The Atlanta Braves have made a significant move in the offseason by acquiring left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer from the Chicago White Sox. The trade, which took place on Thursday night, involved multiple players changing teams.
In exchange for Bummer, the Braves sent pitchers Mike Soroka, Jared Shuster, and Riley Gowens, along with infielders Nicky Lopez and Braden Shewmake, to the White Sox. This trade not only strengthens the Braves’ bullpen but also creates some space on their 40-man roster.
Bummer, 30, had a mixed performance last season, with a 5-5 record and a career-high 6.79 ERA in 61 appearances. However, Atlanta is optimistic that a change of scenery will rejuvenate Bummer and help him regain the form that made him an effective left-handed setup man. In 2022, he boasted a 2.36 ERA in 32 appearances, and in 2021, he recorded a 3.51 ERA in 62 games.
While the Braves enjoyed a successful season with 104 wins, topping the majors, the White Sox finished fourth in the AL Central with a 61-101 record. The players involved in the trade bring promising talent to their new teams. Soroka, Shuster, and Shewmake were all former first-round draft picks, and Lopez and Gowens have strong ties to the Chicago area.
Soroka, a 26-year-old right-hander, was an NL All-Star in 2019, but injuries have hampered his career. He appeared in only three games over the past three seasons and played for both Atlanta and Triple-A Gwinnett this year. Shuster, 25, made his MLB debut earlier this year and showed potential in his 11 starts with the Braves. As for Lopez, a 29-year-old infielder, he joined the Braves in a trade from the Kansas City Royals in July and contributed to the team’s offense with a .231 batting average, one home run, and 25 RBIs in 94 games.
Both the Braves and the White Sox have made significant moves to strengthen their teams, and baseball fans will be eagerly watching how these players contribute in the upcoming season.