Chicago White Sox are making trades with two teams

Gregory Santos has emerged as one of the Chicago White Sox’s best players in 2023.

They will have to look elsewhere next season after trading the right-hander to the Seattle Mariners for right-handed pitcher Prelander Berroa, outfielder Zach DeLoach and the Competitive Balance B pick (the 69th pick in the 2024 draft).

This was one of two deals the Sox announced on Saturday. They also acquired outfielder Dominic Fletcher from the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-handed pitcher Cristian Mena.

Sox general manager Chris Getz viewed the Santos trade similarly. November deal that sent reliever Aaron Bummer to the Atlanta Braves for five players – including infielder Nicky Lopez and starter Michael Soroka.

“We felt like we could expand and fill the gaps and create a foundation to move forward,” Getz said in a video conference call Saturday evening.

Santos went 2-2 with a 3.39 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 60 relief appearances last season. HE took over closer duties We collected five savings in one part of the year. Santos continued. List of casualties on 20 September He missed the remainder of the season due to right elbow inflammation.

“I predict Gregory Santos will do well and have a great career,” Getz said. “Getting someone with similar qualities like Prelander Berroa, along with Zach DeLoach, who we’ve been pursuing for a while, and then having the opportunity to acquire a draft pick and add to our pool will have a positive impact on our draft hope. We can check those boxes, or at least, in both the short and long term.” That’s hope.

“It was a difficult decision. Trading Gregory Santos is not easy. There is variability in relievers and we thought it was a solid baseball decision to be able to add Berroa and DeLoach and the comp selection.”

“Time will tell” who will step into the closer role, Getz said.

Berroa, 23, appeared in two games for the Mariners in 2023, striking out three and walking three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Berroa spent most of 2023 at Double-A Arkansas, where he had a 2.89 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 43 games (five starts). He won the Northwest League Pitcher of the Year award in 2022.

Berroa is rated by Baseball America as the 12th prospect in the Mariners organization.

Baseball America also ranked DeLoach as the 14th prospect in the Mariners system. A second-round pick in 2020, DeLoach batted .286/.387/.481 with 23 homers and 88 RBIs in 2023 for Triple-A Tacoma. The 25-year-old bat is left-handed and right-handed.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Sox designated right-handed pitcher Lane Ramsey for assignment. After the trade with Seattle, the Sox received the 5th, 43rd and 69th picks in the 2024 draft.

Berroa “definitely has back-end potential,” Getz said. And in DeLoach, the Sox are getting someone with “power potential.”

Fletcher gives the Sox another potential option in the outfield. He slashed .301/.350/.441 with five doubles, one triple, two home runs, 14 RBIs and 10 runs batted in in 28 games with the Diamondbacks in two appearances in 2023.

Fletcher, 26, bats and pitches left-handed and appeared in 66 games with Triple-A Reno last season, hitting 18 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs and slashing .291/.399/.500. He scored 71 runs before being placed on the injured list with a broken left index finger on September 4.

Mena, 21, went 8-7 with a 4.85 ERA between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte and struck out 156 times in 27 games last season.

“(Fletcher) can help us in all different positions in the outfield, center field, right field, left field, he can also spell us out,” Getz said. “Hammers have rights, or have historically. “And to be able to provide the organization with that kind of offensive potential (and) defensive ability, we thought it was a smart baseball decision to bring him into the organization, even if only for Cristian Mena, who has a bright future.”

The Sox have an opening in right field, and Saturday’s transactions provide depth.

“It’s too early to say one or the other will be our right fielder,” Getz said. “I’m excited to have them both in the building. Obviously, with both of those guys being left-handed, maybe a right-handed outfielder to match up with them or be in the mix There may be an opportunity to find it. We are open-minded there.

“Word has spread that Kevin Pillar will sign a minor league deal. He’s an experienced, right-handed, hitting outfielder. We’ll take a look at spring training with all of these options and move forward with what we think is best for our major league club as we start the year.”