Mike Clevinger seems ahead to having a dialogue with Chicago White Sox head groundskeeper Roger Bossard.
“That was one of my favorite mounds in all the big leagues,” Clevinger stated throughout a video convention name Sunday, referring to Guaranteed Rate Field. “So I’m excited to get back to it.”
The Sox formally added the right-hander to the rotation Sunday, asserting a one-year, $12 million contract. Clevinger will obtain $8 million in 2023 with a mutual $12 million possibility for 2024 that features a $4 million buyout.
“The roster is fully set up for doing special things and having a long season,” Clevinger stated when requested why he joined the Sox.
He additionally pointed to the mound. Clevinger has a 3.13 ERA in 4 profession begins at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“I can’t wait to talk to the grounds crew over there,” Clevinger stated. “It’s simply good. Whether it’s the peak, the best way the slope goes down.
“It was something that stuck with me that, on that mound, what was going on, what we were working on, it all came to fruition right then and there.”
Clevinger returns to the American League Central, the place he spent four-plus seasons with Cleveland from 2016-20. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in August 2020, missed all of 2021 recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure and went 7-7 with a 4.33 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 2022.
Clevinger stated he confirmed himself “resilience” in ‘22.
“I felt like I was battling, had an uphill battle the whole time,” he stated. “And it will have been straightforward to take a while off and sort of regroup, let my physique heal.
“It wasn’t about me at the time. It was about seeing what I could do to help the Padres stay in contention and see how far we can go in the postseason.”
Clevinger, 31, replaces free agent Johnny Cueto in a rotation that features Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn and Michael Kopech. He will put on No. 52. Reports of the deal surfaced Nov. 27.
He talked about a familiarity with pitching coach Ethan Katz, with a few of his new teammates and with the AL Central as a part of his determination.
Clevinger is 51-30 with a 3.39 ERA and 694 strikeouts in 128 profession outings (114 begins) with Cleveland and the Padres. He received 13 video games in each 2018 and ‘19. He had 207 strikeouts and a 3.02 ERA in 2018 and a 2.71 ERA in 2019.
Clevinger had a mixed 3.02 ERA in eight begins (4 for each groups) within the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He additionally was disciplined by Cleveland and later apologized after breaking COVID-19 protocols with teammate Zach Plesac throughout a visit to Chicago.
Clevinger was despatched to the Padres in an enormous commerce that noticed Josh Naylor and Cal Quantrill, amongst others, head to Cleveland. He underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in November 2020 — his second after a 2012 process whereas within the minor leagues.
He returned to make 23 appearances (22 begins) within the 2022 common season.
“I’m excited to get a full healthy season under my belt and go post to post,” Clevinger stated. “The (velocity) was there through half the year and then I was dealing with a lot of different things bodywise, just getting back to trying to make a start every five days. It’s the normal trials and tribulations coming back from a serious injury and especially a second serious injury. I don’t expect to have those same hiccups next year.”
He began two playoff video games, permitting 5 runs (4 earned) in 2⅔ innings and taking the loss in Game 1 of an National League Division Series in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers and giving up three runs on three hits with out recording an out in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies.
“It’s no secret to anybody, I kind of hurt my stock with last year,” Clevinger stated. “I sort of left a foul style in everybody’s mouth with these playoff appearances. But I don’t assume everyone seems to be seeing what’s occurring behind closed doorways.
“I’m not here to have a pity party, but that’s OK. I didn’t want to wait (to sign). The Chicago White Sox came and they were very interested.”
Now he formally has a brand new house because the winter conferences get underway.
“(The Sox have) always been a fan of mine and they’ve seen me over the years pitch against them,” Clevinger stated. “They expressed curiosity in what they noticed in me, and it wasn’t actually a matter of a lot the financial facet because it was the place I wished to be, the roster I wished to set myself up with in choosing my vacation spot versus ready till it acquired right down to the top and see if these different groups had me of their pecking order on the time.
“I know the White Sox want me. I know that’s a roster I want to be a part of. There are personalities on the team that I feel like mold with mine and I just knew this would be a good symbiotic relationship.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com