Angels Castoff, Former All-Star Gets $1.75 Million in Longshot Comeback Bid

Noah Syndergaard's time in an Angels uniform is perhaps best remembered for how it ended: With a trade that brought a former No. 1 overall pick (Mickey Moniak) and a low-level minor league prospect (Jadiel Sanchez) to Anaheim.

Moniak gave the Angels a surprising 2-WAR season as a versatile outfielder in 2023. And while Sanchez never made it past A-ball, the Angels' $21 million contract with Syndergaard was not a total waste of money.

More news: Angels' Mike Trout Provides Injury Update After Major Test on Knee

Now, the Chicago White Sox are hoping they can say the same.

Noah Syndergaard
White Sox

2025. Minor League contract for $30,000/mo.

$1,750,000 in Majors

Plus: $50,000 for 40ip; $100,000 each for 55ip; 75ip

Release clause (Opt out if not in majors) 8/1
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 24, 2025

Practically out of nowhere, the Chicago White Sox signed Syndergaard to a minor league contract Monday and assigned him to their Arizona Complex League affiliate. Still just 32 years old, Syndergaard will have a chance to show the White Sox that he has some life left in his once-powerful right arm.

More news: Angels Met With Prospective No. 2 MLB Draft Pick

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post on Twitter/X, Syndergaard will make a prorated portion of $1.75 million if he reaches the majors, and $30,000 a month while he's in the minors. He can opt out of his contract if he is not promoted to the big leagues by Aug. 1.

For the White Sox, it's a low-risk move for a team that figures to be a seller at the July 31 trade deadline for the third consecutive season. Chicago is 25-54, a 51-win pace, after setting a modern record with 121 losses a year ago.

More news: Angels' Ron Washington Hoping to Return Soon Amid Health Concerns

For Syndergaard, it's a chance to appear in a major league game for the first time since 2023, when he made 18 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians, who released him at midseason.

Neither the Guardians nor the Dodgers could "fix" the towering right-hander, who had a 6.50 ERA in his final big league tour of duty.

The White Sox signed Noah Syndergaard to a minor league deal. He’s at the complex in Arizona.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) June 24, 2025

Syndergaard went 47-31 with a 3.32 ERA in 121 games (120 starts) with the New York Mets from 2015-21.

More news: Angels Place All-Star Outfielder on Injured List, Promote Gustavo Campero

Listed at 6-foot-6 and gifted with the divine nickname "Thor," Syndergaard was among the majors' most intimidating pitchers in his prime.

As a rookie with the Mets in 2015, his fastball averaged 97.7 mph, according to Statcast. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting after that season and helped the Mets reach the World Series.

More news: Angels Star Outfielder Linked to 4 Contenders in Potential Trade Deadline Blockbuster

In 2016, Syndergaard posted a career-low 2.60 ERA (155 ERA+) across 30 starts for the Mets.

An elbow injury limited Syndergaard to two starts from 2020-21. When he returned in 2022 with the Angels, Syndergaard's fastball was down four ticks from its peak, and he was primarily a changeup/sinker/slider pitcher. He went 5-8 with a 3.83 ERA in 15 starts with the Angels before his trade to the contending Phillies.

Syndergaard helped the Phillies reach the World Series, but he again fell short of winning a ring, this time losing in six games to the Houston Astros.

For more Angels news, head over to Angels on SI.