CHICAGO (WGN) — In a flurry of minor moves on Monday, the Chicago White Sox claimed a relief pitcher off waivers from the Houston Astros, in addition to a pair of relievers electing to become free agents instead of accepting assignments from the club.
The White Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Penn Murfee off waivers from the Astros.
Murfee, 30, spent all of 2024 on the IL recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in July 2023.
From 2022-23, Murfee went 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA over 80 appearances and 83.1 IP with the Seattle Mariners. He also registered 92 strikeouts over the same timeframe.
Right-handed pitchers Matt Foster and Jimmy Lambert elected to pursue free agency in lieu of accepting outright assignments from Chicago.
Foster made six appearances (one start) with the White Sox last season, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA over 6.2 IP and four strikeouts before undergoing season-ending back surgery on Sept. 25.
He began the season on the injured list as he continued his recovery from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow performed in April 2023.
Lambert spent the entire 2024 season on the 60-day injured list with right rotator cuff strain and underwent season-ending surgery on Aug. 24.
Although incremental, claiming Murfee shows the wheels have already started to turn on Chicago’s offseason plans when it comes to their roster.
Coming off the worst regular season in modern Major League Baseball history, the White Sox have a myriad of issues to address, but perhaps the easiest of those issues to attack would be finding immediate improvements in the bullpen.
The South Siders were tops in MLB in blown saves (37), while also finishing dead last in saves (21), alongside finishing bottom three in bullpen ERA (4.75, 30th), home runs allowed (82, T-31st) and walks surrendered (338, 32nd).