The big news out of the Chicago White Sox camp this offseason was their acquisition of Adam Dunn. Dunn finally gives the White Sox the left-handed presence they have wanted for the past couple of seasons.
While Dunn might have been the headliner for the White Sox this offseason, he is one of the many moves they made concerning their bullpen. There has been a lot of changes to their pen, so let’s take a look at who is in, who is out, and where the chips may fall in 2011.
Out
Bobby Jenks, RHP: Last year’s closer was non-tendered in November and was signed by the Boston Red Sox in December. Jenks had a 4.44 ERA in 52.2 IP.
J.J. Putz, RHP: Putz was a valuable part of the White Sox bullpen in 2010, posting a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 10.8 K’s/9 in 54 innings. He was a force in the eighth inning, where he posted a 1.04 ERA. He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks to be their closer.
Scott Linebrink, RHP: Linebrink had a 4.40 ERA and struck out 8.2 batters per innings in 57.1 innings for the White Sox in 2010. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in December and never lived up to the four-year, $19 million contract he signed prior to the 2008 season.
In
Jesse Crain, RHP: Crain appeared in 71 games for the Minnesota Twins in 2010. He posted a solid 3.04 ERA and 8.2 K’s/9 in 68 IP. Even as a right-handed pitcher, he held left-handed batters to a .198 BAA last year.
Will Ohman, LHP: The latest bullpen acquisition by GM Kenny Williams, Ohman signed a two-year, $4 million contract on Friday. Ohman held lefties to a .229 BAA and just five extra-base hits in 99 plate appearances with the Baltimore Orioles and Florida Marlins last season.
Already There
Matt Thornton, LHP: Perhaps the most solid reliever the White Sox have. Thornton struck out 81 in 60.2 IP in 2010 and is equally deadly on righties as he is on lefties. Righties only hit .203 against him and lefties hit .199. He is one of the better relief pitchers in baseball.
Sergio Santos, RHP: The converted SS has really found a home in the White Sox bullpen. Santos had a 2.96 ERA and struck out 56 in 51.2 innings with Chicago in 2010. He has a wicked splitter but does struggle with control.
Tony Pena, RHP: Pena comes into the game if the White Sox are up by five runs, down by five runs, or there are no other options. He is like an old fashioned “Swing Man”, as he did start three games in 2010. He had a 5.10 ERA in 100.2 IP.
Chris Sale, LHP: Sale was the 13th pick in the 2010 June Draft and then made his White Sox debut on August 6th. That’s called firing through a system. Sale didn’t disappoint when he got to the White Sox, as he posted a 1.93 ERA and averaged 12.3 K/9 in 23.1 IP.
Now that we have looked at who is in, who is out, and who remains, here is where I think the chips will fall for the White Sox bullpen in 2011:
Closer: Sale. With the addition of Ohman, a lot of people think that means Sale will move to the rotation. Unless the White Sox trade either Mark Buehrle, Edwin Jackson, Gavin Floyd, Jake Peavy, or John Danks, I don’t see how that can happen.
I think Sale remains in the pen and ends up the White Sox closer in 2011.
Eighth Inning Setup Man: Thornton. Thornton will take over for Putz in the eighth and he will be used against righties and lefties in that spot
Left-Handed Specialist: Ohman. Pretty easy call here. Ohman will be used to get a tough lefty out late in the game or if Thornton is unavailable to pitch that day.
Right-Handed Specialist: Crain. Crain held righties to a .228 BAA last season, so he will come on in the seventh to get a pair of righties out.
That’s how I see the White Sox bullpen shaping up. Overall, it looks pretty nasty and should be one of the top bullpens in the American League in 2011.
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