Giolito avoids arbitration with one-year deal
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In 2022, Lucas Giolito and the White Sox didn’t work out a deal prior to the deadline for arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures. However, Giolito didn’t end up going to an arbitration hearing, as he eventually signed for $7.45 million last April 1, one week before the start of the season.
This year -- Giolito’s third of arbitration eligibility -- the process didn’t last nearly as long for the 28-year-old right-hander.
Giolito agreed to a $10.4 million deal for the 2023 season on Friday. Chicago also agreed to terms with its four other arbitration-eligible players prior to the deadline to exchange salary figures. Dylan Cease will make $5.7 million in 2023, while fellow right-handers Reynaldo López ($3.625 million), Michael Kopech ($2.05 million) and José Ruiz ($925,000) also all worked out deals.
Like Giolito, López was in his third year of arbitration eligibility. Cease, Kopech and Ruiz were all arbitration-eligible for the first time.
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Giolito, who will enter free agency at the end of the season, has been a steady presence in Chicago’s rotation, having made 134 starts over the past five seasons. However, he’ll be looking to have a bounce-back showing in the final year of his contract, as he struggled a bit in '22, posting a 4.90 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP over 30 games.
Cease had a tremendous showing last season, when he finished second in American League Cy Young Award voting. The 27-year-old set career bests in ERA (2.20), WHIP (1.11), strikeouts (227) and innings pitched (184).
López made a full-time move to the bullpen in 2022, and the 29-year-old thrived in that role. He posted career bests in ERA (2.76) and WHIP (0.95) while striking out 63 in 65 1/3 innings over 61 appearances.
After mostly pitching in relief in 2021, Kopech fared well upon a move to the rotation in '22, pitching to a 3.54 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 25 starts. The 26-year-old struck out 105 in 119 1/3 innings.
Ruiz made a career-high 63 appearances out of the bullpen last season, recording a 4.60 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Over the past two years, the 28-year-old has 131 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings over 122 games.