Why the White Sox may sign-and-flip free-agent lefty Derek Holland
The free agent lefty is reportedly finalizing a deal with the rebuilding Sox
By
Matt Snyder
•
1 min read
The White Sox are close to signing free-agent left-handed starting pitcher Derek Holland, reports Scott Merkin of whitesox.com. The deal will be for one year and $6 million plus the possibility for $2 million more in incentives, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
On the surface, this fills the rotation void left by fellow southpaw Chris Sale, who was recently traded to the Red Sox. We can look deeper and see where this is headed, though. The White Sox seem to have started a rebuilding project and should continue it (Mike Axisa has the best trade fits for some of the best trade pieces).
Holland on a one-year deal fits right in with that philosophy.
First off, a rebuilding team needs MLB innings from somewhere. A veteran with a decent-to-good track record is a guy who can eat up some innings for the club. Secondly, if he has a good first half, then he can be traded for a lottery-ticket type player or two. Obviously this is an extreme example, but remember the Cubs got Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop for a few months of Scott Feldman.
That is the ceiling with a Derek Holland signing for a club in a rebuild: Give the guy a one-year deal and he doesn't impact the future at all, while also providing the opportunity that someone coughs up a possible future piece in June or July.
Holland, 30, was 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 107 1/3 innings in 2016. He hasn't been able to get himself back to normal from injuries in 2014 and the ensuing seasons. In 2013, Holland had a 3.42 ERA (120 ERA+) in 213 innings.
Again, this is an upside play with very little downside for the White Sox, as they don't expect to contend in 2017.
