In a six-player trade that involved one player going to Atlanta in exchange for five others headed to Chicago, the Braves bolstered their bullpen, and the White Sox fi.
Late Thursday night, the White Sox and Braves kicked off what will likely be an active winter trade market. In a six-player trade that involved one player going to Atlanta in exchange for five others headed to Chicago, the Braves bolstered their bullpen, and the White Sox filled out several areas of need on their roster.
Here’s a breakdown of the swap:
Braves got: 30-year-old reliever Aaron Bummer
White Sox got: pitchers Mike Soroka, Jared Shuster, and Riley Gowens, and infielders Nicky Lopez, Braden Shewmake
All but one of the players joining the White Sox have at least some major league experience, and the move brings Chicago’s 40-man roster to 40 players.
Of that group, two in particular could have a noticeable impact on the White Sox in 2024: Soroka and Lopez.
Soroka came in second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2019, when he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA. He tore his right Achilles tendon in August 2020 and consequently missed most of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last season, he made just six starts for the Braves, spending most of the year in Triple-A Gwinnett.
