In an attempt to bolster the pen the Pale Hose sign the 33-year old submariner Steve Cishek to a 1 yr deal with a 2021 club option.
Steve spent the last 2 season with the neighboring north side team, the Chicago Cubs where he posted a 2.95 ERA, 57Ks and a 1.203 WHIP over 64IP in 2019. Cishek relies on his avg 91 MPH sinker and fastball with big movement up in the zone. The 10 year vet has played with 5 different teams and has only had 1 season with an ERA over 3.50, which was in his 2015 season with the Marlins and Cardinals. That stat alone tells you that he will bring munch need consistency to the pen for the White Sox.
What’s alarming is that he posted a 4.54 FIP in 2019 and was oft used the last 2 seasons making 150 appearances, which may explain his 4.59 FIP and 4.52 ERA projection for 2020 according to Fangraphs. Although what should help his case is that he generated a 50% ground ball rate in 2019 which should play well in the hitter friendly Guaranteed Rate Field. As a whole he has been fairly solid throughout his career and will add much needed depth to the White Sox bullpen in 2020.
Featured Photo: Chicago Cubs Twitter
