TODAY: Milwaukee has announced the swap, making it official.
YESTERDAY: The Brewers and White Sox have reportedly agreed to a trade that will send right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak from Chicago to Milwaukee in exchange for 25-year-old infield/outfield prospect Ryan Cordell.
After signing a minor league deal with a $900K base salary this offseason, the 31-year-old Swarzak has broken out with the best season of his career. In 48 1/3 innings with the South Siders, he’s averaged 9.7 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9 with a 40.5 percent ground-ball rate en route to a 2.23 ERA.
The former second-round pick is averaging 94.5 mph on his heater this year and has posted a 14 percent swinging-strike rate that dwarfs his previous career-high of 10.6 percent. Swarzak’s 71.9 percent contact rate sits nearly six percentage points below the league average of 77.5 percent.
[Related: Updated White Sox depth chart and Brewers depth chart]
Swarzak figures to serve as a setup man to breakout closer Corey Knebel. He’ll be joined in the relief corps by the likes of Jacob Barnes, Jared Hughes and Josh Hader. Veteran Carlos Torres and midseason acquisition Oliver Drake have both logged significant innings out of the Milwaukee ’pen, though each righty has struggled recently.
Cordell, 25, has spent the season with Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate, hitting .284/.349/.506 with 10 homers and nine steals in the hitter-friendly environment of Colorado Springs. He’ll ultimately spend less than a full season in the Brewers’ system, as he’d previously been acquired as the player to be named later in last summer’s Jonathan Lucroy/Jeremy Jeffress trade with the Rangers.
The versatile Cordell ranked 17th among Milwaukee farmhands on the updated top 30 list published by MLB.com today. A former 11th-round pick, Cordell has appeared at shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions in his career and could project as a super-utility option with some pop and speed in the Majors. While some scouts may project him as a fourth outfielder (as MLB.com’s report indicates and as Yahoo’s Jeff Passan suggests on Twitter), Cordell is essentially a very near-MLB-ready piece and should have a chance to convince the ChiSox that he’s capable of more in the very near future.
Swarzak becomes the latest domino to fall in the White Sox’ aggressive, ongoing rebuilding effort. Chicago GM Rick Hahn has moved Jose Quintana, Todd Frazier, David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle this summer, in addition to shipping out center fielder Adam Eaton and ace Chris Sale this past offseason. There could still be more pieces on the move in Chicago as well, with Melky Cabrera, Miguel Gonzalez and Derek Holland all set to hit free agency at season’s end. Outfielder Avisail Garcia, too, could see his name bandied about the rumor circuit over the next five to six days, as he’s only controlled through the 2019 campaign.
FOX’s Ken Rosenthal first reported the two sides were in talks. FanRag’s Jon Heyman reported that an agreement was in place (via Twitter). Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reported that Cordell was going to the White Sox in return for Swarzak (via Twitter).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Brewers win the pennant
Bold statement.
Big if true
Don’t think the White Sox are getting a top prospect, if that’s what you mean. Maybe a mid level prospect.
It’s Cordell which I really like for the white sox. He’s 25 and ready to play in the show and see if he’s anything.
Seems like the Brewers just got a guy having a great season for pretty cheap.
Cordell is the Whitesox 17th prospect
Looks like 18th, 9th without all the other trades they made.
Smart.
I was just arguing that this was about to happen. My friend said it wasn’t. HA!
Congrats. Have you ever looked into a career in fortune telling?
He looked into his own future and saw it didn’t pan out
Jennings only reliable arm left in Sox pen. I know what the long term plan is, but they have to have someone in that staff that can get batters out. There is no one by Jennings now. And I mean no one.
As a Brewers fan, I’d prefer Jennings over Swarzak.
Exactly. More losses equals better draft selection.
Might as well add Neil Ramirez. Or someone similar.
They(front office) would prefer to lose.
I feel bad for Rentaliasmartest mgr in MLB oh I’m a Cub fan. Hope they don’t follow Theo plan and dump him
Actually Holmberg has been pretty good so far, and Im not sure the Sox will trade him. Jennings the bigger name, but I think at this point Id rather have Holmberg in the pen. Petricka is due to get back soon as well… until he gets hurt again anyway.
Veteran White Sox reliever Jake Petricka was sent on a rehab assignment to AAA Charlotte this past Saturday and has already made two appearances, pitching 3 scoreless innings. Barring any setbacks, he figures to be recalled to the White Sox active roster this week.
The White Sox also acquired 3 veteran relievers on Monday, assigning each to Charlotte where they have all appeared in one game as I post. Mark Lowe and Jean Machi were acquired from the Mariners for cash while Danny Farquhar was signed as a FA after being released by the Rays last week.
for a minor leaguer in the top 150 and a lottery ticket???
