*Photo from South Side Sox*
Big trades coming right up. The Atlanta Braves have acquired LHP Aaron Bummer from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP Michael Soroka, LHP Jared Shuster, IF Nicky Lopez, SS Braden Shewmake, and RHP Riley Gowens, according to both teams.
The Braves add another lefty to the mix in Bummer, one year removed from an impressive 2022 season in the White Sox bullpen. Between 2021 and 2022, Bummer combined for a 29.3 percent strikeout rate and 13.5 percent walk rate over 83 innings.
Last season was a bit of a step back for Bummer. He finished the year with a 6.79 ERA and 1.526 WHIP but had a 3.58 FIP, averaging 5.6 walks per 9 innings and 12 strikeouts per 9 in 58 1/3 innings and 61 appearances.
In trading away Bummer, the White Sox get 5 players that the Braves saw as excess goods, but ones that can help Chicago. They pick up a few starting pitchers, a defensively sound utility infielder, and a solid middle infield prospect.
White Sox GM Chris Getz said that "I came to the point where he put something on the table that I felt like was a step forward for where we needed to go. Acquiring starting pitching, innings there, and also improving our defense, it now allows us to open some things up when it comes to acquiring free agents or future deals. So much of this is at the mercy of other clubs and the urgency of some of these free agents and when they want to sign."
Soroka returned to the mound for the Braves in 2023 after missing the past two years due to multiple Achillies injuries. He appeared in 7 games, starting 6. He posted a 6.40 ERA, 6.56 FIP, and 1.485 WHIP, averaging 8.1 strikeouts per 9 in 32 1/3 innings.
Prior to his injury riddled last few seasons, Soroka was a dynamic pitcher who was breaking out. He debuted with a solid 5 game showing in 2018 before taking off with a 2.68 ERA and 1.111 WHIP in an all star season in 2019. 2020 is when the injuries started affecting Soroka.
Getz said of Soroka that "Essentially this was his first full season back from having a multiple-year layoff. There were certainly some moments and flashes of what Soroka was earlier in his career. Navigating a season like that after being off, it certainly can be tricky. But to have that under his belt, learning where his body is now, there is some upside there."
Lopez, who has played second, 3rd, and shortstop, spent 2023 with the Braves and Kansas City Royals. He had a .231/.326/.307 slash line, hitting one home run with 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 25 RBI's in 93 games. He got one at bat in the postseason.
The southpaw Shuster made his big league debut in 2023 in the Braves rotation. He compiled a 5.81 ERA, 5.38 FIP, and 1.500 WHIP, averaging 4.4 walks per 9 and 5.1 strikeouts per 9 over 52 2/3 innings and 11 starts.
Shewmake also made his debut in 2023, going hitless in 4 at bats. With Triple A Gwinnett, Shewmake had a .234 average with 16 home runs, 28 doubles, and 69 RBI's. Shewmake was seemingly passed by Luke Waddell on the Braves depth chart.
Gowens made his professional debut this season after the Braves drafted him in the 9th round of the 2023 draft out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Between the FCL and Low A Carolina, Gowens had a 1.15 ERA and 0.957 WHIP, averaging 12.6 strikeouts per 9 in 3 starts and 5 total appearances.
Bummer joins Dylan Lee, Tyler Matzek, and AJ Minter as lefties in the Braves bullpen. Soroka and Shuster will likely have rotation spots with the White Sox, while Lopez will have a role in the infield. Shewmake could be a candidate for extended big league time in 2024.
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