White Sox designate LHP Dallas Keuchel for assignment

CHICAGO (AP) - Dallas Keuchel gave the Chicago White Sox a boost two years ago, helping a team with an exciting young core reach the playoffs.

That ended up being Keuchel's most successful season in Chicago. The veteran left-hander was designated for assignment on Saturday.

Keuchel is 2-5 with a 7.88 ERA in eight starts this year. He signed a $55.5 million, three-year contract with the White Sox in December 2019.

'œGiven the back of the baseball card, so to speak, we wanted to give him the opportunity this season to get back on track,'ť general manager Rick Hahn said. 'œThere was not a magic number of starts, necessarily, that were required before we made that decision.'ť

The 34-year-old Keuchel was tagged for six runs and seven hits in two innings in Thursday's 16-7 loss to the Red Sox. Hahn said they had a 'œheart-to-heart'ť conversation the next day.

'œHe expressed his own disappointment that he wasn't able to deliver on what we needed from him,'ť Hahn said.

The White Sox also have Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, Dylan Cease and Johnny Cueto in their rotation, and Lance Lynn is coming back from right knee surgery. Vince Velasquez made seven starts for the team before pitching three hitless innings in relief on Tuesday night.

The White Sox also recalled infielder Danny Mendick from Triple-A Charlotte before Saturday night's game against the crosstown Cubs.

Keuchel is owed $14,456,044 for the remainder of his contract: $12,956,044 in salary for the rest of this season, plus a $1.5 million buyout of his 2023 option.

If he is released, another team could sign him for a prorated share of the $700,000 minimum, with the White Sox responsible for the rest.

'œYou've got to look at the career,'ť manager Tony La Russa said. 'œHe's got a lot to be proud of. ... I don't think anyone in this uniform wouldn't trade their career going forward the next 10, 12 years for what he's done."

Keuchel broke into the majors in 2012 with Houston. He won the AL Cy Young Award in 2015, going 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA in 33 starts for the Astros.

Keuchel had a solid first year in Chicago, going 6-2 with a sparkling 1.99 ERA in 11 starts during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. But he struggled last year, finishing with a 5.28 ERA in 32 games.

Keuchel is 101-87 with a 3.86 ERA in 262 career games, including 251 starts.

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