As it turns out, being DFA'd by the Chicago White Sox is not lonelier and lower than spending time with the Chicago White Sox, as former New York Yankees reliever Ron Marinaccio learned once and for all on Friday.
Marinaccio's time in the Bronx came to an unceremonious end last September after a roller coaster ride from Scranton to the bigs overwhelmed his 2023-24 campaigns. He hit the waiver wire and was nabbed by the White Sox, which did mean he was highly coveted; with the worst record in the game, they had top priority. It also meant he'd be stuck with a hapless group; Sox GM Chris Getz recently said his team's "heavy lifting" is done this offseason, prompting a 120-decibel chorus of, "...what?" in response.
The Toms River right-hander never ended up pitching for the club, though, and instead found himself chopped this week to make room for Martín Pérez in Chicago's trade deadline plans -- sorry, "rotation".
With every bleak door that closes, though, another one opens -- and this one opened to sunshine. Marinaccio was traded to the Padres to end the week, and while San Diego's ownership struggles have dominated the headlines recently, he'll certainly get a chance to contribute AND live in America's most beautiful city.
He'll also be joined there by a fleet of familiar faces, from Michael King to Jhony Brito to Wandy Peralta (though Kyle Higashioka is now gone).
We have acquired RHP Ron Marinaccio from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) January 24, 2025
Yankees fan favorite Ron Marinaccio traded from White Sox to Padres, rejoins old friends
Smash cut to Marinaccio 100% leaving Drew Thorpe on read. "Sorry, who's this? I live on Coronado Beach now. My bad."
Marinaccio's MLB numbers do not tell the full story in 2024; his 25 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings were passable, but he worked himself out of high-leverage opportunities, clouded by 10 walks, which had been preceded by 27 in 47 1/3 frames the season before. Perhaps he'll regain his confidence in San Diego, but he lost something, either release point or gusto, when missed the 2022 postseason with a shin issue.
Whatever the case, San Diego's a much more pleasant place to be lost than Scranton.