2:46pm: Chicago will send just over $1MM, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter).
12:23pm: The Brewers have officially agreed to a deal to acquire righty Joakim Soria from the White Sox, as first reportedy by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter). Former first-round pick Kodi Medeiros is one piece in the deal, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com (Twitter link), with Feinsand tweeting that righty Wilber Perez is the other.
Per the announcement, the White Sox will pay down an unstated portion of Soria’s contract. He’s earning $9MM this year — some of it still paid for by the Dodgers, as part of the three-team deal that sent him to Chicago — with a $1MM buyout still to come on a $10MM 2019 mutual option.
While his name hasn’t been circulated much around the rumor mill, Soria ranked 12th on MLBTR’s recent list of the top 75 trade deadline candidates on the basis of his strong showing thus far. He becomes the sixth of the first 13 names on that ranking to be dealt in the past week or so.
Soria, 34, has worked as the White Sox’ closer and carries a 2.56 ERA through 38 2/3 innings on the season. He’s sporting an impressive combination of 11.4 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9, buttressed by a career-best 14.6% swinging-strike rate.
There’s a lot to like about the way the veteran hurler is throwing right now. Soria is getting whiffs both by drawing quite a few more chases out of the zone (35.6%) than ever before and by holding opposing hitters to a 77.3% contact rate on pitches in the zone, which is also a career-best rate.
Soria carried sparkling peripherals last year, too, though he only ended the season with a 3.70 ERA, so he seems to be on something of a late-career run of excellence. The long-time late-inning hurler has tamped down on the home runs quite a bit over the past two seasons, allowing only three balls in total to leave the yard in that span.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dang they just won the world series
For Santana maybe? Seems like an overpay.
corey ray headliner
Lol I highly doubt that.
I’ll be here all week
No. Just 2 pitchers.
The stove is heating up boys!!!!
Kodi Medeiros heading back.
Glad the Royals basically salary dumped him and gave away Scott Alexander to make it happen. Dayton Moore sucks these days.
Alexander had been awful thus far but Soria being dumped seemed dumb at the time. Now it really sucks cause the Sox got something for him. Literally gave a division rival a prospect
You must not have seen Alexander since he came back up. He has been lights out. Dodgers best non closer relief pitcher
Damn hate the trade even more now
Thanks
We did not give him away we got Trevor Oaks and Erick Mejia.
Won’t get much because he isn’t a big difference maker. Maybe a prospect between 12-15 in there system not a top 100 in mlb minors ratings
Medeiros was the 12th overall pick out of high school in 2014, and he’s taken a few years, but this year at age 22, he took huge step forward. His AA numbers are pretty impressive. Brewers have a fairly deep system, and it’s likely he’d have moved back into their top 10.
Not anymore. He’s whitesox property now. Best of luck to him. Here’s hoping he develops and has a good career and plays with a chip on his shoulder against the Brewers
So like maybe 1 appearance a year? What a weird, defensive comment.
In the new updated list on mlb.com he was 13. Although his ERA is down this year, most other stats have remained similar. In fact his BB/9 and HR/9 have actually gone up slightly
Kinda feel sorry for Soria. He can close for the teams with no bullpen depth. But when he gets traded to contenders, back to set up. Plus he’s cheap enough, he moves frequently. Tough on the family. Tough to take mentally.
His family lives in Arizona during the season, I doubt they’re moving just because he’s moving from Chicago to Milwaukee.
Being a traded is bound to happen when you sign with the White Sox.
As a Brewers fan, I don’t love it; ya Medeiros doesn’t look like an ace but he may become a 3/4 or bullpen type, Soria is good but he has a 10 mil option next year which isn’t some great value
But at least it fits the 2018 try to win without selling the farm plan.
Medeiros never developed the control to become a viable starter, and he would have to be added to the 40 man roster this offseason or be subject to the rule 5 draft. He was a failed 1st rd pick…
His control has been much better this year, but I still think he ends up as more of a bullpen arm that can give you an emergency start when needed. As a lefty who can hit 95 and has a good slider and a developing change that still has value though. I still think he can be intriguing, but don’t hate seeing him go and doesn’t hurt the farm too much.
No way you can say he’s a failed first rounder when he just turned 22 and has posted a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts in AA, with more than a strikeout per inning. Walks were big issue in past but not as much the last couple seasons.
Medeiros is a good prospect and a southpaw slinger, which the Sox definitely need. He is only 22 and needs time to develop. Let’s see what the Hawaiian fireballer can do. Now he will join an impressive list of minor league pitchers looking to move up.
Agree a bit of an overpay just because of how much Soria is owed/could be owed. No way he would get $10 mil/y on the open market this offseason.
