On New Year’s Day, the Philadelphia Phillies executed a swap with the Chicago White Sox, transferring left-handed relief pitcher Tyler Gilbert to the White Sox in return for minor league pitcher Aaron Combs. Gilbert had already been designated for assignment by the Phillies on December 22, and ultimately, Philadelphia successfully acquired a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher who was chosen in the eighth round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Following the acquisition of Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins, the Phillies found themselves without a spot for Gilbert on the 40-man roster. While it remains uncertain what role Luzardo will fulfill for the Phillies in 2025, being another lefty, he could potentially serve as a bullpen option after missing significant time in 2024 due to a lumbar issue. Therefore, it was prudent for the Phillies to secure some value from a 31-year-old reliever who had limited playing time in 2024.
Nevertheless, for a White Sox team that is bereft of talent, acquiring Gilbert at the minimal expense of a low-tier pitching prospect represents a reasonable gamble. The 31-year-old lefty recorded an ERA of 3.24 in 2024, although his total innings pitched amounted to merely 8.1, and his peripheral statistics raised concerns, as he struck out only 4.32 batters per nine innings. His history regarding strikeouts is lacking as well, with a low strikeout rate at the commencement of his major league career.
The White Sox made space for Gilbert on their 40-man roster by designating infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment. Shewmake had a disastrous 2024 season, registering a poor .337 OPS and accumulating -0.7 WAR over 67 plate appearances.
Phillies and White Sox continue pursuit of enhancement in 2025
Enhancement appears quite different for both the Phillies and White Sox as they approach 2025. To begin with, Philadelphia secured the NL East title in 2024 and proved to be a formidable competitor, particularly at the start of the season. However, they experienced a decline in performance in the mid-season. They are now aiming to strengthen their roster to avoid a repeat of that fate.
On the other hand, any improvement for the White Sox would be a step forward. This is the same franchise that posted a record of 41-121 last season (the most dismal win-loss record in a 162-game season in MLB history) and they further weakened their roster by trading away ace Garrett Crochet.
Image Source: White Sox @ Instagram
