MLB Rumors: Steve Cishek to join White Sox despite interest in Red Sox

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Jun 19, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Steve Cishek (41) pitches during the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

It turns out Steve Cishek was too rich for the Boston Red Sox' blood, after all.

The free-agent reliever has agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with the Chicago White Sox that includes a second-year option also worth $6 million, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday.

Cishek, a Falmouth, Mass., native who spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, had expressed interest in signing with the Red Sox in free agency, per The Athletic's Peter Gammons.

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Gammons also noted the right-hander may be out of Boston's price range, however, given the team's stated goal of shedding payroll in 2020 and staying under the luxury tax in Chaim Bloom's first season as chief baseball officer.

Cishek still took a slight pay cut to join the White Sox, as he earned $13 million in base salary over two years with the Cubs with an additional $1 million in incentives.

The White Sox will be Cishek's sixth MLB team entering his 11th MLB season. The 33-year-old put up solid numbers for the Cubs, posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 150 appearances in the last two seasons.

The Red Sox could use that kind of help in the bullpen, which posted a combined 4.40 ERA last season (18th in baseball) and hasn't featured any notable additions yet this offseason.

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