White Sox Take a Flier on Former Braves Reliever with Tough Command Issues

Javy Guerra’s path back to the majors just took another turn. The Chicago White Sox signed the right-handed reliever to a minor league deal on Saturday, sending him to Triple-A Charlotte.

This move comes just two days after the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers, released Guerra. It’s not exactly a storybook comeback for a pitcher who once seemed on the rise.

Guerra, 30, spent the last two seasons pitching in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. His 2024 campaign looked promising — a 1.55 ERA over 58 innings with 14 saves and a sharp 4.9% walk rate. But the following year was a different story: he appeared in only six games before returning stateside.

When he got back to the U.S., Guerra signed a minor league deal with the Braves in January. That experiment didn’t go well. With Gwinnett, he posted a 5.68 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP across 25.1 innings. The numbers reveal the problem: he struck out 17 batters but walked 20. His spring training was equally rough — 5 earned runs allowed in just 2.2 innings.

So why would the White Sox bother? They’re likely hoping a change of scenery and some time in their system can help him regain the command that made him effective in Japan. Chicago’s bullpen has room for depth, and minor league deals carry little risk. If Guerra finds his groove, he could provide low-cost relief help later in the season.

Guerra has major league experience across parts of five seasons, mostly with the San Diego Padres. He last appeared in the big leagues in 2023 with the Tampa Bay Rays. The talent is there — but the control has been inconsistent.

For now, he’ll report to Charlotte and try to work his way back. The White Sox are betting that the version of Guerra who dominated in Japan still exists somewhere under the rust.