White Sox News: Aaron Bummer traded to Atlanta Braves

With movement expected throughout Major League Baseball on Friday with the non-tender deadline at 6 pm CST, the Chicago White Sox began their moves on Thursday night.

In a deal with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night, the White Sox sent left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer to the Braves for right-handed pitcher Mike Soroka, left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster, shortstop Braden Shewmake, infielder Nicky Lopez, and right-handed pitcher Riley Gowens.

For a reliever in Bummer that is under team control for potentially the next three seasons, this was a great trade for the White.

In this trade, the white sox theoretically addressed three needs with Lopez likely opening the season as the team’s starting second baseman while Soroka and Shuster will be candidates to open the season in the team’s starting rotation.

The Chicago White Sox began their off-season in earnest on Thursday night as they traded left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer to the Atlanta Braves.

The White Sox trend of targeting former Kansas City Royals also continues as Lopez spent the first five seasons with Kansas City before being traded to Atlanta during the 2023 season.

The White Sox were rumored to have an interest in trading for Lopez last off-season but the Royals opted to keep their second baseman for the start of the season Lopez slashed .231/.326/.307 last season with a 77 wRC+.

While Lopez has predominantly played second base throughout the past two seasons, his best defensive position may be shortstop. Lopez recorded 25 outs above average at the shortstop position during the 2021 season but he has above average defensive metrics at second base.

Soroka posted a 2.68 ERA with the Braves in 29 starts during his rookie season in 2019 but injuries forced him to miss both the 2021 and 2022 seasons and a majority of the 2023 season. Soroka appeared in 7 games with the Braves last season while posting a 6.40 ERA. Entering an off-season fully healthy for the first time since 2020, the hope is Soroka can find the success he had at the start of his career.

Shuster made his Major League debut this past season with the Braves and posted a 5.81 ERA in 11 starts.

Braden Shewmake entered the season as the Braves’ 15th prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Shewmake had a very brief stint at the Major League level in May but went hitless in four plate appearances.