White Sox Sign Former Cubs Reliever To 1-Year Contract

It was just a matter of time before the White Sox added a reliever to their bullpen and it’s veteran right-hander Steve Cishek, who pitched the last two seasons for the Cubs.

Like many of their free agent deals this offseason, the one-year deal for Cishek also includes an option for 2021. Cishek will make a guaranteed $6 million with the White Sox. The 2021 option includes a $750k buyout. His 2020 salary will be $5.25 million.

Reliever Steve Cishek and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $6 million deal, sources familiar with the agreement tell ESPN. The contract includes an option that could take the deal to a second year at $12 million total.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 7, 2020

Ciskek White Sox deal: 5.25M in 2020, 750K buyout on 2021 option. 6M guarantee.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 7, 2020

The 33-year-old has been really good throughout his 10-year MLB career, posting a 2.69 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 572 appearances out of the bullpen. Cishek has also been pretty durable in his career, but in his last two years with the Cubs you could say he was a bit overused causing Cishek to wear down late in the season.

Cishek made 80 appearances in 2018 and 70 this past season.

Three pitchers appeared in at least 150 games over the past two seasons

154 Yusmeiro Petit
154 Andrew Chafin
150 Steve Cishek

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) January 7, 2020

Yet, Cishek has still been an effective reliever, recording a 2.41 ERA in 179 innings from 2017-19.