Chicago White Sox Sign Former Big League Closer to Revamped Roster
The Chicago White Sox have signed former Texas Rangers closer Joe Barlow to a minor league deal as spring training sits about a month away.
Per MLBTradeRumors:
The White Sox have signed right-hander Joe Barlow to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He’s been assigned to Triple-A Charlotte for now but will presumably receive an invitation to major league Spring Training.
Barlow saved 11 games for the Rangers in the 2021 season and 13 in the 2022 season, working in 66 combined games those two years.
He fell off precipitously in 2023 and only threw in nine games as the Rangers went onto win the World Series. He ended the year last season in the Royals system, but did not pitch for them in the majors.
The White Sox are a team with plenty of opportunity on their roster, so there's a chance that Barlow could make it back to the leagues in 2024. Under new general manager Chris Getz, Chicago has turned over the bullpen, trading Aaron Bummer to the Atlanta Braves and declining a club option on Liam Hendriks.
The White Sox finished fourth in the American League Central in 2023 and figure to be among the bottom clubs in baseball again next season. However, with some exciting prospects acquired via trades of Lance Lynn, Kendall Graveman and others at the trade deadline last year, and the guys acquired for Bummer, there is some reason to be excited for the future on the South Side.
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