The White Sox reassigned Karinchak to minor-league camp Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Karinchak was erratic during Cactus League play, striking out 11 but also walking nine and allowing eight runs over eight innings. He could eventually get a shot in a White Sox bullpen that lacks talent, but for now, the 29-year-old will pitch at Triple-A Charlotte.

Karinchak signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Saturday that includes an invitation to spring training.

EDGE Analysis

A shoulder injury prevented Karinchak from playing in the minors until the end of last season, but he was effective during his rehab outings, giving up just two runs in 6.2 innings while striking out 12 batters and walking six. The 29-year-old righty owns a 3.10 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 165.2 career innings, and assuming he returns to a similar level of effectiveness post-injury, he should have a solid chance to win a job in Chicago's bullpen.

Karinchak elected free agency Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Karinchak refused an outrighted assignment by the Guardians, opting for free agency instead. He was limited to just seven rehab appearances in 2024 due to a shoulder issue but was pitching in games at the end of the season. Karinchak boasts a 36.3 percent strikeout rate but also a 14.1 percent walk rate over parts of five major-league seasons.

Karinchak (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Sept. 6 and has struck out seven batters over 4.2 innings across five appearances while giving up two earned runs on two hits and five walks.

EDGE Analysis

Karinchak has been on the injured list all season after reporting shoulder fatigue in spring training and being slow to recover from the issue and return to form. While working out at the Guardians' facility in Arizona in August, Karinchak seemed to turn a corner with his rehab program and was given the green light to report to Triple-A earlier this month. His results have been uneven thus far, but manager Stephen Vogt hasn't dismissed the possibility of Karinchak being an option out of the big-league bullpen before the regular season ends Sept. 29, per MLB.com.

Karinchak (shoulder) has been working out at Cleveland's spring training facility in Arizona, but he may not pitch for the Guardians before the end of the season, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

With a 3.10 ERA and 22.2 K-BB% in 174 career relief appearances over five seasons in the majors, Karinchak has often been a dominant bullpen arm when available, but shoulder problems cost him a large chunk of the 2022 campaign and cropped up again in spring training. Though the Guardians have classified his injury as fatigue rather than something more severe, Karinchak has made minimal progress since being cleared to resume a throwing program March 11. According to the report, the quality and shape of the right-hander's pitches have degraded, and the team has thus far been unwilling to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Karinchak will continue to work with the staff in Arizona in hopes of regaining his form.

The Guardians placed Karinchak on the 60-day injured list Thursday with right shoulder inflammation.

EDGE Analysis

According to MLB.com, Karinchak reported to camp dealing with right shoulder fatigue, but he made enough progress to get clearance to begin a throwing program March 11. The Guardians' decision to have Karinchak open the season on the 60-day IL perhaps signals that his throwing sessions aren't going as well as hoped, as he won't be eligible to make his 2024 debut until late May. Karinchak will likely continue to build back up at the Guardians' spring training facility in Arizona over the next few weeks before potentially heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Karinchak (shoulder) has been cleared to begin a throwing progression Monday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Karinchak had been shut down from throwing all spring after he had been experiencing right shoulder fatigue prior to reporting to camp. Since he's projected to serve as a one-inning reliever for Cleveland once healthy, Karinchak won't require as extensive of a ramp-up program as a starting pitcher, but with Opening Day approximately two and a half weeks away, the right-hander may not be ready to go by the time the Guardians open the regular season. Provided that he navigates his throwing program free of setbacks, Karinchak should be in store for only a brief stint on the IL to begin the season if the Guardians opt not to include him on the Opening Day roster.

Karinchak is behind schedule due to right shoulder fatigue, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Karinchak came into camp with the issue and will be held out of workouts for a few days. The hope is that he can resume throwing before long and that this will wind up being just a little bump in the road.

Karinchak signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Karinchak walked 28 batters across 39 innings in 2023, but he still managed a solid 3.23 ERA with 52 strikeouts. While Emmanuel Clase is almost certainly locked into the closer role in Cleveland, Karinchak could be a decent source of holds.

Karinchak (2-5) allowed a run on two hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Tuesday versus the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Karinchak had posted 3.2 scoreless innings over his first four appearances back in the majors before faltering in the fifth inning Tuesday. The right-hander is now at a 3.29 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 52:25 K:BB with 13 holds and two blown saves over 38.1 innings this season. Karinchak is mostly seeing low-leverage work to finish the campaign.