JAMES KARINCHAK NEWS

Lands deal with Atlanta Karinchak signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Impact Karinchak will receive a new opportunity with Atlanta after failing to make his way to the big leagues while with the White Sox during the 2025 campaign. His last major-league action dates back to the 2023 campaign while with Cleveland, posting a 3.23 ERA with a 52:28 K:BB across 39.0 innings. Karinchak will presumably begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett and serve as organizational depth.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cut by Chicago The White Sox released Karinchak on Sunday.

Impact Though Karinchak owns a career 3.31 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 174 career appearances in the big leagues, he hasn't surfaced in the majors since 2023 while struggling to return to form following a shoulder injury that kept him out for most of 2024. Karinchak has been able to stay healthy this season after failing to win a spot on the White Sox's Opening Day roster, but a bloated 16.5 percent walk rate over 29.1 innings at Charlotte took much of the shine away from his 2.45 ERA. Since a promotion to the big leagues wasn't imminent, the White Sox elected to cut Karinchak loose and allow him to pursue work elsewhere.

JUNE 16 • ROTOWIRE

Fails to make Opening Day roster The White Sox reassigned Karinchak to minor-league camp Wednesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Impact Karinchak was erratic during Cactus League play, striking out 11 but also walking nine and allowing eight runs over eight innings of work. 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.

MARCH 26 • ROTOWIRE

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

Impact 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 little trouble winning a job in Chicago's bullpen.

JANUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Elects free agency Karinchak elected free agency Monday.

Impact 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.

NOVEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Rehabbing at Triple-A 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 r...

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Uncertain to pitch in 2024 Karinchak (shoulder) has been working out at Cleveland's spring training facility in Arizona, but the Guardians are uncertain if he'll be able to pitch for the big club at any poin...

Impact With a 3.10 ERA and 22.2 K-BB% over 174 career relief appearances over parts of five seasons in the majors, Karinchak has often been a dominant bullpen arm for the Guardians 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 Karinchak's pitches haven't looked like they have in the past, and the Guardians have thus far been unwilling to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Karinchak will continue to work with the Cleveland staff in Arizona with the hope of regaining form.

AUGUST 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Injured Guardians reliever will travel with team to Atlanta and Texas James Karinchak is on the injured list, but will travel with Cleveland when it starts a six-game trip in Atlanta on Friday.

APRIL 25, 2024 • CLEVELAND.COM

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

Impact 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.

MARCH 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians Provide Injury Update On James Karinchak Stephen Vogt reveals that Cleveland Guardians pitcher James Karinchak is still rehabbing a shoulder injury.

FEBRUARY 27, 2024 • KANSASCITY.COM

Guardians' James Karinchak 'Doing Really Well' With Shoulder Injury Progression Stephen Vogt says the Cleveland Guardians pitcher James Karinchak “is doing really well” after starting spring training with shoulder fatigu...

FEBRUARY 19, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Agrees to terms for 2024 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.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dealt fifth loss 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.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to majors Karinchak was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Impact Karinchak holds a 3.44 ERA with 46 strikeouts over 34 innings with the Guardians this season, although he's also walked 23 batters. He'll probably be used in middle relief.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians add Lucas Giolito to 28-man roster, option James Karinchak to Triple-A The Guardians claimed Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore on waivers from the Angels on Thursday.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • CLEVELAND.COM

Optioned to Triple-A Karinchak was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Impact Lucas Giolito will take Karinchak's place on the active roster. Karinchak had a 1.42 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and eight strikeouts in 6.1 innings over six appearances since being recalled Aug. 18.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians Bring James Karinchak Back To Major League Roster The Cleveland Guardians recall right-handed pitcher James Karinchak from Triple-A.

AUGUST 18, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

To be recalled Friday Karinchak is expected to be recalled Friday from Triple-A Columbus, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Impact Karinchak has struggled to a 5.12 ERA in 19.1 innings at the Triple-A level since the Guardians demoted him in early June, but he's needed as a replacement for Michael Kelly (back), who will head to the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.

AUGUST 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Karinchak was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Impact Karinchak's 32 appearances are tied for the league lead, and while he hasn't been as dominant this season, his 3.90 ERA is still a solid mark. He does have a career-high 16.1 percent walk rate, however, and while his 32.2 percent strikeout rate would be high for most pitchers, it's a career low in his case. His demotion may not be performance-related, however, as the Guardians may simply be looking to bring in some fresh arms. Karinchak has options remaining and has pitched on five of the last seven days, so he was unlikely to be an option for the next game or two. Tim Herrin was called up to take his place in the bullpen.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians demote erratic reliever James Karinchak to minors The Guardians optioned struggling reliever James Karinchak to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday after his latest erratic outing.

JUNE 10, 2023 • BEACONJOURNAL.COM

Guardians option reliever James Karinchak to minors after latest ineffective outing

Cleveland Guardians reliever James Karinchak has been optioned to the minor leagues following his latest ineffective outing

JUNE 10, 2023 • Associated Press

Guardians Option James Karinchak In Roster Move, Call Up Tim Herrin The Cleveland Guardians send James Karinchak to Triple-A Columbus.

JUNE 10, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Guardians Option James Karinchak In Roster Move, Call Up Tim Herrin The Cleveland Guardians send James Karinchak to Triple-A Columbus.

JUNE 10, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Picks up win Karinchak (2-4) earned the win over the Twins on Sunday after tossing a scoreless sixth inning. He allowed a hit and struck out two.

Impact Karinchak was the first name called out of the bullpen after Triston McKenzie's day was done following five dominant frames. He allowed a leadoff single but was able to get through the inning unscathed. The 29-year-old has not allowed a run over his last seven outings and has picked up two holds and a win over that span. For the year, Karinchak owns a 3.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 36:16 K:BB and has 11 holds over 25.2 innings.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

While James Karinchak has struggled, Enyel De Los Santos and Xzavion Curry have stepped up The back end of the Guardians bullpen hasn't been quite as rock solid as in the past, though others have stepped into larger roles.

MAY 30, 2023 • BEACONJOURNAL.COM