The Chicago White Sox have signed free agent pitcher Mitchell Boggs to a major league deal, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Boggs’ contract is a one year deal worth $1.1 million.
Boggs, who turns 30 this month, was going to be the St. Louis Cardinals closer after Jason Motte went down with season-ending elbow surgery. However, he struggled mightily, yielding 18 runs on 21 hits and 15 walks before being designated for assignment. The closer role was put in the capable hands of Edward Mujica, and later to the even better Trevor Rosenthal, and most fans forgot about Boggs struggles. He was picked up by the Colorado Rockies, and struggled in their minor league system.
Overall, in 46 minor league innings in 2013, he pitched to a 6.07 ERA with strikeout and walk rates of 10.1 percent, and 9.3 percent, respectively. The big right-hander earned a late season callup to the Rockies, but was largely unimpressive in nine outings, yielding three runs with five walks and five strikeouts. Accordingly, it seems rather surprising that he would merit a big league deal.
Though Boggs possesses a fastball that is often in the mid 90s, he’s never been much of a strikeout pitcher. For his career, he has a rather pedestrian 16.7 percent strikeout rate.
While the White Sox were very poor in 2013, they did feature an excellent bullpen. With the departure of Jesse Crain and Matt Thornton via July trades and closer Addison Reed via an offseason swap with the Arizona Diamondbacks, their corps was looking thin. In what will likely be a non-contending season for the White Sox, Boggs has a chance to reclaim some of his lost value.
