Bryan

Shaw

Shaw is now 37 and has bounced around from organization to organization over the past few years. He spent 2024 in the White Sox organization before signing with the Angels shortly after being released by Chicago, and he was released by Los Angeles before making an appearance. Shaw will get an opportunity to win one of the final spots in the Cincinnati bullpen with a good showing in Arizona.

Shaw signed a minor league pact with the Angels back in mid-April and never wound up making it back to the big leagues. The 36-year-old veteran reliever has made 796 appearances in the big leagues dating back to 2011. He posted a 4.14 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 34/28 K/BB ratio across 41 1/3 innings (39 appearances) this season at the Triple-A level. If this is the end, it was quite a ride.

Shaw elected free agency after the White Sox designated him for assignment. The 36-year-old veteran will start in the Angels’ farm system as a depth piece for their bullpen.

Shaw has refused an outright minor league assignment after being removed from Chicago’s 40-man roster earlier this week. The 36-year-old veteran right-hander went unclaimed on waivers, but should be able to latch on somewhere else as extra organizational relief depth.

The 36-year-old hurler gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits in just 1/3 of an inning against the Guardians on Wednesday and that appears to have been the last straw for White Sox’ management. In all, he posted a 9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP and a 4/4 K/BB ratio over four innings with the squad this season. He could attract some interest on waivers with so many teams starved for bullpen depth.

Shaw has been officially added to Chicago’s season-opening roster after re-signing with the White Sox back in mid-February on a minor league deal. It’ll be his 14th season in the big leagues. The 36-year-old veteran righty posted a serviceable 4.14 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 40/17 K/BB ratio across 45 2/3 innings (38 appearances) last year for Chicago.

The 36-year-old hurler came on in a scoreless game in the third inning and proceeded to allow a leadoff walk to light-hitting catcher Tucker Barnhart. After punching out Jorge Barrosa, Shaw surrendered back-to-back singles to Ketel Marte and Jake McCarthy to push a run across. He then rebounded to get Joc Pederson to ground into an inning-ending double play to prevent any further damage. Shaw, like most of the candidates to open the year as the White Sox’ closer, has now stumbled out of the gate.

Brebbia’s absence opens the door for veterans like Bryan Shaw or Jesse Chavez to potentially open the regular season as Chicago’s primary closer. There likely won’t be a ton of save chances for the White Sox, but at this juncture it seems highly unlikely that the 33-year-old righty will be ready for the outset of the 2024 campaign. There should be some clarity on his potential return timeline once he’s cleared to resume throwing in a few weeks.

If Brebbia isn’t ready, the job might default to Bryan Shaw and/or Jesse Chavez initially, though there’s hope that one or two of the youngsters will step up this spring. Brebbia still seems like the only White Sox reliever worth selecting in mixed leagues right now.

Shaw returns for a potential 14th season in the big leagues, if he makes Chicago’s season-opening roster. The 36-year-old veteran reliever notched a career-high four saves this past season for the White Sox to accompany a respectable 4.14 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 40/17 K/BB ratio across 45 2/3 innings (38 appearances). If he still has anything left in the tank, he could wind up pitching in high-leverage spots this upcoming season.