The Chicago White Sox made an unexpected move this week by designating veteran right-hander for assignment.
After clearing waivers on Friday, He was released and is now a free agent.
The 33-year-old signed a minor league deal with Chicago over the winter and has been excellent in his first season with the club, logging 28 appearances with a 2.48 ERA across 29 innings. His path this year, however, has been anything but straightforward.
He initially opted out of his contract in March before re-signing on another minor league pact, was released again in May without appearing in the majors, and later rejoined the team on a big league deal.
Now hitting free agency for the third time since March, Altavilla will likely look for a landing spot with a contender. Meanwhile, the White Sox, improved from their disastrous 121-loss campaign last year, still own the American League’s worst record at 57-90.
Despite Chicago’s struggles, Altavilla has enjoyed a standout season. His 2.48 ERA is on track to be his best since his 2016 rookie campaign, when he posted a 0.73 mark over 12.1 innings.
Dan Altavilla Career
Dan Altavilla was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB Draft and made his big-league debut two years later, posting an impressive rookie campaign. His success didn’t last long, though.
After finishing the 2018 season with a 2.61 ERA over 20.2 innings, he went on to record an ERA above 5.50 every year until 2025. Stops with the Padres, Red Sox, and Royals failed to recapture his early form, and Tommy John surgery in June 2021—which sidelined him through 2022—further derailed his career.
Now, Altavilla has retooled his approach, working with a balanced four-pitch mix. He throws his four-seam fastball 26.1% of the time and his changeup 23%, while also mixing in a sinker and a slider, the latter being his weakest pitch.
He’ll now search for his next opportunity, possibly joining a contender down the stretch. However, because he wasn’t on a roster before Sept. 1, he would be ineligible to pitch in the postseason.
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