CHICAGO -- Hector Santiago won't serve as the big-name free-agent addition White Sox fans are clamoring for as the rebuild moves into its third year.
But a return of the versatile soon-to-be 31-year-old could be a solid move for the 2019 White Sox staff.
The White Sox will be looking for starting pitchers to supplement their 2019 core of Reynaldo Lopez, Carlos Rodon and Lucas Giolito, with Dylan Cease moving fast toward the big league rotation. Santiago could be one of those candidates with his ability to move between the rotation and the bullpen, sometimes in the same four- or five-day period.
Santiago, dubbed the Swiss Army Knife by former White Sox manager Robin Ventura, started seven times in 49 appearances, finished 27 games and picked up two saves in 2018. He threw 102 innings, a number Santiago thought might be higher when he began a second run with the team who selected him in the 30th round of the 2006 Draft.
• Santiago's player bio, stats
"Nobody makes it through a five-man rotation healthy throughout the whole year, trades and people going down and up," said Santiago during a recent interview. "Between starts and long relief, the way the first month started, I thought, 'Yep. 140 innings is going to be it.'
"All along, that was the game plan. Fill in for that role as a starter if needed and then be the long guy when the guys are struggling and couldn't get out of the third or fourth inning. For the most part, I did what I had to do. There were games where I was definitely fatigued."
To say Santiago was available at almost any moment would be a bit of an understatement. Memorial Day weekend, for example.
On May 26, Santiago threw 84 pitches as a starter during an 8-4 victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park. On Memorial Day two days later, Santiago threw one scoreless inning to finish off a loss against the Indians in Cleveland. Santiago did so with his Memorial Day jersey already signed and authenticated, thinking there was little chance he would get into that game.

"They said, 'Skip your bullpen, you'll be in case of emergency.' So I signed my jersey. It was Memorial Day weekend, those jerseys. I was like, 'There's no chance [I'll pitch in the game],'" said a smiling Santiago. "I got a letter from MLB saying, 'Don't do that again.'
"It's a little bit of a roller coaster. I like the fact I always have to be ready. I'm sitting here in the first inning, and I'm like, 'Can I hang out for one inning or go to the bullpen right now?' It keeps you on edge, and you are ready throughout the whole game."
After throwing 70 1/3 innings in 2017 for the Twins, not pitching after July 2 and ending the campaign on the disabled list, Santiago had nothing but Minor League deals moving into '18. He went with the White Sox and would be a good choice again in '19, as a starter, reliever or a little bit of both, although the veteran might have more options with a 2.12 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 34 innings over his last 20 games of '18.
"Now I can do both roles and have that back on my resume. The Swiss Army Knife, doing anything that needs to be done," Santiago said. "I don't know what to expect. I'm healthy, throwing 100 innings and see what a team needs. There's definitely a role for me somewhere."