The Chicago White Sox made a flurry of transactions on Friday afternoon. The White Sox announced that they’ve outrighted Jimmy Cordero, Jace Fry, Brian Goodwin, and Evan Marshall.
Cordero didn’t appear in a game for the White Sox in 2021 due to injury. The year prior Cordero ranked second amongst American League relief pitchers in games. He did not allow an inherited runner to score over his first 20 appearances but still finished the season with a sub-par 6.08 ERA.
Jace Fry also battled injuries in 2021. He bounced around from Charlottle and Chicago. In six games Fry had a 10.80 ERA to accompany a 2.40 WHIP. The White Sox had seen enough and they decided to cut ties with Fry after five seasons.
Brain Goodwin had the biggest impact on the 2021 season amongst the four players that were outrighted on Friday. The White Sox pulled him off the scrap heap mid-season to help them combat injuries to their outfield depth. Goodwin batted just .221 with 8 home runs. However, he did hit a big walk-off home run against Cleveland on August 1st. Goodwin then became the first player in franchise history to hit a two-run homer to open extra innings, when he hit gave the White Sox the lead in the 10th against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He was also a staple of the White Sox lineup as they navigated around the injuries of Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, and Adam Engel. Goodwin played all three outfield positions for Tony La Russa. The White Sox decided to keep him off of the playoff roster which was a signal of things to come.
Evan Marshall was the last White Sox casualty of the day. During his three seasons with the White Sox, Marshall proved to be an effective late innings option. In 2019 he set a career-best in innings pitched (50.2) and ERA (2.49) while matching a career-high in holds (19). In 2020 he tied for eighth in the American League with eight holds and once again posted a sub-three ERA with a 2.38 mark. Things did not go as swimmingly in 2021. Marshall got roughed up to the tune of a 5.60 ERA in 27 games. He was then lost for the season with a right flexor pronator strain.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers also reported that the White Sox will decline Cesar Hernandez’s $6MM club option allowing him to hit free agency. The White Sox traded for Hernandez into the White Sox as a stopgap at second base. At the time of the trade Hernadez had 18 home runs so it looked like a promising move. However, he hit just three with the White Sox and slashed .232/.309/.299.
The White Sox parting ways with Hernandez is a promising sign that Rick Hahn is looking to upgrade over the offseason. Hernandez was a solid defensive player but his lack of production contributed to an inconsistent White Sox offense.
The White Sox did select the contract of left-handed pitcher Anderson Servino from the Charlotte Knights bringing their 40-man roster to 34.
