The White Sox have acquired left-hander Tyler Gilbert from the Phillies, per an announcement from Philadelphia. Chicago sent right-hander Aaron Combs back to the Phillies in exchange for Gilbert’s services. Gilbert had been designated for assignment by the Phillies prior to the holidays. The White Sox designated infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment to make room for Gilbert on their 40-man roster.
Gilbert, 31, pitched just 8 1/3 innings for the Phillies this year after signing a minor league deal with the Reds last winter and being traded to Philadelphia back in May. A sixth-round pick by the Phillies back in 2015, he was surrendered to Arizona in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft and made his big league debut as a Diamondback during the 2021 season. The lefty had a rather impressive rookie season, as he posted a 3.15 ERA (135 ERA+) with a 4.27 FIP in 40 innings of work for the Snakes spread between six starts and three relief appearances. The highlight of his rookie campaign (and of his career to this point) was a no-hitter in his first career MLB start, where he struck out five Padres while walking three over his nine hitless innings of work.
Unfortunately, Gilbert’s next two seasons in the desert didn’t go quite as well. He struggled to a 5.23 ERA with a 5.10 FIP in 51 2/3 innings of work between 2022 and ’23, with a paltry 17.9% strikeout rate and a penchant for allowing home runs being the main culprits of the lefty’s difficulties. Those difficulties led to Gilbert being outrighted off the club’s roster following the 2023 season, which led to him electing free agency and signing that aforementioned minor league deal in Cincinnati. After rejoining the Phillies, Gilbert posted a solid enough 3.24 ERA in 8 1/3 innings of work at the big league level and paired that with an excellent run of outings at Triple-A, where he pitched to a 2.25 ERA in 40 frames across 31 appearances for the club’s LeHigh Valley affiliate. Impressive as those minor league numbers were, however, Gilbert found himself squeezed off the club’s 40-man roster just before the holidays due to the Jesús Luzardo trade.
Now that he’s in Chicago, Gilbert could find himself in the mix for starts at the big league level in what figures to be a fairly wide-open competition for starts on the south side. Jonathan Cannon, Bryse Wilson, and Drew Thorpe all seem likely to be part of the club’s Opening Day rotation if healthy, but beyond that trio a number of possible options exist including Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Jake Eder, Ky Bush, and Nick Nastrini. If Gilbert doesn’t make the club’s rotation, it’s to imagine him providing left-handed relief depth alongside Jared Shuster and Cam Booser for the club this year.
In return for Gilbert’s services, the Phillies add a right-handed minor leaguer in Combs. The White Sox’ eighth rounder in the 2024 draft, Combs has just 7 2/3 innings of work at the minor league level under his belt but struck out an impressive 39.4% of opponents at the Single-A level in his pro debut down the stretch last year. Prior to being drafted, Combs posted a 3.24 ERA in 66 2/3 innings of work pitching in the SEC. The youngster just turned 23 last week and is hardly a sure bet to influence the club in 2025, but the impressive stuff he flashed last season could carry him through the minors fairly quickly.
In order to fit Gilbert on their roster, the White Sox part ways with Shewmake. The 27-year-old was a first-round pick by the Braves in 2019 and eventually made his big league debut with the club in 2023, though that cup of coffee lasted just two games and ended before Shewmake recorded his first big league hit. He was shipped to Chicago last winter as part of the trade that brought Aaron Bummer to Atlanta, but dealt with injuries during his first year in Chicago and was limited to just 39 games between Triple-A and the majors. Those games did not go especially well, as he posted a .152/.152/.182 slash line in ten minor league games. That’s more or less in line with what he did in the majors, as well: in 67 trips to the plate, Shewmake hit just .125/.134/.203 (-15 wRC+). The White Sox will have one week to waive or trade Shewmake, and if he clears waivers successfully they’ll have the opportunity to outright him to the minors as non-roster depth for the coming season.
Logan bettas
Logan bettah
Bilbert Grape betta too
I would take Arnie Grape over anyone one the white Sox. Even if he was the ball boy or bat boy.
Part of the grand plan. 95 percent of their players were below replacement level. Owner is a tightwad. Better off trying to use other teams discards and hoping to win 63 games……. At least maybe there will be effort. There was zero the last two years.
Where do they get these guys!?
realsox: From the garbage dump. (One day I’ll take umbridge with your handle but, for now, I can’t argue. I’ll enjoy watching the White Sox’ core of P from their last successful rebuild helping the Red Sox into the PO this season).
I’ll take the under on 63 wins. As is, this team may win 50 games.
That would still be a significant improvement.
Another year of rooting for the Cubs.
Ridiculous comment. Don’t come back, have fun on the North side.
I know this is going to be hypocritical coming from me a Pirates fan but not everyone is willing to support a team that has a scumbag in the ownership position. Nobody and I mean nobody should support a team where the owner has absolutely no interest in putting even an average product on the field, that’s just abusing the loyalty of your fans. Personally I’m not going to root for another team but I can’t blame someone who does while they wait out the thieves that currently own their favorite franchises.
