Colome obvious choice to close games for Chicago White Sox

Good closers pitch for good teams and, let's be blunt, the Chicago White Sox haven't exactly fit that profile for a lengthy stretch.

En route to a 100 losses last season, the Sox dealt Joakim Soria to Milwaukee in July.

The year before, they traded closer David Robertson to the New York Yankees and wound up losing 95 games.

Eventually - possibly this season but more likely next - the White Sox are going to turn the corner and be competitive.

That would create a need for a closer, but it looks like he's already on the roster.

"It does suit him pretty well," Sox manager Rick Renteria said of Alex Colome late last week.

While another newcomer, Kelvin Herrera, and Nate Jones also are options to pitch the ninth inning, Colome is the obvious choice given his track record.

Acquired from the Mariners in a Nov. 30 trade for catcher Omar Narvaez, Colome led the major leagues with 47 saves in 2017 when he pitched for the Rays.

The right-hander was traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle last May, and he moved into a setup role in front of Edwin Diaz. Colome thrived with the Mariners, going 5-0 with a 2.53 ERA and 30 holds, even though he wanted to close games.

"I like to pitch with the game on the line, when I can feel the adrenaline running through my veins," Colome said. "That's why I like the ninth."

While there is a chance he could be traded for prospects like Soria and Robertson, Colome figures to stay put. After coming over from Seattle, the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder avoided salary arbitration with the White Sox and agreed to a one-year, $7.3 million contract.

Colome isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season.

"Obviously he fits in well for the short term over the course of the next two seasons," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "How he'll fit in '21 and beyond, it's way too premature to make that assessment. Obviously, we can extend him at some point during his stay here or revisit it once he hits free agency.

"On relievers, it's tough to project out on any of them, even the best, on how they're going to perform three or four years out into the future. We're very optimistic about what he's going to bring for at least the next two seasons."