The offseason addition of right-handed reliever Kendall Graveman has fortified the already deep Chicago White Sox bullpen.
While the team may still be searching for a second baseman, a right fielder, and possibly another staring pitcher, it would seem the bullpen is not an issue. And it really is quite a solid pen.
Last season, the White Sox won the American League Central Division with a 92-69 record, but they fell flat in the playoffs, losing to Houston in the American League Division Series.
The White Sox may want their starting pitchers to throw fewer innings during the regular season, keeping them fresher for a playoff run. Adding Graveman provides manager Tony La Russa another very reliable bullpen arm to call upon, helping preserve the strength of the starters.
According to fangraphs.com and sandlotshrink.com, the White Sox bullpen roles are fairly well defined.
Few teams in baseball have the White Sox depth and quality in the bullpen. Right-handers Liam Hendricks and Craig Kimbrel can both close out games. So can Graveman, if needed. But it is likely Graveman will be used in a set-up role if Kimbrel remains on the club.
Both Aaron Bummer and Garrett Crochet are very capable lefties. Both are effective enough to face multiple hitters in an inning, as dictated by the MLB rule requiring a pitcher to face three batters in an inning or pitch to the end of the inning.
Right-handers Ryan Burr and Jose Ruiz project as mid-inning relievers, with right-hander Reynaldo Lopez possibly the long reliever and spot starter.
At this point, right-hander Evan Marshall is still with the club, but he currently has a minor league assignment. Matt Foster may figure in the pen as well. There will likely be final bullpen spots open during spring training.
Ryan Tepera and Jace Fry, right-handers who worked out of the bullpen last season, are both free-agents.
Top Five In The Bullpen:
Liam Hendriks-RHP-Age 32 (turns 33 in February)
Liam Hendriks made the 2021 American League All Star Team with the White Sox. He was an All Star in 2019 with the Oakland Athletics as well.
Hendriks saved 38 games last year, a career best. He had six blown saves in 69 games, covering 71 innings. Hendriks struck out an average of 14.3 hitters per nine innings. The opposition hit just .174 off Hendriks.
Hendriks walked just seven hitters the entire season, which is remarkable for a pitcher working in high leverage, pressure situations. His command and control, along with his outstanding swing-and-miss repertoire are factors that set him apart.
Hendriks yielded 11 home runs, which may have been the biggest blemish on his otherwise wonderful season.
While Craig Kimbrel is still on the staff at this point and has closing experience, Hendriks remains the White Sox closer. Hendriks is a strikeout machine.
Craig Kimbrel-RHP-Age 33
Craig Kimbrel came to the White Sox in a surprising July 30, 2021 trade deadline deal with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs sent highly regarded second baseman Nick Madrigal, along with well regarded pitcher Codi Heuer to the Cubs for Kimbrel. It was a controversial deal, as now the White Sox need to fill a vacancy at second base.
Kimbrel threw 23 innings for the White Sox, registering one save. He pitched to a 5.09 Earned Run Average and drew criticism from White Sox fans. He walked 10 while striking out 36 in 24 appearances.
There has been talk that Kimbrel, and eight-time All Star, may be available in trade. That remains possible, as there are several teams searching for a closer. In parts of 12 seasons, Kimbrel has 372 career saves.
If he isn’t traded, Kimbrel figures to help set-up Hendriks at the back-end of the White Sox bullpen.
Kendall Graveman-RHP-Age 31
To this writer, Kendall Graveman is the best option for Tony La Russa if he wishes to give Hendriks a night off or if Hendriks is injured or ineffective.
Graveman’s presence clearly makes it easier and very viable for the club to trade Kimbrel.
Graveman has completed parts of seven big league seasons, He has pitched for Toronto, Oakland, Seattle and Houston.
The White Sox signed Graveman as a free-agent before the MLB lockout, giving him a three-year, $24M contract. To this writer, it was a very astute move by the White Sox front office.
Graveman has ten career saves, all of them coming in 2021, when he pitched for Seattle and Houston. The Mariners traded him to Houston in July 2021.
Graveman appeared in 53 games last year, throwing 56 innings. He struck out 61 and walked 20. Graveman yielded only three home runs.
Aaron Bummer-LHP-Age 28
To this scout, this is a “turning point” season for Aaron Bummer. He has talent, but he hasn’t quite put everything together, walking 29 hitters in 56.1 innings last season. He has to improve upon walking 4.6 hitters per nine innings. He threw to a 3.51 Earned Run Average. Bummer saved two games.
This is what this scout wrote about Bummer when evaluating him prior to the 2016 season: “Solid lefty with low 90’s fastball, but struggled to command that pitch. Has to develop secondary pitches. Command is inconsistent. Projects as a reliever.”
Last year, according to brooksbaseball.net, Bummer threw a sinking fastball that sat between 95-96 MPH, above what this scout projected. He also threw a slider and cutter.
But his walk rate was far too high.
Garrett Crochet: LHP-Age 22
To this scout, Garrett Crochet may become one of the best left-handed relievers in the game.
Crochet has the ability to be dominating, with a chance to be the heir apparent to Liam Hendriks as the club’s closer. He has that much potential. That much upside.
Last season, Crochet threw 54.1 innings in 54 White Sox games. He threw to a 2.82 Earned Run Average, walking 27 and striking out 65. Like Aaron Bummer, Crochet has to work on his command and control. That is often the case with young, left-handed pitchers.
Crochet yielded only two home runs.
Crochet can consistently throw his fastball in the upper 90’s, hitting 100 to 102 miles per hour with little to no effort. However, for this scout, Crochet is best sitting in the high-90’s as opposed to losing command at 100 miles per hour, where the pitch straightens out or is more difficult for him to command.
Crochet has a lively fastball when he doesn’t overthrow, and that movement induces swings and misses. His slider is an outstanding secondary pitch, and hitters make very weak contact against that pitch.
Crochet is becoming much more a pitcher rather than a thrower. And the best is yet to come.
Conclusions:
Team closer Liam Hendriks leads a Chicago White Sox bullpen that remains among the best, if not the best, in baseball.
Hendriks is a strikeout machine, throwing his four-seam fastball at 98 miles per hour, and sliders and curveballs as superb secondary pitches.
While Craig Kimbrel is still with the club, signing free-agent right-hander Kendall Graveman as a free-agent could make Kimbrel expendable in trade to upgrade second base or right field.
Graveman is very capable of spelling Hendriks, if needed.
Lefties Aaron Bummer and Garrett Crochet are two very capable relievers that manager Tony La Russa can use with confidence. Both, however, have to improve their overall command and control. Both will see plenty of work when it counts in games.
The White Sox project to retain their hold on first place in the American League Central Division. The outstanding bullpen will be a major component of their success.
Follow me on Twitter.