White Sox opt to decline Paulino's '15 option

CHICAGO -- The White Sox declined right-hander Felipe Paulino's $4 million option for 2015, which came with a $250,000 buyout, as confirmed to MLB.com by a baseball source.

This move was expected after Paulino made just four starts in '14 and finished with a 0-2 record and 11.29 ERA. Paulino allowed 23 earned runs and 35 hits over 18 1/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking 12. Paulino's last appearance for the White Sox came April 18 in Texas, when he yielded 10 runs on 13 hits over 3 2/3 innings.

Paulino, 31, came to the White Sox as a free agent via a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the '15 option. He had Tommy John surgery performed in July '12 and then had his comeback temporarily halted with the Royals in September '13 due to shoulder surgery to remove a cyst. He broke camp with the White Sox as part of the rotation, but did not make one quality start in his four outings before going on the disabled list April 19 with right rotator cuff inflammation.

Five injury rehab assignments with Triple-A Charlotte produced a 9.61 ERA. Paulino was taken off his rehab assignment in late May after experiencing a setback and eventually transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and John Danks stand as the core of the White Sox rotation. Carlos Rodon, who was the team's top pick and No. 3 selection overall in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, Hector Noesi and Scott Carroll are other current rotation candidates, although general manager Rick Hahn is expected to pursue a starter during the offseason.