The White Sox are beginning the new year with a trade, acquiring left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert from the Phillies in exchange for minor-league right-hander Aaron Combs. To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Braden Shewmake has been designated for assignment.
Gilbert, 31, started 2024 in the Reds’ system before getting traded to the Phillies on May 7 for cash considerations. He then made 27 appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he posted a 2.06 ERA with 48 strikeouts and seven saves over 35 innings of work. His newfound success working exclusively as a reliever led to the Phillies selecting his contract on August 17. In six major league appearances, he owned a 3.24 ERA with four strikeouts across 8.1 innings pitched before getting sent back down. He was recently designated for assignment following the acquisition of southpaw Jesús Luzardo on December 22.
Originally drafted by the Phillies in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, Gilbert spent five seasons in the organization where he made appearances as both a starter and reliever. He worked his way up to Triple-A in 2019 before he was traded the first time to the Dodgers before 2020. After COVID wiped out Gilbert’s chances of suiting up for Los Angeles, he was picked up by the Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 Draft that offseason. He compiled a 4.32 ERA across 91.2 major league innings for Arizona from 2021-23, which was highlighted by a no-hitter in his first big league start on August 14, 2021.
Unbelievable 👏
Tyler Gilbert threw a no-hitter in his first MLB start 😳
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/AiGbxHXod3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 15, 2021
It’s unclear of the White Sox’s intentions for Gilbert heading into the new season. The lefty gives the team some options as he could potentially shift back to a starter role and compete for one of the spots in the rotation. Otherwise, the team will utilize him out of the bullpen where he’ll look to carry over his recent success.
Heading back to Philly is Combs, who the White Sox selected in the eighth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee. The righty made six appearances for Low-A Kannapolis during the second half of the season, compiling a 0.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts and four walks in 7.2 innings of work.
Shewmake, the odd man out in all of this, appeared in 29 games with the White Sox last season, hitting .125 with one home run and four RBI. The 27-year-old was acquired from Atlanta on November 18, 2023, as part of a six-player deal involving reliever Aaron Bummer.
Following today’s moves, the White Sox’s roster remains at 40.
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Featured photo: © Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images
Great another garbage picking move.