Do as I say and not as I do. You should be a politician.
The White Sox have always been my team but,they’ve absolutely ruined any loyalty the past 2 years. I’d much rather watch the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Giants or Padres. Teams that actually spend money.
As a Giants fan I can tell you to pick any of the others you listed over us.
@Big Hurt
The Cubs have a plethora of solid ballplayers and a a few really exciting ones.
I’d have to be crazy to watch the Sox.
Prunella: No true Sox fan would EVER watch, let alone cheer, for the cubs, especially if you were born in Chicago. I’ll keep track of the Sox, primarily because their ineptness is hilarious, but there are other teams I like such as the Red Sox, DBacks, Tigers…Actually most teams except the cubs and NYY.
Made a decision to see away games and new parks. Still a Sox fan, but trying to spend my money elsewhere
There are a lot of fair weather fans in Chicago, loath as we are to admit it. I’m with you, but it’s just how it is that people in Chicago want to see competent sports teams and are starved for it. Whenever the Sox are good again, they will be back and we will need their ticket money then as now. It’s what it is.
When there is a new owner, one that actually cares about the team and fields a competitive squad, the fans will be back. I think most Sox fans don’t hate the players Getz is trying to force us to support, it’s JR and his trained monkey fans are protesting against by not buying tickets.
White Sox fans obsess about the Cubs. Cubs fans barely know the Sox exist.
Yknow, Im not lamenting the loss of Chicago Sportsnet and its replacement channel not being available via Comcast..
All three teams on the new Chicago sports channel (or whatever its called) are the Bulls, Black Hawks, and White Sox..
That channel’s ownership is not exactly bargaining with Comcast on a position of strength.
Chicago Sports Network btw
First trade of Generation Beta
Was he the one who threw a no hitter in his debut?
While it was not his debut (he made 3 relief appearances prior) it was his first MLB start.
Thanks
I was at that game when he threw the no hitter, my kids took me to the game, it was on my birthday, it was pretty cool , I was sitting near his parents and GF
No Michael Lorenzen threw one for his Phillies home debut if that is what you are thinking of for the no-no.
gregorydefelice – No, Gilbert threw a no hitter in his first major league start when he was with Arizona.
Not good move.
Not a bad get for the Phillies in return for a player they had designated. Combs has an interesting profile for a prospect reliever.
Yes – I was surprised that the Phils received someone that might still have a shot at some development. Stash enough lottery tickets with some talent and at some point a couple of them will break through.
Is Aaron Combs related to Pat Combs
Big trade to start the new year. I’m excited now for baseball to begin
I often wonder about these headline choices. Why is it not “Phillies Acquire Aaron Combs?”
It’s a theory. Though both players are only marginally established, and clearly seen as being of equal value since they were exchanged one for one. Yet Gilbert gets the both the headline and most of the text, and Combs gets only a couple of sentences. It seems arbitrary. It doesn’t need to be, it just is.
BlueSkies: Or, it gives mlbtr something about the Sox to write about.
Sweet! And Happy New Year to you too!
One threw a no-hitter in the MLB and the other was recently drafted and played in Class A.
Yes, indeed, both players are equally marginally established and it would be much more logical to name the minor leaguer who hasn’t even played a full season in the minor leagues yet instead of the man with a no-hitter in the major leagues.
Some people have already entered the new year with a very sour taste to complain on its first day!
It seems all the complaints are yours.
I am defending the title of this article and the choice made by the author. The one that was complaining about something insignificant yet logical is you.
Um, what?
I suspect the Phils worked the phone on this one. Somehow snookering the Sox into thinking there was other interest in Gilbert, when Sox had first choice off waivers.
At least I’d like to believe that even the Sox weren’t dumb enough to do this on their own
Dbird: Are you familiar with Getz’ body of work?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Phillies had multiple offers, but it feels like the Chisox gave up too much.
So your solution is to become a fan of the rival? Or cheer like crazy for the team you’ve love for 50 years and hope for ownership change?
The reality is that Reinsdorf is a cheap old man who apparently thinks you CAN take it with you, but what does that have to do with the team I want to win? Feel sorry for me if you want, but I will never want another team to win simply because I don’t agree with ownership.
My question would be, as a WS fan, what would you have had them do instead? The culture of the team is a big part of the problem. Tearing it down and starting over is what many clamored for. Even if they signed a big FA like Bregman, would they compete during his contract? Would signing him significantly improve ticket sales? They need to rebuild the minors. Until then, one year signings and minor trade additions are something to get used to.
It’s impossible to know how fast the turnaround can happen. It might never happen, or it could happen in 2 years like it did for the Royals or Orioles recently. As an optimistic fan (and btw, I am one of like 5, because most Sox fans are miserable), I see a good rotation and great starting pitcher prospect list, and think that it’s not a bad start. With the crochet trade and possibly Robert, they are adding to the offensive prospects. Win 60 this year with a strong base from the rotation, develop the offense in AAA and sign a couple free agents next winter, and maybe u get closr to .500.
