White Sox Reportedly Sign Reliever Steve Cishek to 1-Year Deal With Option
By Michael Luciano
One of the best sidearm pitchers in baseball has become the latest major signing by the Chicago White Sox.
Chicago has added players like Yasmani Grandal and Edwin Encarnacion in free agency while extending top prospect Luis Robert, and their excellent offseason will continue with the addition of reliever Steve Cishek. The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal with the White Sox that has a club option for 2021.
Reliever Steve Cishek and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $6 million deal, sources familiar with the agreement tell ESPN. The contract includes an option that could take the deal to a second year at $12 million total.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 7, 2020
Cishek, who made his name as a solid closer with the Miami Marlins, has a career ERA of 2.69, with his ERA jumping over 3.00 only once. Cishek spent the last two seasons as a reliever with the Chicago Cubs on the North Side, posting a 2.55 ERA in an astounding 150 games over two seasons.
Considering Cishek actually expressed interest in signing with the Red Sox, this is a major steal by the South Siders.
Alex Speier noted the Red Sox could not offer Travis Shaw $4M until they clarified their payroll situation. Falmouth's Steve Cishek--over last 4 yrs. ave. 61 G, 2.52 ERA. 9.3 K/9, 1.05 WHIP--would like to sign w/Boston, but made $7.1M last season and may be out of their pay range
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) December 29, 2019
Cishek figures to add a whole new dimension to a White Sox bullpen populated by a bunch of no-names over the course of the 2019 season.
Steve Cishek heading to White Sox for one year and $6M guaranteed, per source. Cishek will earn $5.25M in 2020 with a $6.75M club option for 2021 ($750K buyout). @JeffPassan 1st
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 7, 2020
Alex Colome is a fine reliever, but Colome by himself isn't enough to anchor a bullpen that is supposed to help the White Sox win the division. The duo of Cishek and Colome at the end of games could be a major boon for a Chicago team that might finally turn the corner in 2020.