was enough for the White Sox to decide to move on from Syndergaard, putting the former All-Star at yet another career crossroads. Syndergaard turns 33 later this month, and it is fair to wonder if retirement could be a possibility. Despite his past pedigree, the amount of time it took for him to land even a minor league contract could indicate that evaluators simply doubt he can ever regain any of his past effectiveness.
A frontline member of the Mets’ pitching staff during his prime years, Syndergaard has never really recovered from a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for virtually all of the 2020-21 seasons. He pitched decently well in posting a 3.94 ERA over 134 2/3 innings for the Angels and Phillies in 2022, but rather than approach his old form or at least settle in at a mid-rotation arm, Syndergaard regressed in the form of a 6.50 ERA in 88 2/3 frames with the Dodgers and Guardians in 2023.
Murfee is another pitcher whose career was interrupted by a major arm injury. After posting a 2.70 ERA for the Mariners in his first 83 1/3 career big league innings, he underwent UCL surgery in June 2023, and some elbow discomfort kept him from making his return late in the 2024 season as a member of the Astros.
The White Sox claimed Murfee off waivers from Houston last November, marking the fourth time in a 13-month that the right-hand had changed teams on the waiver wire. Murfee made his return to the Show in the form of 12 2/3 innings of 7.82 ball for the White Sox earlier this season. Chicago outrighted the hurler to Triple-A in early May, and while Murfee had a respectable 4.09 ERA over 22 innings for Charlotte, he has recorded more walks (18) than strikeouts (16).
Didn’t know he was still around
The Mighty Thor has fallen and can’t get up.
“We’re sending help immediately Mrs. Fletcher”.
See not all TJ’s work out…not all pitchers bounce back. Memo to Ross Atkins: re: Toronto/Bieber
It’s not a TJ recovery issue. He was throwing 93-94 after TJ. He’s now throwing 88-89. Most likely mechanics and lower body.
Re: Thor
“He’s a friend from work.”
Clearly fat thor
Checked in on Syndergaard at the trade deadline. Fastball sitting at 88-89mph in AAA. Even a depleted, semi-effective Syndergaard was throwing 93-94mph.
Syndergaard should have been working with a 3rd party to whip his arm into shape rather than holding out for an opportunity purely based on ego.
The myth is that Rick Ankiel’s pitching career was ended due to a lack of control. The truth is he had plenty of control after TJ surgery. He also lost all the movement on his pitches. He wasn’t walking people. They were bashing his fastballs and he had completely lost his devastating curveball.
People on here were talking about what a great trade chip Noah would be lol.
Pretty positive literally nobody said that. I certainly never saw it stated.
Nobody believed Syndergaard would be back to mid-90s, but he was basically free, and if he did make it back at mid-90s, he would have been a great trade asset.
Correct, no one thought that. In fact, it was pretty clear he wouldn’t even be ready by the deadline.
Would be interested to know if his velo is shot, his command or both. I dont want to get pilloried too badly but he seemed a bit overly enhanced during his effective days.
JJ – “pilloried”
It’s not often the Mensa members on here throw out a word I have to look up. Thanks.
Regress means to return to a former state. If Syndergaard regressed from his time with the Angels and Phillies, he would have improved. So just say his results got worse. That would be right.
re·gres·sion
/rəˈɡreSH(ə)n/
noun
1.
a return to a former or less developed state.
He was throwing in the mid – high 80’s in HS. So is this not still correct usage?
Blue skies is going to outsmart you! Just you wait!
Murfee stunk too. This is why I can never understand teams signing a pitcher coming off a major surgery thinking they would get something out of the player upon recovery. Cleveland got nothing for paying Bieber for last season and four months this season other than the trade return. The WS didn’t pay much of anything for the two pitchers so the try out is understood.
Didnt the astros resign Justin Verlander after TJ surgery and he won the CY Young helping the astros to a world series win? Also kind of funny he beat Thor in his 2nd start of the world series.
I would normally assume this allows him to sign with a contender. However, Noah’s been cooked for awhile now.
Hoyer will pick them up. Maeda just walked out. Need somebody new to keep the prospects back.
Has to one the most overrated players of the last decade or so.
Thor and all that. Had a couple good years and done. Injuries for sure but still. Sizzle didn’t match the steak at all.
Never really expected that experiment to work, but it was a low-risk move. Hope the guys they just picked up from the Brewers work out better.
I guess now Noah can play in the Mets alumni game in September, lol. He was originally penciled in, then scratched when the White Sox signed him to this deal. Now he’s available!
Wonder if the Mariners would bring Penn back and give him one more chance at it in say…. Tacoma or Little Rock?
Syndergaard would rather bodybuild then focus on pitching. He should of been at Driveline just like Justin Verlander,Alex Cobb and others have done in the past to reclaim some of that lost velocity. Its clear that he doesn’t want to put in the work and effort that it would take
I never thought I would see the words Noah syndergaard and released in the same sentence. He was the one pitcher that was very difficult to hit against in the 2015 World series.
Braves, go sign Noah… protect our young arms. League min
Rough sign when the ChiSox cut you