CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have acquired veteran left-handed relief pitcher Jake Diekman from Boston in exchange for catcher Reese McGuire and a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Diekman, 35, is 5-1 with a 4.23 ERA (18 ER/38.1 IP), 51 strikeouts (11.97 per 9.0 IP) and 12 holds over 44 appearances this season, his first with the Red Sox. His 44 appearances lead the Red Sox and are tied for eighth in the American League.
Diekman, 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, has limited opponents to a .203 (27-133) average in 2022, including a .188 (9-48) mark with zero home runs allowed to left-handers. He has not allowed a homer to the last 113 lefties he has faced.
Diekman is 25-26 with a 3.77 ERA (207 ER/494.1 IP), 632 strikeouts (11.51 per 9.0 IP), 15 saves and 167 holds over 11 major-league seasons with Philadelphia (2012-15), Texas (2015-18), Arizona (2018), Kansas City (2019), Oakland (2019-21) and the Red Sox (2022). He leads all active lefties in holds and ranks fourth in appearances.
Diekman has made 60-plus appearances in a season six times (70-plus three times) and has recorded 15-plus holds in a season six times, tying for the MLB lead with 31 in 2019. Since 2019, he leads all MLB relievers with 70 holds and is tied for third with 208 appearances. Diekman has 13 games of postseason experience with the Rangers (2015-16) and A’s (2019-20).
Diekman agreed to terms on a two-year contract with a club option for 2024 on March 16, 2022.
McGuire, 27, is batting .225/.261/.285 (34-151) with nine doubles, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored in 53 games this season, his first with the White Sox.
