The Chicago White Sox reached an agreement Monday with free-agent right-hander Mike Clevinger on a one-year contract, according to sources briefed on the discussions. The agreement is pending a physical. Fansided’s Robert Murray was first to report the story.

Clevinger, 33, ranked No. 31 among The Athletic’s Top 40 free agents. Of those on that list, only first baseman Brandon Belt (No. 30) and outfielder Tommy Pham (No. 33) remain unsigned.

The trade of Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres on March 14 left the White Sox with a front four of Garrett Crochet, Michael Soroka, Erick Fedde and Chris Flexen. While Clevinger likely will need time to get ready, he was an above-average pitcher for the White Sox last season, producing a 3.77 ERA in 24 starts despite missing time with wrist and biceps injuries.

The White Sox initially signed Clevinger to a one-year, $12 million free-agent contract on Nov. 27, 2022. MLB was investigating him at the time for an allegation of physical abuse and child abuse by a former partner. But because the investigation was confidential, the White Sox were not aware of the allegations.

In March 2023, the commissioner’s office issued a statement saying it would not discipline Clevinger. According to the statement, the investigation included interviews of more than 15 people, including Clevinger and a woman who said she is the mother of Clevinger’s child, as well as reviews of thousands of electronic communications and other documents.

Clevinger agreed to be evaluated by the joint treatment boards under baseball’s collective bargaining agreement and follow any of the board’s recommendations, the statement said.

“I had nothing to hide and cooperated fully with MLB,” Clevinger said in a statement released by the players’ union.

Clevinger spent his first five seasons with Cleveland, then was traded to the Padres in August 2020 after he angered club officials by breaking COVID-19 protocols and taking a team flight without informing the club of his actions.

That November, Clevinger underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the entire 2021 season. He pitched for the Padres in 2022 while enduring trips to the injured list for knee and triceps problems, then joined the White Sox in 2023.

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(Top photo of Mike Clevinger: Quinn Harris/Getty Images)