These two teams should be talking about Melky.
Where does Melky play in Milwaukee?
If they move back to the AL, he can DH.
Good call
I was expecting Cabrera and Swarzak for Brinson and Ray but I guess that won’t happen now. Probably because both of them are going to the A’s later for Gray.
how would those 2 get Bronson swarsac got the Brewers 17th best prospect and melky barely has positive values
What
You tragically undervalue prospects. Cabrera and Swarzak are rentals. As a Sox fan, I’d have loved it, but that’s approaching Quintana-esque return there.
Dude. He was joking.
I’m note entirely sure he crapped on a guy who centered a deal around Florial and Mateo with decent auxiliary pieces for Gray after it was reported Oakland wanted Florial… not that those guys are seen as surefire HoF players but those guys with 2-3 other top 25 prospects is a good return. JAF seems to drastically undervalue prospects. He once claimed that Boston couldn’t get a controllable pitcher without giving up 3 of Moncada, Benintendi, Kopech, and Espinosa. They gave up 3 of those guys for 2 controllable pitchers in separate deals, one of whom was a bona fide ace.
He should crap on someone claiming Florial and Mateo are good starters for a Gray deal. Mateo’s value is in the toilet.
Last i checked Mateo had a .950 ops. They have him playing center field now. I know he been playing poorly since moving to AA but give me a break, his value is at an all time high probably. Do a news search on his name and all the results are about his breakout and whether he can be the centerpiece in a blockbuster trade.
You know he had been playing poorly since moving to AA? That’s the exact opposite of what has happened so far.
Also, I’m not sure what googling his name and finding “unbiased” New York articles would prove – other than how overhyped he is/was and how biased New York media is.
Yes Milk man would help Brewers but W/Sox A.Garcia keep him for the rebuild Jose Abeau also leadership with those two
The great thing is the Sox can trade Melky, then pick him up as a FA for a vet presence for next season in the Sox locker room.
Oh, that’s a great point. Originally saw that as a play for the Todd-father, but given that Todd is still likely to command a considerable salary, and Melky seems excited to serve as team mascot-post game emcee for the kids, I’d love the idea of the team engineering a win-win move—allow Melky help a team down the stretch, then bring him back for a home town discount.
Gotta admit I’m biased. Loving my Melkman t-shirt.
Avi is only controlled through 2019. Sox will just be turning it around then. I don’t expect them to trade Avi this year, but if he keeps playing at a high level next year and he’s not extended by the AS break, I’d expect him to be traded at the next deadline.
Ok, for who?
Jose Abreu also in it so Thames back to OF. Maybe to Nate Jones and a SP. Ray,Broxton,Phillips,Hader and so on?
what? no way man. source?
Didn’t catch the sarcasm..?
It wasn’t exactly dripping.
Nope
There is no way this is true.
“And so on”
Watch your back, Philly.
Here come the Sox!
Trust me, my Phillies are much worse
WIsh the Sox had the Phillies on their schedule, home and home the last week in September. Beer on the line. How cool would that be?
Whitesox are gonna win the World Series in 2025!!!
More likely 3 World Series titles by 2025
That’s what I’m talking about. Yes !!!
Yes !!!!
“Hell yes”- hawkisms
Solid deal for both sides.
Cordell? Bad get for Hahn.
its a rental reliever who hasn’t been good before this year, his age 31 season.
Cordell is a guy who can play CF in the big leagues right now. Its a good deal
Cordell will never play center field in the majors. At least not competently.
How so?? Swarzak isn’t worth much and Cordell is ready to come up now and see if he’s worth anything.
Yeah, because White Sox could have gotten Brinson for a 31 year old reliever having his first breakout year… sit down please
Good deal for the sox. flipping a 31 yr old who they signed to a minor league deal this past offseason. Turn him into a piece that can help now and possibly play as a super utility all over the diamond
Yeah, really like the flexibility this gives Ricky. Swiss army knife types like Leury-Saladino and this kid expands the bench. Like the Zobrist comp people in the Brewers system were making, Late bloomer who does everything well, nothing great.
Wow. Wasn’t saying the Sox could have gotten a higher rated prospect. I was just hoping for someone with more upside than a 25 year old 4th/5th OF type.
Someone like Medeiros,
What if I told you the White Sox are in a rebuild and need bodies to fill the outfield until their prospects arrive… not another pitcher down in A ball
I would tell you that’s not how rebuilds work.
