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White Sox Incorporate Veteran Reliever And Known Face Into Minor League Deals.

The Chicago White Sox have extended a non-roster invitation to infielder Danny Mendick and right-hander Jesse Chavez for the upcoming big league Spring Training. On February 5th, Mendick signed a minor league deal with the White Sox, as per MLB.com’s transaction logs. Meanwhile, according to a report by Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday, Chavez, aged 40, also agreed to a minor league deal and was subsequently included in the non-roster invite list.

Chavez, who recently completed his 16th MLB season, contemplated retirement this offseason. Throughout his career, spanning nine different teams, he has accrued a 4.30 ERA and 6.1 WAR over 1070.2 innings. Despite a decline in velocity in recent years, Chavez demonstrated effectiveness in the 2023 season, posting a 1.56 ERA in 36 appearances (34.2 innings) with the Atlanta Braves. Despite some warning signs, such as opponents hitting .273 on balls in play and a below-average fastball velocity, Chavez maintained a respectable 27.1% strikeout rate last season.

With a bullpen already missing several key players over the past eight months, including Gregory Santos, Kendall Graveman, Reynaldo Lopez, Aaron Bummer, Keynan Middleton, Joe Kelly, and Liam Hendriks, Chavez stands a good chance of securing a spot in the White Sox bullpen. Tim Hill is currently slated to be the closer, and adding a seasoned player like Chavez could be beneficial for a team seeking to rebuild its culture, especially given Chavez’s World Series win with the Atlanta Braves in 2021.

Returning to the White Sox organization after a brief stint with the New York Mets, Mendick faced challenges in the 2023 season, shuttling between MLB and Triple-A. Despite a subpar performance in the majors, he excelled in Triple-A Syracuse with a .282/.369/.424 slash line, 11 home runs, and 53 RBIs. The 30-year-old, drafted by the White Sox, made his MLB debut in 2019 and played three years in Chicago before being non-tendered in the 2022 offseason. Mendick’s 2022 season was cut short due to a torn ACL, but he had showcased versatility, playing various defensive positions. His chances of making the roster in 2024 might hinge on securing a utility role, with competition from established players like Paul DeJong, Nicky Lopez, and Yoan Moncada. Despite the competition, Mendick, with options remaining and three years of service time, could still be in the White Sox’s plans for 2025 if he performs well.