With spring training just over five weeks away, Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz gave some updates with regards to his plans for pitchers Garrett Crochet and Chris Flexen.
First on Flexen, via Scott Merkin of MLB.com:
The expectation is for Flexen to be part of the White Sox rotation and give the team starter's innings, per Getz.
Flexen signed with the White Sox this offseason after spending 2023 with the Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies.
The 29-year-old is coming off a poor year overall with both teams, going 2-8 with a 6.86 ERA in 2023. He made 29 appearances, starting 16 games between both organizations. He pitched 102.1 innings.
Though he regressed in 2023, Flexen had useful years at the big league level in both 2021 and 2022. He went 14-6 for Seattle in 2021 over 31 starts and pitched to a 3.73 ERA in Seattle the following year over 33 total appearances.
Furthermore, with regards to Crochet, via Vinnie Duber:
Chris Getz says Garrett Crochet is preparing to be a starting pitcher this season.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time to appropriately stretch him out, but we’re going in with the intention of him to be a starter in 2024.”
Crochet is a 24-year-old, hard-throwing lefty who made his major league debut in 2020. He's made 72 appearances lifetime, all out of the bullpen. He really burst onto the scene in 2021, throwing in 54 games and pitching to a 2.82 ERA.
Unfortunately, he missed all of 2022 with injury and then only pitched in 13 games in 2023. It's unclear whether or not the transition to the rotation will happen at Triple-A or in the big leagues but for now the Sox figure to have Flexen, Mike Soroka, Erike Fedde, Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease in the rotation.
If they trade Cease, as is expected, they could utilize Crochet in the majors sooner.
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