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Noah Syndergaard pitches in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on July 31, 2023.

On Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox announced the signing of former MLB All-Star Noah Syndergaard to a minor-league contract. The 32-year-old right-hander, best known for his dominant early career with the Mets, hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2023.

He posted a steep 6.50 ERA across 18 starts with the Dodgers and Guardians that year, followed by his release. Yet Chicago believes there’s still upside in the veteran ace who once touched triple digits on the radar, making it a low-risk gamble with potentially high reward.

Simplifying a Complex Past

White Sox manager Will Venable has been clear on their approach: make things simpler. “He has tried to make a lot of adjustments over the last couple years…it’s just going to be about simplifying his mix and getting him downhill and just sinker, slider, just trying to keep it simple,” Venable said. That shift reflects a return to Syndergaard’s prior strengths–power pitching and a classic two-pitch combo. The team hopes this back-to-basics strategy will revive his lost velocity and consistency.

According to MLB’s Jon Heyman, Syndergaard will earn $30K per month in the minors, with a prorated $1.75M major-league base salary if called up. Incentives include $50K for 40 innings pitched, $100K at both 55 and 75 innings. Plus, there’s a release clause if he isn’t in Chicago’s majors by August 1. This setup gives Syndergaard both motivation and flexibility to prove he belongs.

“It’s huge for us to be able to survive the season,” Venable said. “We are going to need a lot of help and to be able to bring in veteran guys who can navigate a Major League game even without their best stuff. We’ve seen it with the veteran guys we have brought in.”

Veteran Depth for Young Starters

This move aligns with Chicago’s broader roster strategy. They recently added veterans like Adrian Houser, Tyler Alexander, and Aaron Civale to manage starter workloads. As GM Chris Getz explained, the goal is to alleviate young arms during critical stretches. Syndergaard represents a high-upside add to that mix–an experienced arm who could bridge gaps or step in when needed, all without committing significant payroll.

Syndergaard’s performances have dropped since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020, and he suffered additional shoulder and finger issues during the 2023 season. According to MLB Trade Rumors, he “has pitched only 225 1/3 innings in the majors since his Tommy John surgery.” His high ERA and injury history raise questions. But the White Sox are betting that a refined pitch plan and recovery time could restore a version of the “Thor” that once struck fear into lineups.

He will first report to the White Sox’s spring training complex in Arizona, where he’ll begin a ramp-up program before any potential minor-league assignment is scheduled.

For Syndergaard, this is a fresh start and an opportunity to revive his career. A return to form in Chicago–which has a supportive marketplace and a chance to work with veteran guides–could propel him into contention for a midseason promotion. At this stage, it’s about one step at a time: gain innings, show competitive form, and potentially earn a spot in the majors again.

Proven Track Record

In January 2017, the White Sox inked veteran reliever Anthony Swarzak to a minor-league contract. Swarzak embraced the opportunity, delivered outstanding performances in spring training, and earned a spot in the bullpen.

Once called up, he posted a 2.23 ERA and 1.034 WHIP across 41 games for the White Sox–one of the best seasons of his career. His success helped stabilize the bullpen, bought time for younger arms, and added value to a rebuilding roster before he was shipped off in a mid-season trade.

After finishing 78–84 in 2016, the Sox dropped to 67–95 in 2017, but their bullpen gains were essential for development.

Swarzak’s story offers a blueprint for how the organization can approach Syndergaard’s return: bring in veteran talent on a low-risk deal, allow them to find their footing in the minors or spring camp, and reap the benefits if a resurgence occurs–or flip them later if value spikes.

Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski

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