
One of the first significant trades since the MLB offseason started was announced late Thursday night by the Braves, who acquired Aaron Bummer, a reliever for the White Sox. As part of the deal, Atlanta sent five players to Chicago: infielders Nicky Lopez and Braden Shewmake, pitchers Mike Soroka, Jared Shuster, and Riley Gowens.
Bummer was a mainstay in the White Sox bullpen before having a dismal 2023 season, with a 6.79 ERA in 61 games. With one year and two club options remaining on his contract, the 30-year-old lefty pitched 161 games out of the Chicago bullpen between 2019 and 2022, compiling a 2.59 ERA.
The White Sox are getting a former All-Star who went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA for Atlanta in 2019; Soroka is the biggest name the team is getting in the trade. But since rupturing his right Achilles tendon in ’20, he has struggled with injuries. He missed the following two seasons before making a successful comeback to the majors in ’23.
Along with Soroka, Shuster—a former top Braves prospect—has also struggled this season, going 11 games with a 5.81 ERA; Atlanta selected Gowens, a 24-year-old, in the ninth round of this year’s draft. The best prospect heading to the White Sox in the trade is Shewmake, a powerful middle infielder who has had difficulty at the plate. Before moving to Atlanta in July, veteran Lopez was a member of the Royals for portions of four seasons.
Through the trade, Atlanta is able to free up roster space early in the offseason and acquire a piece of the bullpen.