A Familiar Arm Finds a New Home! After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, former Cleveland Guardians pitcher Mike Clevinger is set to bring his talents to the Pittsburgh Pirates. This move marks a new chapter for the veteran right-hander, who inked a minor league deal that includes an invitation to the Pirates' spring training camp.
Clevinger, now 35 years old, has had a notable career in Major League Baseball. His most recent experience was with the White Sox, where he appeared in eight games at the start of the 2025 season. While his numbers in relief for Chicago were a bit shaky, with a 7.94 ERA in just 5.2 innings, he spent the bulk of his time at Triple-A Charlotte. There, he showcased his potential, achieving a solid 7-3 record, a 4.20 ERA, and striking out 93 batters in 22 starts. This suggests that while he might be working on his big-league command, his underlying stuff remains potent.
But here's where it gets interesting for fans of his past teams: Clevinger's journey before Chicago included two seasons with the San Diego Padres. And before that? He was a key part of the Cleveland Guardians (then known as the Indians) for over four seasons, from 2016 to 2020. Remember the big trade in August 2020? That's when Clevinger, along with Greg Allen and Matt Waldron, headed to San Diego in a significant deal that brought Josh Naylor, Austin Hedges, Cal Quantrill, Owen Miller, Gabriel Arias, and Joey Cantillo to Cleveland. It was a trade that reshaped both organizations!
Looking at his overall MLB career, Clevinger has compiled an impressive 60 wins against 44 losses across nine seasons. He boasts a career ERA of 3.55 and has racked up an incredible 822 strikeouts in 809.2 innings pitched over 164 games, with 142 of those being starts. These are the numbers of a pitcher who has consistently demonstrated high-level performance.
And this is the part most people miss: While his recent ERA with the White Sox might raise an eyebrow, his Triple-A performance indicates he still has plenty of gas in the tank. The Pirates are betting on that potential. Is this a savvy move by Pittsburgh to snag a proven arm on a low-risk deal, or is Clevinger's best pitching days behind him? What do you think about this signing? Let us know in the comments below!