If they need bodies, sign people off the scrap heap and out of beer leagues. Promote May, Liriano, Asche, W. Garcia or Bourjous.
You use trade assets for prospects with potential, not filler and placeholders.
Bourjos got dealt to the Rats before the season started
Sorry. Meant Bourgeois.
Sox have May, Engel, Call, Fisher, Basabe, Polo, Gonzalez all projected 4th/5th OF’s.
Not to mention the higher rated guys who don’t reach their ceilings.
IMO-Should have keyed on ceiling here, not floor.
He’s not a 5th outfielder
I love engel, kid plays the game the right way
Isn’t that exactly what the Sox did here? Sox traded a rental in swarkzak for a guy that is likely a 4th OF but who knows? Besides I have a feeling Yolmer Sanchez could be a guy moved soon as well.
Yeah, Looks like they got a Trayce Thompson back. Kinda unspooling the worthy (at the time) Todd Frazier pickup.
Yup. Collect them all! You forgot the Garcias. Intriguing idea. What if just one of these other spare parts takes the next step. Kinda takes the edge off of the Courtney Hawkins-Keeynan Walker-Jared Mitchell-insert Kenny toolsy OF merry-go-round. of diminished expecations
pplama, I disagree. Sox have plenty of boom or bust guys with perennial All-Star potential. I’m happy they went for a guy with a solid floor. I don’t think you get that much upside for a rental reliever, even if said upside is only in A ball..
If basabe can hit he turns into a 5 tool player so he most definitely is not a 4th outfielder
You’re high on crack if you thought the white sox would get a better prospect than this. They got a guy who could be good enough to play in the majors right now. I’d call that a win
Real bad trade.
Cordell is a solid return for the Sox. Good trade for the Brewers too. They’re still loaded at OF
waiting for the yankees move!
Keep waiting.. According to all Yankees fans, every prospect is untouchable and they cannot understand why the other teams do not just take junk for their best players to have the honor to play for the Yankees
Hopefully since Stearns has been saying all trade season that he wants “controllable assets past this year” they work out an extension with Swarzak. Brewers still have Santana, Broxton, Braun, Phillips, Ray, Brinson, Lutz, Clark all in the ranks so are still fine in OF. Way to trade from depth Stearns.
Nearly every team prefers controllable assets. I think this is one of those empty statements clubs make just because they’re expected. It’s a good win-now move for the Brewers, but if they come away empty handed in the starting pitching department, I don’t think it’ll matter. As good as Colorado and Arizona have been, they have a better chance at holding off the Cubs than getting a WC spot, but they need an upgrade to match the Cubs getting Quintana.
Brewers have a ton of guys that they need to add to the 40-man this off-season lest they lose them in the Rule 5 draft. This move was probably made with that in mind. I’m sure if Swarzak does well, an extension would be proposed, but this was a simple move that helps for the short-term and alleviates a roster crunch..
im waiting for the yankees.
Swarzak for a top 20 prospect, wow.
Top 20 in the Brewers farm system, a position where the Brewers have a lot of depth.
Top 20 is top 10 on other teams and you can never have enough depth. Don’t really understand this trade at all for the Brewers.
You don’t understand it? The Brewers are loaded with OFers much better than Cordell and are shoring up a weak bullpen. They are still in first place you know.
Depth in pitching maybe but they have way too many OFers. Santana and Phillips are already in the bigs, Next you have Brinson, Ray, Tristen Lutz, Trent Clark, and Monte Harrison all rated ahead of Cordell. Do the math and there was simply no room for Cordell.
Swarzak is terrible, THAT is what I don’t get. I wouldn’t give up a bag of doughnuts for him.
His numbers this year suggest otherwise.
“Outfielder Avisail Garcia, too, could see his name bandied about the rumor circuit over the next five to six years, as he’s only controlled through the 2019 campaign.”
You mean the next five or six days or months?
Sox should get whatever they can for him.
His BABIP luck is quickly running out.
Ha, I certainly did. I was thinking “controlled for two more years” as I wrote that sentence and clearly used “years” in the wrong spot, ha. Thanks for pointing that out.
Ahhh, we all wish it was still 2012. Good times, good times.
Dropped Cordell as a name on the last article, wow, good trade for both sides!
Welp. Cubs should have already taken the next 2, they definitely should now, especially if clippard comes in.
I like this for both sides
Swarzak is terrible. Did anyone ever watch him pitch for Minnesota? Mr Inherited Runners Scored.
Welcome to 2017.
He’s got nice stats in mop up duty for the Sox though…lol
Sox steal a prospect for a guy they signed to a minor league deal.
