Just last week, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito expressed his frustration with the team to reporters during spring training. Giolito is frustrated over going to arbitration with the White Sox and wanted something done.
“It is very disheartening and frustrating,” Giolito said via 670 The Score. “I love this team and before the filing to come down to a $50K difference, it’s like, ‘Come on.’ It’s just an upsetting part of the process.” Giolito certainly has a right to be upset about such a small amount being the reason both parties were destined to an arbitration hearing.
After last weeks reports that the White Sox and their ace Lucas Giolito failed to come to an agreement to avoid arbitration, it seemed like an arbitration hearing was inevitable for Giolito. It was reported widely that the difference was a mere 50k between the White Sox and Giolito. Fortunately, both sides have now come to an agreement on a 7.45 million dollar, one year deal.
The #WhiteSox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $7.45-million contract with right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito for the 2022 season, avoiding arbitration.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 1, 2022
This is a good step forward between both parties to hopefully work out a longer term deal in the near future. That would be one of the next key moves for the White Sox to make is to lock up their ace to a multi year contract while they are still in their championship window. Whether or not they sign Giolito to an extension remains to be seen, we all saw what happened with Carlos Rodon this off-season.
With Giolito coming to an agreement with the team, all White Sox players that were eligible for arbitration, have avoided going to arbitration hearings.
Although the opening starter has not yet been officially announced, it is presumed that Lucas Giolito will get the ball for the first game of the season in Detroit, April 8th.
In other news, Garrett Crochet left a spring training game early with the trainer, and their are rumblings that it may be a serious injury that will sideline the hard throwing lefty. The Sox are fairly thin when it comes to left handed relievers, so a move may have to be made to compensate the loss of Crochet if he’s out a long duration of time.
As opening day approaches, the White Sox also optioned players Jake Burger, Zach Collins, Jimmy Lambert, Matt Foster, and newly acquired outfielder Adam Haseley to AAA Charlotte. It would seem that catcher Seby Zavala may be winning out the competition for backup catcher this year.
Once official rosters are announced for the season, we will know more.
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