Noah Syndergaard hasn’t thrown a major-league pitch since 2023 and has only appeared in 45 big-league games since 2019. But the White Sox have taken a flier on the former All-Star, who dazzled with the Mets in the middle of the last decade before injuries derailed his career.
The team added the 32-year-old right-hander on a minor-league deal Tuesday, perhaps in hopes that he’ll contribute in the same way that veteran arms Adrian Houser and Aaron Civale already have this season.
“He’s got some work to do,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “We’ll get him stretched out, and [there are] a couple of things that I know we’ve highlighted [that] we want to work on with him and see where we’re at.”
If Syndergaard successfully leaps from the Sox’ spring complex in Arizona to the majors and the South Side, he could provide the kind of relief for young starters that the Sox have touted as the benefit of adding seasoned pitchers such as Houser and Civale.
“Those were really motivating factors in us bringing in an Adrian Houser, making a trade for Civale — for us to comfortably give those guys a break when it’s needed,” general manager Chris Getz said Monday.
The Sox began the season with a highly inexperienced rotation. Martin Perez was signed to eat innings for a staff long on potential but short on certainty. But he injured his forearm and hasn’t pitched since mid-April.
The Sox picked up Houser and Civale along the way, and, much like Perez, their status as reliable veterans goes hand-in-hand with the potential to turn them into something at the trade deadline. Syndergaard would have to reach the bigs at lightning speed in order for that to happen. But even if the Sox can’t trade him, they could use him to aid a group of young starters racking up innings — especially if Houser and Civale are both moved this summer.
Syndergaard is a notable name and the latest addition on this front, but he might not be the last.
“We’re always monitoring what’s going on,” Getz said. “Any move we made . . . the biggest value is being able to protect some of our young arms.”
Tauchman returns
Outfielder Mike Tauchman missed four games after injuring his groin last week. He returned to the lineup Tuesday night in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Diamondbacks, serving as the designated hitter and going 1-for-4.
He’d already been to the IL twice this season with a pair of hamstring strains.
“That was really frustrating,” he said. “This is certainly unique, the amount of soft-tissue issues that I’ve had.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate in my career, put a lot of effort into staying on the field, playing a certain style of baseball. Not being able to completely play that way this year has been frustrating, and a little bit mentally taxing.”
Vasil back to his old self
Tuesday’s loss was a bullpen game for the Sox that included another stellar outing of long relief from Mike Vasil, who threw 5„ innings, allowing one earned run.
Vasil (3-3) bounced back after allowing six runs to the Cardinals his last time out. Tuesday was his 10th appearance of the season in which he pitched at least three innings and allowed two earned runs or fewer. His ERA dropped to 2.82.