Price of quality relievers on the open market is high. He wouldn’t get $10 million per year over multiple years, but on a one year deal, he’d get close.
Pitch him 2 months maybe 3 if lucky then pay him his 1 million dollar buy out and either resign him for less then the 10 mil or let him walk.
Most scouts don’t believe he has a repeatable enough delivery to stick as a starter. He has had problems with his command in the past, with slight improvement this year. Best case scenario, he is a middle/late innings reliever with strong numbers against lefties, but he has a lot of bust potential. Not a bad piece to get for the White Sox, but as a Brewers fan I am ok with what we gave up.
To be honest, I am more bummed with losing Perez. Although extremely young, he definitely has the higher ceiling and I think he’ll be the better prospect out if the two in a couple of years
Perez is really still a bit of an unknown. Was awesome in the Dominican summer league, but even at 20 he was actually older than league average by over a year and a half. Definitely got some potential there, but he’s exactly the kind of lottery ticket that always gets thrown into deals like this.
I still like the trade for the Brewers I was just saying I personally like Perez better as a SP prospect than Medeiros
Soria stinks.
A 2.56 ERA, 16 saves and 49:10 K:BB ratio sucks?
He has pitched good although he got very lucky with the 2 run home run the left fielder pulled back in for the out recently. His ERA would then now be over 3
and if wishes were trees… White sox have the worst D in the league… if you’re gonna factor in one good play… you have to factor in times when plays that should have been made weren’t.
That is certainly true especially for Chris Volstad. Davidson at first base and Palka in right field and also left field all messed up on several plays that should have been made costing many undeserved earned runs. None called errors. Palka can hit but is a terrible outfielder. Happened at times for other pitchers too.
That escalated quickly.
Good trade! Helps the contender now and the rebuilder later. Plus this could signal Milwaukee moving Burnes into a swingman-type role or even the rotation if he can get stretched out.
I’m really hoping Burnes gets a chance to start ifnot this year then next year
Holy walks! He’ll have to be a bullpen project. That’s fine. If all goes well, rotation hopefully set soon enough (with health in case of last) at some point in 2019 as Rodon/Lopez/Kopech/Cease/Dunning. Maybe bat of Cordell gets Sept shot from last year’s trade of Swarzak to Brew Crew.
As a Brewers and a White Sox fan, it’s starting to feel like I can watch both teams at the same time..
Fellow brewer fans: make a move Stearns! Trade the farm and go all in!
Trade happens…
Noooooo! WTF Stearns?!? Don’t trade that guy. Or that guy. Maybe that guy, but only if it’s for deGrom or Machado or someone who’s not available.
WHY DONT YOU CHECK WITH YOUR FANS BEFORE YOU DO THESE THINGS? CLEARLY WE KNOW MORE THAN YOU!!
There are a lot of Brewers fans who don’t get the rebuild and want them to go all in (just see the Facebook comments). But I don’t think they’re (mostly) the same people who complain about trading good prospects. You gotta give something to get something (usually) but I’m in the camp of not going for it until you’re really ready to contend. Save the top 10 prospects for a frontline starter when the opportunity arises.
That seems to be the problem: so many fans lack a true understanding of the situation. Same thing happened last year, team got off to a really good start and people wanted Stearns to blow up the farm for Sonny Gray (how’s that working for the Yankees right now?). This year was Machado. We need more than 1 piece. A true ace, and 1 of catcher/ss/2b, if not 2 of the 3.
Realistically though, they absolutely needed another bullpen arm. With all the issues of the rotation (typically going 5-6 innings, all the injuries, etc) they need 3+ from the pen every day. Jennings/Jeffress/Hader/Knebel can’t pitch all the meaningful innings. And Knebel hasn’t exactly been lights out. Having a backup plan there isn’t the worst thing either.
It’s a move. Not saying it’s one of the top 3 needs for the Crew right now, but it’s a fair trade from what I can tell. We need an ace for a wild card game. We don’t have one. We’ve gotten some great production out of a bunch of starters who’d be #3-4s on other contenders. That can’t hold out all season.
That’s exactly why fans need to slow their role with the “all in” “go for it this year” talk. Too many holes to fill. And this team (last year’s too) is a great example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. They’ve really managed to win a lot of games with basically the first 5 batters in the lineup. The collection of catcher, ss and 2b really hasn’t given much at all. And of course, the pitcher’s spot. The only time the opponent worried at all once it got past the 5 spot was when Aguilar was still the designated pinch hitter.
