The White Sox are acquiring right-hander Luis Patiño from the Rays for cash, reports James Fegan.
Patiño, now 23, came over to the Rays as part of the 2020 trade that sent Blake Snell to the Padres. At the time, he was considered one of the top 100 prospects in the sport. In 2021, he seemed like he was cementing himself as a part of Tampa’s future rotation. He made 19 appearances that year, 15 starts, throwing 77 1/3 innings with a 4.31 earned runs allowed per nine innings. That wasn’t a dominant number, but he was just 21 years old that year and so it seemed like there was plenty of room for him to grow.
Unfortunately, things haven’t gone according to plan since then. He missed most of the first half of 2022 due to an oblique strain and then spent the second half as a frequently-optioned depth piece for Tampa. He posted an 8.10 ERA over six big league starts and a 4.38 ERA in 11 minor league starts.
He’s been healthy here in 2023 but hasn’t been able to get back on track. He’s only tossed four innings in the big leagues, spending most of the year in Triple-A. He made six starts at that level earlier in the year but had a 6.66 ERA before being moved into a relief role. He has a 6.86 ERA since that time, walking 13.8% of hitters while striking out just 10.6%. He is in his final option year and will be out of options next year. For a competitive team like the Rays, it seems it was time to move on.
The White Sox are in a very different position, as they have struggled badly this year and are looking towards the future. They’ve already traded a few pitchers, including Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and Kendall Graveman, with perhaps a few more potentially moving before the day is done. They can keep Patiño in the minors for the next couple of months, either in a starting role or a relief role, and see if they can get him back on track. He’s still quite young and was a top prospect not too long ago. He has less than three years of major league service time, meaning they can control him for four more seasons beyond this one if he gets into good form.
How the mighty have fallen
Wow. Watched him in the SD farm and he looked like he had such a bright future
Right…? Seems like two years ago the Sox won the division by 25 games and we’re headed towards a long dominating run.
Remember when he was a top pitching prospect? Good luck to him, but it hasn’t panned out yet.
@Darragh James Fegan is no longer with The Athletic. He was let go a couple of months ago.
He had the Chris Archer problem. Too jumpy. The Rays like their pitchers to be robots.
They definitely have a “type”. My son sees there minor league pitching coordinator in the off-season as a youth coach. Dude is very strict on form follows function. There is a TB way and then the wrong way!
Kinda weird considering he is still pre-arbitration for another year
Need 40 man room
This ^^^
Perpetual “problem“ for the Rays.
Don’t know if I can trust the White Sox team staff to turn him around at this point
Funny how everyone hated the Padres for that trade. Prospects are just prospects
The padres have made so many terrible moves but this isnt one.
White Sox have a good record rehabilitating starters.
Worth a flyer for sure.
Wow, I can’t believe Patino was made available just for cash considerations. That is crazy! His performance has really tanked over the last couple of years but he’s still only 23 years old. Perhaps he can fixed, or converted to a serviceable bullpen arm?
I’m gonna venture a guess that if TB can’t fix the kid he is unfixable.
Still need to find a taker for Clevinger somehow.
He’s more of a hitter than a pitcher now, just ask his ex.
Nobody wants Clevinger. The buyout on his 2024 option is $4 million.
Padres win Blake snell trade. That’s two years wins for preller when trading with the rays. Pham cronenworth being the other
Remember his inning in the futures game a few years back? He was unhittable! Great buy low trade for the Sox
They’ve picked up some pretty decent young talent but none of it means anything if the Sox don’t start taking free agency seriously.
I still think Patino will be a good pitcher.
Have you seen him pitch the last couple years?
Yes. Very erratic but high strikeout guy. Mixed in with injuries. He just needs polishing.
Worth a shot…sneaky deal by the CWS with potential upside still.
Odd that the deal was made at the deadline and not at the end of the season. We’re the Rays that desperate for cash?