White Sox decide to cut ties with Keuchel
After giving up 6 earned runs in each of his last two starts, the White Sox decided to give up on left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel.
The White Sox designated Keuchel for assignment Saturday, while calling up infielder Danny Mendick from Triple A Charlotte.
Overall this season, Keuchel, 34, was 2-5 with a 7.88 ERA in eight starts. He went 15-11 in his first two seasons with the Sox, which general manager Rick Hahn made sure to point out.
"This club, for the first time in franchise history, made the postseason in back-to-back seasons, in '20 and '21, and that very likely doesn't happen without Dallas' contributions," Hahn said before Saturday's game against the Cubs. I'd just like to make sure we have the proper context here for his contributions."
After lasting just 2 innings in a 16-7 loss to the Red Sox on Thursday, Keuchel expressed confidence he could turn things around. Earlier this month, he beat Boston on the road and threw 5 scoreless innings against the Yankees.
"I don't think we need to grave-dance on this too much," Hahn said. "The decision has been made, and we're moving on. I want to make sure there's an appropriate level of appreciation for his positive contributions while he was here.
"Dallas was a pro. Dallas was great. He and I had a heart-to-heart conversation about it (Friday). I'll keep the bulk of that private, but share that he expressed his own disappointment that he wasn't able to deliver on what we needed from him. He certainly was appreciative of the opportunity and wished us well. He was a complete pro during the conversation."
The White Sox plan to move forward with a starting rotation of Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito and Johnny Cueto, while Lance Lynn is starting a rehab assignment in Charlotte this weekend as he recovers from right knee surgery in April. The Sox don't expect to need a fifth starter until next week and Hahn prefers other options.
"Obviously, Lance is working his way back," he said. "Vince (Velasquez) has shown some dependability in certain stretches and how he's been used. The kid, Davis Martin, did a nice job for us when we called him up. So it was a level of confidence that one of the alternatives probably gave us a better chance in those opportunities as they arise."
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