Looking at the MLB Roster and Who May, or May Not, Be Apart of the 2019/2020 Club (Pitchers)

I looked at the batters last week, today it's the pitchers. For the most part I'm limiting this to guys who were born after 1990, though there are a few exceptions, as the goal is to review players who might be a part of the 2019/2020 teams.

Keepers and feeling good about it.

Lucas Giolito: Everyone seems to be happy with Giolito, especially after he came up to the big leagues late in the summer. Like many of the guys here, the track record is limited so I'm jumping to conclusions sooner than I'd probably like... but I'm feeling good about Giolito. He far out pitched his peripherals (FIP and DRA) due to running a 2016 Cubs like .189 BABIP. But he didn't walk many guys and the strike outs, while not at a level that one would want a front line starter, his minor league numbers are all excellent, so I'm banking on improvement in the year to come. Again, it's too early to declare what Giolito will or won't be, but he's probably not a #1 starter, but he seems to have #2 upside that's reachable. I'll gladly take that.

I’m just going to pretend everything is a-okay:

Carlos Rodon: This was a lost season for Rodon with two (imo) mysterious injuries to start and end the year. He was pretty bad when he came back in June, had a few nice starts in July and early August, then shut down. Rodon outpitched his peripherals and his walks spiked up from last season's improvement. I'm going to write this year off, take the good feelings from 2016, and hope for good health by the time February and March roll around.

2019/2020 Bullpen?

Reynaldo Lopez: It's far too early to write off Lopez as a starter, but he hasn't been very good in the 47/48 innings he's pitched. His ERA and FIP are pretty much the same (4.72/4.73) but a DRA of 7.12 is bad. He's not really striking anyone out and his ground ball rate, which was pretty low in the high minors, is a ‘how is that possible’ 30% in the majors this year. Despite this, he hasn't been hurt too badly by homers so far. Again it's far too soon to send him to the bullpen, but the very early returns aren't great.

Carson Fulmer: He's on track to only have 7 appearances in the majors this year and around 24 innings, and he was not so good in AAA. But maybe there is something here? He's shown a little life in the majors over the last few weeks, and... maybe he could start? Coop will fix him? I'll keep him in the bullpen for now, but it sure seems like every time I'm ready to move Fulmer to the pen, he does something that makes me think maybe he can start, and then a few months/weeks later I'm ready to put him back in the pen. And honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox trade him in the next year or so.

Might just force his way into the 2019/2020 plan

Juan Minaya: I'm being super aggressive here, but the strike out numbers are good. I'm also looking forward to his 2021 arbitration hearing when he brings up the 7 or 8 saves he had in 2017 as a reason why he should get $750k more than what the Sox/Team B is offering.

2018 plan at least

Zach Putnam: Will probably at least miss half of the season coming off Tommy John and then only one more year of control after next year. But I see no reason to let him walk for nothing just yet.

Nate Jones: The White Sox have a ton more info on Jones' elbow, but I highly doubt they're going to eat his $4m salary. He'll get every opportunity to rebuild his value in 2018 and they'll move him if he does. If not, they'll probably just decline his option in a year.

Danny Farquhar: Someone needs to eat innings out of the pen.

Aaron Bummer: He'll be cheap and he's a lefty. The early returns are fairly ugly. But his K rate isn't as bad as a few other guys out of the pen. Maybe if he figures out how to not give up home runs there is something here... I guess what I'm saying is let's see what he can do for a few more months before we bail.

Gregory Infante: He's older than almost everyone else on this list, but he's pitched well enough to get another crack out of the pen to start the year.

Good luck with the Padres or Tigers I guess?

David Holmberg: I honestly thought he was five years older than he is (he's only 26!). He hasn't been good in nearly 120 major league innings... he doesn't strike anyone out and walks too many guys, though if there is anyone from this group to keep around in 2018 just because you need an arm, he's the guy I guess.

Jake Petricka: the Sox medicals are what matters here, but he was really bad this year and I don't think it's worth the ~$1.2 he'll make next year to find out if he's healthy/fixable.

Chris Beck: He's not any good.

Dylan Covey: He might be worse.

Brad Goldberg: Kudos to Brad for making the majors. That is awesome as most players don't. That said, 3 strike outs and 14 walks in 12 innings is hilariously bad. And he'll be 28 next year... I just don't see the point to be honest.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tyler Danish

Jace Fry: Not enough major league innings in either players case.