Pedro Grifol moves forward with Clevinger in rotation that originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Mike Clevinger is still under MLB investigation over domestic violence allegations, but White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that the team is preparing for Mike Clevinger to pitch for them this season.
“We signed him to be part of the rotation,” Grifol said. “He IS here in camp and working to be part of it, an important part.”
White Sox GM Rick Hahn explained that the White Sox can only wait for MLB to conclude its investigation and for MLB to announce what those conclusions mean for Clevinger’s future.
“Under the terms of the collective bargaining policy, it is the sole discretion of the disciplinary commissioner to discipline a player under investigation, following the conclusion of an investigation,” Hahn said. “At this point, the White Sox options are the same as they have been through this process since Mike joined us and this is to respect the process and the investigation and let it play out. This is the club’s only option Obviously, the confidentiality element of the investigation is essential to its success and the strength of the policy is one that we will continue to abide by.”
The White Sox signed Clevinger to a one-year, $12 million deal in December and said they were unaware of any domestic violence allegations. Hahn also addressed questions about White Sox due diligence before signing Clevinger, citing the league’s confidentiality policy for allegations and investigations such as these.
“There was no way for us to know about this incident without someone violating that policy and knowing it was, which, again, is part of the strength of the policy.”
Reports of the investigation first surfaced in an article published by The Athletic in January. Detailed in the report are two cases of domestic violence. Clevinger addressed the White Sox on Wednesday and shared that he is confident he will be exonerated when MLB finishes its investigation.
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Grifol said he didn’t believe the domestic violence allegations and investigation would be a distraction in the White Sox clubhouse.
“It’s available right now, and if by any chance it’s not available we’ll discuss it as an organization and address it then,” Grifol said when asked if he has a backup plan for the rotation if Clevinger is regulated by the league. “But right now it’s part of this rotation and we’re moving forward with it.”
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