GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mike Clevinger made just four starts during his second stint with the Chicago White Sox in 2024 because of injuries.
The right-hander is back with the organization for a third time after agreeing to a minor-league contract with a nonroster invitation to major-league camp, the Sox announced Friday.
“Unfortunately last year Clev really couldn’t get going with the injury, primarily with his neck,” general manager Chris Getz said Friday afternoon at Camelback Ranch. “He had a procedure done that he feels and the doctors feel is behind him now.
“So we felt like bringing him into camp on a nonroster (and) getting a chance to show us if he can help our team in some capacity was a worthy look.”
The Sox viewed a side session during the offseason, and Clevinger threw in the mid-90s.
“The stuff was there,” Getz said. “So much of it will be how he responds. And to get a chance to see how that plays out in spring training, it made sense.”
Clevinger, 34, has a 60-42 career record with a 3.51 ERA in 156 outings (142 starts) during eight major-league seasons with Cleveland (2016-20), San Diego (2020, 2022) and the Sox (2023-24).
He signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Sox ahead of the 2023 season, which included a mutual option for 2024 with a $4 million buyout. That March, he received notice from Major League Baseball that it wouldn’t impose discipline in connection with allegations of domestic violence and child abuse after an investigation. The Sox said they didn’t know of the allegations or investigation at the time of the signing.
Getz discussed all that was weighed last year and again on Friday.
“It’s part of the consideration because it has been associated with Clev,” Getz said. “With that being said, we’ve been around Clev for the last couple of years. I know how he is respected with his teammates and everyone in the clubhouse. We are also, we’ve learned more about the situation and we are comfortable with it.”
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Clevinger was the team’s most consistent starter in 2023, going 9-9 with a 3.77 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 24 starts. He declined the mutual option that November but returned to the team on a one-year, $3 million contract in April 2024.
Clevinger went 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 2024 before an injury led to disk replacement surgery on his neck. He initially went on the injured list with right elbow inflammation on May 25. The team announced the neck surgery in July.
“He’s thrown a fair amount off the mound in his buildup for spring training,” Getz said. “He obviously didn’t know where he was going to end up. So, he feels like he’s fully healthy and ready to go.”
The Sox and Clevinger are open-minded in terms of roles.
“Through the years, he understands what it takes from a workload capacity as a starter,” Getz said. “Last year with that injury, he had a tough time going deeper into games. So we are going to start small here. And I think getting a look in shorter stints could be exciting to see if his stuff plays up and he responds well from a health standpoint.
“I’ve always had a little bit of a curiosity of what it could look like in a bullpen role. He’s someone that wants a look, and we are willing to give him one.”
Ky Bush begins road to recovery after Tommy John surgery
Bush knew something was wrong after throwing a pitch during live batting practice a week before the Sox reported to camp.
“When I was waiting for the MRI, it started to feel a little bit better,” Bush said Friday. “I was like, maybe it’d be some good news. But then it ended up being the worst-case scenario, I guess.”
Bush, 25, underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on Feb. 12.
“I had a really good offseason, was working really hard,” Bush said. “I felt like I was in a good spot to try and compete for a job. And then it just happened. And now you’ve just kind of got to wait until your time comes next year.”
Bush went 0-3 with a 5.60 ERA in four starts for the Sox in 2024. He had 16 walks and 11 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.
“I was also just very thankful and grateful to make it up there,” Bush said. “All the hard work growing up and everything, to say that I made it is pretty cool. I just obviously want to get back and not have that be, I guess, my final line kind of thing.
“Great experience, it was a good year, made it. And now I’m just trying to get back to where I can try and make it better.”