Fans talk about a “Brewers window of contention”. I get it, we have good talent on the 25 man, and a solid farm. However, runs at the postseason aren’t a given in any year – check out the Nationals. When the Brewers get a chance to sniff the playoffs, they need to make hay. There’s no guarantee they have a shot next year. Get that ace and go for it while you can. Those Cards and Reds won’t be .500 teams forever. They have a legit shot at contention this year. Next year is next year – you start all over and injuries or poor performance happens all too often. Think about it; 2011 was a while back already…
Ok, so with the knowledge that they need 2 TOR starters, a catcher, ss and 2b that can hit a little, how are they going to fill all those holes in 5 days, without giving up 3/4 of the farm though?
That’s a big reason we haven’t been competitive since ’11. Melvin gave up a ton to get grienke, and I believe Marcum was a trade acquisition as well, though obviously not as expensive as Zach.
I say go get deGrom. This team needs that WC ace, and they need a stopper to give a boost to the team every 5 games if they have a bad streak. A guy like this gives the whole team a chance to take a breath and stop pressing for a night. Plus, they’d control him for another 2 yrs if I remember correctly. There aren’t many aces out there, and the odds of the Crew having one in the minors is just low. They are special. I also don’t think catcher is a pressing need. Our guys are solid, if not exactly spectacular. Every batter in the lineup doesn’t have to be stellar if the defense is there. I think if Arcia and Saladino are out there and quit swinging for the fences, they’d be just fine. Just get on base – bunt, walk, I really don’t care. Get on and let the next guy move you over. Then you get back to the top of the order and see what happens. But I think we need that ace. #2 I’m not so worried about. The offense can obviously carry a bunch of #3s and 4s.
I’m all for getting deGrom, IF he’s truly going to be dealt. One day the Mets say absolutely not, the next they hint he could be moved. If Stearns offers the right package, my guess is it can absolutely be done. And he offers 2 more years of control, so you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. He’s really the one guy I’d be in favor of making a splash for. The rentals and #4 starter/inning eater types. Meh. Anyone can eat innings, but if they give up 5+ runs in the process, it’s not helping.
Not t mention the Cubs windows isn’t closing any time soon…
Solid move by Rick Hahn. Actually, a nice swap for both sides. Soria has done a really nice job for the Sox this season. Hopefully it continues for him in Milwaukee.
Was hoping he’d end up a Brave to add some much needed depth. Seems like it cost more than I would have expected for him regardless of wsox picking up dollars though.
Good luck. Soria was hot when the Tigers traded for him at the deadline a few years ago. He immediately became very inconsistent and cost the Tigers a playoff win they desperately needed by apparently forgetting where the plate was. Watching him for a year I get the impression he doesn’t thrive on pressure like most closers but instead it gets to him and he questions his stuff.
So you are trying to tie a few years ago into this year and talking about him as a closer. Both of which have no relevance on his move to Milwaukee. He will be used in the 7th and possibly 8th innings at times. He’s still the brewers 4th option out of the pen.
If he’s truly the 4th option out of the ‘pen, then that’s a massive overpay for the Brewers – especially when there’s a real chance they play a wild card game.
An overpay by giving up Kodi who’s proven nothing in pro ball and Perez who’s not even in the Brewers top 30 prospects? Scouts even said when Kodi was drafted he projected as a bullpen arm because of his delivery. Just because a guy is a 4th option out of the pen doesn’t make him bad. No one on the market is as good as Hader or Jeffress this year and Knebel is the closer who continues to get back to form. Not to mention Soria isn’t a rental if the brewers want to keep him. 1/10M for a reliever in this market isn’t outrageous. Not to mention if they don’t want him next year the White Sox paid for his 1M buyout.
Can’t really speak to the quality of prospects, but getting another arm in the bullpen is always a good move for playoff contenders.
Meanwhile Jed and Theo continue to do nothing. Maybe they’ll bring Peavey out of retirement
I think John Lackey is available…
How about Saltalamachia?
What’s going on here, Jeff? No write up about the Sox return?
No kidding. I think this might be the first time I’ve seen a finished trade post where they don’t breakdown (to some degree) both sides of the deal. I’m a Sox fan and I’m not familiar with either of the two pieces coming our way. A couple of sentences at the very least would’ve been nice
If Soria brings in Medeiros then Kela should bring in a really nice pitching prospect for Texas here soon
That’s the best they will do lol.
Weird no discussion in post about whether he and/or team will exercise mutual option.
Fairly good trade for the White Sox. We all know they got Soria so they could flip him and the return is decent considering Soria’s contract. If Cooper can develop either guy into even a solid bullpen arm that the Sox could use when they are in contention, then this trade works out well for them. Could be a good win-now move by the Brewers, too, though I don’t think they stand much of a shot against whoever comes out of the AL.