White Sox beef up bullpen after acquiring Colome in trade from Mariners
Even after losing Kevan Smith, who was claimed off waivers by the Angels in late October, the White Sox still had plenty of depth at catcher.
Welington Castillo returns in 2019 with one more year on his contract, and first-round draft pick Zack Collins and Seby Zavala are waiting in the wings in the minor leagues.
Omar Narvaez was ticketed to back up Castillo next season, but he was traded to the Mariners on Friday for Alex Colome, who likely steps in as the Sox's new closer.
"We saw this as an opportunity to add another premium back end arm that's available to us in various high leverage situations going into at least 2019, and possibly 2020 as well," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "We liked that opportunity to improve in an area that was a target for us heading into this off-season. We don't think we are finished in terms of addressing the bullpen. I'm not quite sure on the timing of that but between now and the time we break camp, I suspect there will be further additions to the bullpen as well.
"The opportunity to get a guy like Colome, with his track record and stuff and performance, was too good for us to pass up, even at the cost of Omar.
Contractually under club control through the 2020, the 29-year-old Colome was a combined 7-5 with a 3.04 ERA and 12 saves with Tampa Bay and Seattle last season.
The right-hander was traded from the Rays to Mariners on May 25 and was 5-0 with a 2.53 ERA, 30 holds and 1 save in 47 appearances with Seattle.
Colome also became the first pitcher in major-league history to record at least 10 saves and 30 holds in one season.
With Tampa Bay in 2017, the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder led the American League with 47 saves. Colome had 37 saves in '16 and was an AL all-star.
He provides needed help in the Sox's bullpen, which ranked 13th in the league with 34 saves last season.
"We like the way his stuff plays," Hahn said. "The combination and the track record of success in the American league were both appealing, as well as the two years of control and the price points those two years are likely going to come at through the arbitration process."
Narvaez batted .275 with the White Sox last season and established career highs with 14 doubles, 9 home runs and 30 RBI.
Castillo is back as the Sox's No. 1 catcher, but Hahn said Zavala and/or Collins still have to earn their way to the majors.
"Long term, we have talked a lot about Zack Collins and Seby Zavala," Hahn said. "We do foresee each of them in the future getting their opportunities in Chicago. But as you've heard me say many times about them and various other prospects, we are not going to bring Zack or Seby or any other prospect to Chicago until we feel they are fully ready for that opportunity to succeed in Chicago and ready for that next stage of development that happens at the big-league level."