Or you could say the Brewers helped themselves in an area of need for a prospect that was clearly expendable
I don’t think it’s an upgrade, I don’t think this helps Milwaukee at all.
I met Swarzak at a baseball camp when he was playing for the New Britain Rock Cats (RIP). I’m happy to see him hanging around and having success.
Good deal for the Sox. Hahn is stocking up the farm with elite talent and depth for back up/injury fill in/future trade chips. Obviously not all will turn out as all stars but he is certainly following up on his plan at good speed no less. Multiple championships? Maybe. Multiple playoff contenders? Very possible as long as player development doesn’t screw it up. Not to mention the available salary money for the 2019 FA class.
There set up in a good position now. Either way it’s exciting and probably better than Kenny Williams could do.
I think he won this deal. I think it’s been a win or draw on every deal except the one with the Yankees (thought Kahnle should have brought in more). Excited to see the team in 2019 and 2020.
Yankees are paying 24 million wh sox won that
Great trade for the brew crew Cordell was never going to make it to the majors with the crew and we need more bullpen arms hope he makes it with the sox.
How have the White Sox been so bad if they have so many valuable trade pieces?
Ask Robin Ventura, it is the same question I have been asking for the last 5 years. Most had to do with with klown kenny making silly moves like hiring a wet noodle to mismanage this ballclub for the last 5 years (Ventura) and having too much of an ego to admit the mistake. Most of the Sox talent has been pitching. It has been for the past 5 seasons, but never could get hitters.. That what this rebuild is supposed to do. Also the last two drafts have looked really good if the Sox have not been getting other orgs top players ranked from 1-10 in baseball.
Partly the result of Hahn playing contrarian, Being the arms dealer to a lot of deluded middle of the pack teams gunning for that 2nd wild card slot. So really maximizing trade value for the pieces in place. Aside from Robin;s meh-indifference, was always perplexed by the Sox shoddy advance scouting. Something lost in the unloading of aces Sale and Quintana- the way AL central teams really started to tee off on them. Seems like the Twinkies and Royals always knew what buttons to push.
Sox also were kind of all-or-nothing at a lot of positions. They had Sale, Quintana, Abreu, and Eaton, but then they had holes in RF (until Avi’s emergence this year), LF (Cabrera gave back nearly all his bat value with poor fielding), 3B, SS, 2B, C, DH, and the back of their rotation. In several of these cases, the guys were below replacement value. They just didn’t have the solid mid-level talent that good teams acquire at most positions to accompany their elite talent.
Whoever gets verlander will go to WS
So what if he goes to the Braves, or doesn’t get traded? Does nobody win the World Series?
Whoever ‘gets’ Verlander is overpaying dramatically and likely will have little to show for it
Yeah, Tiggers in the WS. With a chunky Miggy and immobile VMart. And the en fuego pitchimg mobile that is Zimmerman-Sanchez.
It seems like the returns in deadline deals peaked last year. And then fell off a cliff this year. Mostly warm bodies and lotto tickets.
Unless you are dumping salary, there is almost no point in selling this year.
Does that narrative help you sleep at night with your PRates standing pat again?
A- Just because you label reality as “narrative” that doesn’t actually stop it from being true.
B- You lose sleep over baseball moves?
Or if you have nothing to gain by keeping a marketable trade chip. Hahn lacked leverage here and probably took the best offer he could find. The alternative was simply losing Swarzak to FA this offseason. If Swarzak had another year of control, Hahn could’ve held out for a better return or given Swarzak the time and opportunity (as closer) to increase his value before next year’s deadline. It is what it is, though.
Chapman and Miller were far more valuable than swarzak. Quintana got a pretty good package and im sure sonny gray will also
We just haven’t seen some of the bigger names moved yet. If Darvish is traded he’ll get a Chapman-esque return. Swarzak and Garcia are nowhere near ok the same level as who got moved for rentals at the top last year. The White Sox got a good return for Frazier and the 2 RPs, Quintana brought a haul back. It’s not like teams won’t pay a premium there just aren’t a ton of premium guys that are definitely available with the wild card race so tight. I think the 2nd wild card spot means we will see less sellers as a whole over a long period of time which should actually in turn increase the prices of the guys that are available.
Yup. Rick read the market perfectly. The only determined seller in a seller’s market. While the likes of the Jays-Rangers-Mariners-Angels-Royals delude themselves into chasing the mirage of a 2nd playoff spot (what Kenny used to do) and find themselves in 78-84 win puragory. Why he’s a baaaad man!
It’s a drop in return on rentals. The cost for those controlable beyond the current season has gone up.
