Fastball

Chicago White Sox Claim Intriguing Pitcher Looking For Bounceback Season

After a down year in 2023, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford is looking for a fresh start with the Chicago White Sox.

Brady Farkas

Chicago White Sox Claim Intriguing Pitcher Looking For Bounceback Season
Chicago White Sox Claim Intriguing Pitcher Looking For Bounceback Season /
In this story:

After a down year in 2023, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford is looking for a fresh start with the Chicago White Sox.

Per Robert Murray of Fansided.com:

Right-hander Jake Woodford is signing a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox that includes an invite to spring training, sources say. The right-hander posted a 4.29 ERA in four seasons with the Cardinals.

Woodford is 10-7 for his career with that 4.29 ERA. He's appeared in 80 career games over four seasons and has made 18 starts.

Though the overall numbers are good, his 2023 was a disaster. He went 2-3 with a 6.23 ERA over 15 games for St. Louis, who finished last in the National League Central.

It's unknown at this point how the White Sox see Woodford - or if he'll even make the roster. After finishing in fourth place in the American League Central in 2023, they are re-making the roster entirely and appear to have plenty of opportunity available.

The starting rotation currently features Dylan Cease, Chris Flexen, Erik Fedde, and Michael Kopech. The fifth spot could go to Michael Soroka, Garrett Crochet, Woodford, or maybe even Touki Toussaint. If Cease gets traded, as is widely expected, another spot in the rotation would open up.

Furthermore, the bullpen should have plenty of opportunities also. The team recently traded Aaron Bummer and declined a club option on injured closer Liam Hendriks.

The thing that's good for the White Sox is that they play in the American League Central, widely considered the worst division in baseball. They last made the playoffs in 2021.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

Published
Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

Home/Minors