Phillies Hot Stove: Club Scouts White Sox Closer RHP Alex Colomé

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

To no surprise, the Philadelphia Phillies — amid their many injuries to the bullpen, including David Robertson, Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter — are doing their due diligence by exploring potential trade options around the league.

Earlier this week (May 27-29), Phillies scouts, along with those of the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, and two National League East rivals — the New York Mets and Washington Nationals — recently attended the Chicago White Sox' three-game home series against the Kansas City Royals to see closer Alex Colomé, according to 670 The Score.

The right-hander appeared in every game in the series and earned one win and two saves; in three innings, he allowed only a single, no runs and no walks, while striking out three of his 10 batters faced.




Colomé, 30, is reportedly drawing "ample trade interest." He has appeared in 266 combined games and has logged 107 saves while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox since his May 2013 debut. In 2016, the right-hander earned his first and only All-Star nod, finishing the season with 37 saves in 40 opportunities. A year later, Colomé bested his previous season's performance by saving a MLB-best 47 games out of 53 overall opportunities.

The seven-year veteran is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 0.574 WHIP ratio through his 23 appearances, 21 games finished and 11 saves in as many opportunities with the White Sox this season.

The Score writes:

It remains unclear what path the White Sox will take with Colome's future. The argument that he helps with the team's rebuild by instilling confidence in a young pitching staff has its merit. So too does the possibility of adding more young talent in a potential trade, as those prospects may be on a better timeline with the organization's young core.

The trade market for Colome could really heat up about a week from now. The amateur draft begins Monday evening, and after 11:01 p.m. CT passes that night, free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel will no longer have draft pick compensation attached as a penalty for signing him. He's expected to sign with a team in the ensuing days, and once the top option is off the market, rivals teams could turn more attention to the likes of Colome.

Colomé has already been dealt twice since last May, and could soon be on the move a third time by the July 31 deadline. He will make $7.3 million this season and arbitration eligible for 2020, before becoming a free agent ahead of the 2021 season.

Go to top button