The 2024 White Sox starting rotation pitched well enough to keep them in most games. A truly historically awful bullpen, offense, and defense was their doom. there are numerous teams that would have been at or near 500 with that starting staff.
Big Hurt: It will never happen during the Reinsdorf/Getz catastrophe. Reinsdorf is cheap, Getz is clueless. They sign guys like Pham, Fedde and Slater for nothing because the players hope to play well enough to get flipped to actual teams in the summer. Their so-called prospects will never be any better than they already are because the Sox don’t know how to develop talent. Look at how other teams have rebuilt themselves. They sign top and mid-tier players with proven track records. The Angels are an example of that. They might not have a winning season, but at least they’re trying by signing some established major league talent. Their fans have a degree of optimism. Trading your best players, players you could build around if jer wasn’t averse to paying players more than $2M/year is not the way to rebuild. Signing garbage players who can’t even hope of a bounce back season because they have nothing to bounce back from, leads to the worst team in modern major league history. No one is going to be paying much attention to the Sox until they close in on the all-time record of 134 losses
Yeah for the next 5 years
@Big Hurt
Been a Sox fan since 1951. Still am.
However, I can’t watch a dreadfully played baseball game — it makes my eyes bleed.
There’s another team in town that actually knows how to play Major League Baseball, so, to protect my old eyes, I watch them.
I am waiting for them to sign Chris Volstad back.
This was a mistake by Getz, Combs will anchor a major league bullpen someday. Could have simply claimed Gilbert or let him go to another team and acquired any other FA lefty instead. Really dumb.
Nah, all teams do minor trades like this one, 11 days ago they traded for another LHP Cam Booser for a pitching prospect. I believe there is a DFA rule that if a recently dfa player fails to get traded they are simply released or sent back to Triple A.
The first mistake was trading Combs away period, he could be exceptionally good as a bullpen piece. He was among their top 15 arms imo.
Secondly, they traded him for a pitcher barely worth claiming with their FIRST waiver claim spot, considering they will have first dibs on all DFA’s and cuts the entire offseason.
Getz can be had in trades & needs to improve roster management into his second year. I was hoping for better.
Seems like maybe we overpaid for someone else’s garbage again. Ironically, it cost Shewmake a spot (we acquired him in the infamous trade-Bummer-for-garbage move last year).
Think Gilbert has a good year in 2025. He looked great at Lehigh and was good when called on at the MLB level last year. But the return is quite nice as well. Shades of the Haseley deal, but hopefully with better results.
By the middle of 2026, the White Sox will have the best young starting rotation in all of baseball and the big mouths here will run away and hide.
No kidding, imagine their bullpen. It will be interesting to see who gets moved to setup and closer. Iriarte seems ticketed there, along with Pallette and whomever cannot hold off Schultz, Smith, Taylor, Thorpe & Cannon from the rotation.
Eder, Burke, Adams, Nastrini too.
I hope so, No Neck.
Much promise fo sho. Till then, duck and cover. Tho stockpiling picks after next season won’t be so bad. Bad luck for them that the new anti tanking rules are hitting them now when they’re Bad, consecutive seasons at the bottom sure helped the Os, Astros and Cubs
They’re locked into a bottom three finish in 2025, so they’ll have a chance at a top 3 next year.
Mr. Reinsdorf please sell the team. Terrible brand of baseball from ownership to low minors. Ask the Southside.
Shewmake out. Another great trade by the Sox. Got nothing for Bummer. Once Vargas fails, nothing for Kopech. Almost afraid to see how Teel & Montgomery disappoint as well.
Riley Gowens exists. Although it is fun to pretend everything you don’t like is a “failure”. LOL.
Yep, Gowens had a good year making it to AA and at least looks like he could make the show as a reliever. They also have Schuster, who might stick as long reliever. For Bummer, those positives at least make that trade somewhat even.
However, now they gave up a debatably better prospect arm in Combs than either, for an objectively worse lefty reliever vet than Bummer.
Welcome back to the Braves Shewmake! Arcia can sit on the bench and watch.
The Mariners should make a claim for Braden Shewmake. They need help in the middle infield, and Shewmake has options remaining.
Gilbert Grape
wondering if/when the white sox will consider attempting to acquire good players
When they get a new owner who wants to build a winning team.
Combs looks like a K machine, let’s see how he fares at Lakewood & Reading.
I guess the question is do the Sox think they will receive a better prospect in return than Combs if/when they flip Gilbert? Tough to say, even if he has a good year. I get the idea of the trade but it’s tough to say it’s a good idea and I’m not sure Getz deserves the benefit of the doubt yet.
Being a Tennessee fan, I have seen a lot of Aaron Combs. The Sox should have just stuck with him as a future bullpen fixture.
I was surprised that the Sox gave up what appears to be a legit prospect for a player being released. I was expecting a career minor leaguer to fill out the minor league rosters..
“Impressive as those minor league numbers were” is NOT proper English. You can’t just leave “as” out at the start of the sentence. Proper grammar is not optional.