Chicago White Sox designate Dallas Keuchel for assignment

It’s been a rough go in Chicago for former Arkansas star Dallas Keuchel. Saturday, that era came to an end.

The White Sox announced they designated Keuchel for assignment on Saturday. He was in his third season with the team after signing a three-year, $55 million contract ahead of the 2020 season.

In his time with the White Sox, Keuchel had a 17-16 record with a 4.79 ERA. But this year wasn’t going well as he had a 2-5 mark with a 7.88 ERA in eight starts with Chicago. His time on the Southside started with a 1.99 ERA in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, but it jumped to 5.28 last season before increasing one again this year. In his most recent start, Keuchel allowed six runs in two innings against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.

While at Arkansas from 2007 to 2009 and helped the Razorbacks to two wins in the 2009 College World Series. During his time in Fayetteville, he totaled 19 wins and a 4.56 ERA in 234.2 innings pitched. The Houston Astros drafted him in the seventh round of the 2009 MLB Draft and he played in Houston from 2012 to 2018 after getting called up from the minors.

He helped the Astros to a World Series title in 2017, but it got overshadowed by allegations of sign-stealing. After the 2018 season, Keuchel signed with the Atlanta Braves for one year before heading to Chicago.

In a corresponding move, Chicago called up Danny Mendick from Triple-A Charlotte.

The White Sox are having a down year in Year 2 of the second go-round with Tony La Russa at the helm. They have a 22-22 record and are currently in second place in the American League Central standings behind the Minnesota Twins. They are getting ready to start a series on against crosstown-rival Chicago Cubs Saturday at 7:15 p.m. CT.