Tyler Clippard arrived for his first day in a White Sox uniform and manager Rick Renteria wasted little time giving him the pressing news.
After the Sox traded closer David Robertson and setup man Tommy Kahnle to the Yankees on Tuesday in a seven-player deal that included Clippard, they are in need of a new option to close games.
Clippard, an 11-year major league veteran, will be that guy for now.
Renteria said Clippard, the lone major leaguer to join the Sox in the trade, will be used in ninth-inning save situations and potentially other high-leverage circumstances. The new role comes after an emotional day saying goodbye to the Yankees, who drafted him in 2003, traded him away in 2007 and then traded for him during the 2016 season.
"It's kind of like transferring schools in the middle of the year, all new faces and friends and principals," Clippard said. "That's what goes on, trying to get acclimated to the managers and the coaches, and that will be something I'll do over the next few days. But at the end of the day, it's baseball and we toe the rubber and get some outs. That's why I'm here."
The 32-year-old right-hander owns a career 3.06 ERA with 57 saves, 32 of which came in 2012 with the Nationals. He also has pitched for the Athletics, Met and Diamondbacks.
Clippard struggled while with the Yankees this season, going 1-5 with a 4.95 ERA over 40 appearances. The number was driven up by a stretch of bad outings in mid-to-late June. But he said he has felt good lately and he likes the energy he feels in the Sox clubhouse.
"Young, loose," Clippard said. "That's definitely my vibe. I really enjoy that kind of energy. That really coincides with my personality a lot, so I look forward to it."
Beyond Clippard, the Sox still have right-hander Anthony Swarzak as a late-innings option, but he is another player who could be on the trade block. Left-hander Dan Jennings also has experience in higher-leverage situations.
"For us, it doesn't change much," Jennings said. "When the phone rings, if they call your name, you get up and you throw. Whoever is available or not available, that's beyond us, above our heads, so we just try to do our jobs."
