Mike Clevinger investigation casts pall over White Sox spring training

Mike Clevinger

The day when pitchers and catchers report to spring training is supposed to be one of the happiest days on the calendar for baseball fans.

But not for a lot of White Sox fans. Not this year. The 2023 season is starting with a dark cloud over Sox camp in Glendale, Ariz. Most of the questions on Wednesday's first day of workouts for pitchers and catchers centered on MLB's investigation into domestic abuse allegations made against pitcher Mike Clevinger.

In fact, 25 minutes of general manager Rick Hahn's 35-minute-long press availability was devoted to answering questions about Clevinger.

Not that Hahn said much, or even could say much. The Sox are (rightfully) being questioned about their processes when performing background checks on free agents. Clevinger has been under investigation since last season, when he was a member of the San Diego Padres, but that somehow escaped Hahn's attention before he added Clevinger to the roster.

Hahn said Wednesday that the Sox have no other option but to let the process play out. On that point, I would say he is correct.

According to the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, the commissioner’s office holds sole authority to discipline players for violating the policy, unless it transfers the authority over to the team. 

That policy is collectively bargained. It must be adhered to, and at this time, the commissioner's office has not placed Clevinger on administrative leave, nor has it transferred authority over to the Sox.

Thus, Clevinger reported to Sox camp Wednesday and took questions from the media. During that session, he denied any wrongdoing -- as expected -- and, on the advice of his attorneys, didn't say much about the allegations or the investigation. 

Bottom line: The Sox can't hand out any discipline here, because they would be in violation of the collective bargaining agreement. They could just cut Clevinger, but if they did, they would still be on the hook for paying him his $12 million salary, and they would open themselves up to a grievance or a lawsuit from Clevinger.

The Sox are basically stuck because they signed a free agent they never should have signed, and they are taking all of us on an express elevator to hell with them. It's Day 1, and everyone's already pissed off.