The White Sox announced Tuesday that they signed left-hander Sean Newcomb to a one-year, $4.5 million contract.
It’s not quite a press conference for Munetaka Murakami, but the Sox needed another reliable arm on their pitching staff.
To make room on the 40-man roster, Ryan Rolison — who the team claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Dec. 12 — was designated for assignment. Newcomb’s 1.75 ERA from May 29 to the end of the season was the seventh-best mark among relievers.
Newcomb was 2-5 with a 2.73 ERA with the Red Sox and A’s. He had a 23.3% strikeout rate, which was in the 55th percentile according to Baseball Savant, and a 7.9% walk rate (51st percentile). He could have good value for the Sox as a lefty who limits barrels and induces groundballs.
Newcomb was drafted No. 15 overall in the 2014 MLB Draft. He started 49 games over his first two seasons but just 16 over the next seven seasons. The Sox used right-hander Bryse Wilson in a similar swingman role last season.
Newcome is a Massachusetts native like Sean Burke, Shane Smith and Mike Vasil.
Newcomb adds a veteran presence to the Sox pitching staff, no matter how they utilize him.