Column: Chicago White Sox camp opens with the cloud of the Mike Clevinger investigation — and it’s only just beginning

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mike Clevinger wanted to speak with the media on opening day of Chicago White Sox camp to address what he called the “elephant in the room.”

While Clevinger avoided most questions about MLB’s investigation into domestic violence allegations levied against him by Olivia Finestead, the mother of one of his children, he asked fans to “trust the process” and give him a chance to prove his innocence.

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“There’s a reason I’m sitting in front of you today,” Clevinger said Wednesday at the Sox complex at Camelback Ranch. “I’m just asking everyone to wait before they rush to judgment. Wait until the actual facts are out there, wait until there’s actual evidence and then make your decision on who you think I am.”

Clevinger reiterated he “did nothing wrong,” as his lawyer said in a written statement last month. He will be allowed to pitch while the investigation continues, as he did last summer with the San Diego Padres. The difference is the allegations made against him were not revealed until last month after he signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the White Sox.

Finestead has posted on Instagram that Clevinger choked her and threw tobacco spit on their child. She continued making serious allegations Wednesday, including a claim that Clevinger drove a car with their child in it while under the influence of LSD. She also went on WSCR-AM 670 on Wednesday after Clevinger spoke, calling him a “liar” and a drug abuser.

The saga has brought a cloud over Sox camp, which the organization hoped would be a chance to redeem itself for the disastrous 2022 season. New manager Pedro Grifol was brought in as an antidote to the combative two-year reign of Tony La Russa, but he wound up answering questions about Clevinger’s status on his first day.

Sox general manager Rick Hahn admitted he felt “disappointment” when the allegations surfaced and “regret” that he was forced to discuss it Wednesday.

“I understand why we are doing it,” he said. “Obviously we have to, but this is a year in which we have high expectations. We have a new staff that is trying to hit the ground running to help us fulfill those expectations. And we have a heck of a lot of players in that clubhouse right now who feel like they have something to prove.

“Frankly that was part of the appeal in bringing Mike in prior to all of this, knowing … he had something to prove as well.”

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Hahn said the Sox knew nothing of the allegations or the MLB investigation until seeing the news reports and that “there was no indication of anything close to anything that has been alleged in (Clevinger’s) background.” He pointed to the team’s “success” in “taking calculated risks on players that have had, let’s say, immaturity issues with other organizations, bringing them in here and making them part of our environment, giving them a new opportunity to fulfill their potential.”

“(The Sox) probably don’t have that ring in ‘05 without taking chances like that,” Hahn said. “That said, you try to do everything in your power to cover everything you can and make a decision based upon the risk of what you’re bringing in. That’s a big part of my job. A big part of the front office’s job is managing risk.”

Hahn said the Sox’s background checks consist of talking with former teammates and coaches, scouts, people in the traveling party and visiting clubhouses, the league and the agents. But Hahn said Clevinger’s agent was not “under any obligation” to reveal the investigation during their contract negotiations.

When asked if Clevinger should’ve said something, Hahn said, “I understand why he didn’t.”

There could be 12 million reasons why he didn’t, though Clevinger said he thought the MLB investigation had ended by then.

“This was going on for seven months,” he said. “I didn’t even know it was still going on, to be honest.”

Why would he believe it had ended without any resolution?

“I’m going to leave it,” he said. “If you have any more questions about baseball. I’ve been advised by MLB and my lawyers to wait until the investigation is over before I keep going on about the details.”

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Clevinger said he expects to pitch in Cactus League games. Grifol said there is no contingency plan in place this spring for another starter to be ready in case Clevinger is unavailable for the start of the season.

“He’s available right now,” Grifol said. “And if by any chance he’s not available, we’ll discuss that as an organization. But right now he’s part of this rotation going forward.”

The Sox have had their share of spring training controversies, including Frank Thomas walking out over his contract, Michael Jordan bolting camp after being asked to play in spring games with replacement players and Adam LaRoche suddenly retiring when told his teenage son no longer would be allowed to dress in the clubhouse.

But those were momentary blips that had a brief shelf life. This incident threatens to make Sox camp a nonstop circus as long as Clevinger remains in uniform. The investigation into abuse allegations against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer lasted several months, and Bauer did not pitch for the Dodgers again before being released last month.

Could the Sox foresee a similar scenario?

“We’re going to follow the lead of the commissioner’s office,” Hahn said. “That’s our only choice at this point.”

Clevinger spoke to his teammates Wednesday to tell them “how bad I felt that this was how I was starting out.” He didn’t address the abuse allegations, according to Hahn.

While the investigation plays out, Sox fans will voice their opinions and how it affects their fandom. Hahn said the only thing he can do is reiterate how seriously they take the issue.

Does Hahn believe Clevinger?

“I’m not the judge or jury in this situation,” he replied.

None of the other Sox players was available to speak Wednesday, but rest assured many will have an opinion that might be shared at some point over the next six weeks at Camelback Ranch.

This saga is really just beginning.