Good point, there is a substantial diminishing return if you’re pawning off rentals, absent a true headliner. Why the Yankee deal may be Hahn’s craftiest yet. Bundling parts to get 1. and 1./2 stellar prospects
Really don’t see the appeal. Brewers will be extremely lucky even make the playoffs.
How does Cashman still have a job? Wilson? Traded for scrap. Goody? Swarzak? Nova? All gone for nothing.
But they got Robertson and Kahnle back. And almost got Quintana back as well!
They also traded B. RUTHerford for them.
Wait. Do I see a Yankees fan that DOESN’T say that Rutherford stinks after he was moved? Wow, I surely have darn near seen it all now!!
Well B Ruth is in his name that has to be a sign
Haha… so true
Good for the brewers, plus Ryan should get his shot. Good for both teams.
given the reliever market this month, its not a bad return. though i would have preferred someone with more upside like harrison or gatewood.
Upside costs more. I’m happy with a player with a solid floor. I think it’s a very solid return for a rental who was actually hindering their quest for the #1 pick (not that I think they can realistically suck hard enough to get it, but I can hope).
PLEASE SELL HIGH ON AVISAL GARCIA!!!!!!
Part of me initially disagrees, but Avi has not shown this ability to hit for an entire season and appears to be slowing down. Then again, when you are on a dead man walking type of team then I cannot imaging the motivation to do tremendously well unless you want to be moved.
Wonder who the Brewers will DFA after tonights game? Peralta or Drake? Otherwise not sure who they can option, maybe Suter or Blazek.
Drake or Kendrick?
My guess is Drake or Torres.
They don’t need to as they have an extra slot on the 40 man available. However, Torres and Drake could go.
I might be wrong but pretty sure Swarzak was already in the Brewers minors a couple of years ago. But happy for Cordell think he could be a Zorbist type player in a couple of years
Has never been in the Brewers org.
This guy seems pretty legit.
Would be funny if a team like the Brewers actually pulled off a trade for someone who was already in the team’s system. Like the scion of a large family who loses count of who was in the van when they arrived at the car wash.
Wow. That Rick Hahn is a baaad man. Don’t look now, but he just traded a piece of gum that got stuck to his Chuck Taylor’s while clambering over the jungle gym at recess.
brewers had brinson pulled in 1st inning of aaa game and he’s not injured. is he being called up? traded? someone else traded?
If that’s true, I’d guess he’s being called up. Especially since Broxton isn’t there. Brewers are “fading” in talks for Gray, and (that I know of) they’re not in any other trade talks serious enough to pull Brinson from a game. If they were, it’d have to be for a big name player and I feel like we’d have heard at least a rumor by now.
Brinson called up to the Brewers yes, but they are in serious talks with the Tigers for Kinsler and Wilson. Maybe Phillips will be the one dealt.
Maybe but Brinson better not be discussed in those talks period. And idk how serious those talks have gotten.
It was a very good trade for both clubs. The brewers get Anothony Swarzak who has had a great year with a 2.23 ERA. And Cordell was the Brewers 17th prospect and is ready to play.
For the love of God, please trade Avi too while his value is somewhat high. We are already seeing his play fall from the sky.
What do you expect to get for him? There’s not much market for hitters unless they’re truly elite. Also, other teams have scouts and can watch tape of games or lookup stats, too. If you can see that he’s fallen off, so can they. Nobody’s going to believe he’s just figured this whole baseball thing out now and will hit like JD Martinez from here on out. At best, they get a top 100 (bottom half) and a lottery ticket for him. He has no track record of being any good until this year and hitters are not in that high of demand.
I’ll take a top 100 and a lottery ticket for him, you wouldn’t?
The trade has officially been confirmed by the White Sox: m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/244540760/white-so…
Ryan Cordell was the Brewers #17 overall rated prospect and now becomes the White Sox #18 rated one. The 25-year old is putting up decent numbers at AAA and should have an opportunity to make his MLB debut with the White Sox at some point this season.
What do you expect to get for Avi Garcia? It is not a sellers market for OFs now and other GMs see his stats may be a lucky outlier to part with meaningful prospects.
They aren’t going to trade him this year. They will wait until the offseason and reassess his value. I think the improvement is real, but I still don’t believe they’ll get a haul for him.
I like this trade because our bullpen has been overworked, and we did not have to give up many prospects with what the market is going for for pitchers these days. The brewers need relief pitching big time. I would really love to see Josh Hader in the starting rotation next year. I do not want to trade Bronson or phillips though for pitching. Everyone else I say go for it. I really would like to see a trade of Wilson and kinsler from the tigers.
Brinson I ment not bronson