The Chicago White Sox have made a major move in the MLB offseason, trading away two of their top pitchers in Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for a package of prospects.
Giolito, 25, was the White Sox’s first-round pick in 2012 and has been one of the team’s most consistent starters over the past three seasons. He was an All-Star in 2019 and finished the season with a 3.41 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He also had a career-high 228 strikeouts in 202 innings.
López, 26, was acquired by the White Sox from the Washington Nationals in 2016 and has been a reliable starter for the team since then. Last season, he posted a 4.17 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 166 innings. He also had a career-high 177 strikeouts.
In exchange for Giolito and López, the White Sox received three prospects from the Angels: outfielder Jordyn Adams, right-hander Will Stokes, and right-hander Arol Vera. Adams is the most highly-touted prospect of the group, as he was the Angels’ first-round pick in 2018 and is considered one of the top prospects in baseball. Stokes and Vera are both right-handed pitchers who have yet to make their MLB debuts.
The White Sox have made a bold move in trading away two of their top pitchers for prospects, but it could pay off in the long run if Adams and the other prospects pan out. Time will tell if this trade will be beneficial for both teams involved.
