The White Sox finished their trade deadline frenzy with a bang.
According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, left-handed reliever Tanner Banks has been traded to the Phillies. In return, one of Philly’s top infield prospects, William Bergolla, is headed to Chicago.
Banks, 32, has been solid this season with a 4.13 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 27% strikeout rate, and 7.3% walk rate over 48 innings thrown. On top of that, he’s controllable for the foreseeable future as he’s still two seasons away from qualifying for arbitration. Though he wasn’t viewed as a primary target for teams, Banks is still a nice alternative for teams looking to strengthen their bullpen after some larger chips came off the board.
Bergolla, 19, is currently ranked as the Phillies’ 11th overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. He’s spent the season with the High-A JerseyShore Blue Claws, slashing .295/.350/.385 with one homer, 19 RBI, and a .735 OPS over 67 games. The lefty-hitting middle infielder isn’t known for his power or extra-base hits in general. However, he makes solid contact and finds ways to get on base frequently.
Here’s a look at Bergolla’s scouting report:
The son of William Bergolla Sr., a former prospect who touched the big leagues with the Reds, Bergolla ranked fourth on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 international prospects list in 2022 and signed with the Phillies that January for $2.05 million. After a very strong, albeit brief, debut in the Dominican Summer League, he came stateside in 2023, skipping over the Florida Complex League and holding his own at age 18 over 55 games with Single-A Clearwater.
The Phillies felt comfortable challenging the left-handed-hitting infielder because of his high baseball IQ, plus instincts and innate knack for contact. Bergolla struck out in just 7.5 percent of his plate appearances in the Florida State League, rarely chases and draws a ton of walks (13.2 percent in 2023). What he hasn’t done to date is show he can impact the ball. He had just four extra-base hits last year, and while the Phillies were encouraged with strength gains this past offseason, it remains to be seen if he can show some more thump at the plate.
Bergolla’s instincts, hands and feet all give him the chance to play shortstop, and he has enough arm for the premium position. He played a lot more second base last year because of Bryan Rincon’s presence in Clearwater, and some think the keystone will be a better spot for him long term because of his range. He may not have the highest ceiling, but his feel for hitting and that baseball IQ give him a pretty high floor.
This deal was the last in a flurry of moves for the White Sox leading up to the deadline. In addition to Banks, shortstop Paul DeJong was traded to the Royals, and outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jimenez was dealt to the Orioles. Meanwhile, the team’s biggest asset, Garrett Crochet, was not moved and will remain with the team for the remainder of the season.
For the latest White Sox news and rumors, follow us on social media @SoxOn35th.
Featured Photo: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
