Chicago White Sox Sign Former Seattle Mariners Pitcher Chris Flexen to Round Out Rotation

The Chicago White Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Chris Flexen to a one-year deal, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Friday evening.

The contract will be worth $1.75 million in guaranteed money, per Nightengale and ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Flexen spent most of the past three seasons with the Seattle Mariners, but he was designated for assignment in June and traded to the New York Mets in July. The Mets cut ties with Flexen as well, and he wound up finishing the year with the Colorado Rockies.

Across 29 appearances and 16 starts in 2023, the 29-year-old went 2-8 with a 6.86 ERA, 1.671 WHIP and -1.0 WAR.

The Chicago White Sox sign veteran starter Chris Flexen to a one-year contract
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 29, 2023

Flexen flashed much more potential in the prior two campaigns, however, serving as both a starter and key reliever for a Mariners squad that was on the rise. Between those two seasons, he went 22-15 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.286 WHIP and 4.6 WAR in 64 appearances – 53 of which were starts.

Before landing in Seattle, Flexen played parts of three seasons with the Mets. He went 3-11 with an 8.07 ERA, 2.132 WHIP and -2.2 WAR in 68.0 innings of work in that time, ultimately needing to play the 2020 season overseas in Korea to rebuild his stock.

Chicago will have to free up a spot on their 40-man roster in order to officially add Flexen. The White Sox already designated right-handed pitcher Declan Cronin for assignment on Thursday when they added submarine reliever Tim Hill.

Flexen is a candidate to snag a spot in the White Sox's rotation, although he likely won't be guaranteed anything, given his price tag. Still, Chicago is in the midst of rebuilding a pitching staff they nearly tore down to the studs when they shipped out Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Reynaldo López and Kenyan Middleton at the deadline and waived Mike Clevinger not long after.

While the team hasn't traded ace Dylan Cease yet, rumors continue to swirl around the young righty.

Flexen and reigning KBO MVP Erick Fedde – who the White Sox signed during the Winter Meetings this month – could fill out the back end of the rotation behind Cease, former top prospect Michael Kopech and recent trade acquisition Michael Soroka.

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