The Tampa Bay Rays are known as some of the best dealmakers in baseball. In fact, across the league, there’s a running joke: if the Rays call about one of your players, just hang up.
On Tuesday, White Sox general manager Chris Getz tested his luck, trading right-handers Yoendry Gomez and Steven Wilson for Everson Pereira and Tanner Murray.
What The White Sox Are Getting
On the surface, it looks like a solid deal for the White Sox, but it does carry some risk. Pereira is out of minor league options, which means he will either need to stick on the major league roster or be designated for assignment.
Getz has previously stated that adding corner outfield help was one of his priorities this offseason, suggesting that Pereira could have a long runway with the team. The White Sox also picked up Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million team option in part because quality free-agent outfielders within their price range are scarce.
With Robert and Benintendi already on the roster—and Mike Tauchman expected to return next season—Pereira is the most likely candidate to serve as the team’s fourth outfielder.
The 24-year-old outfielder has just 50 games of MLB experience under his belt across two seasons. He made his debut in 2023 for the Yankees and was a former teammate of Gomez in New York’s minor league system. However, he was traded to the Rays at the trade deadline for Jose Caballero.
The early results have not been pretty. Pereira owns a career of .146/.219/.246 slash line with two homers and 18 RBIs. His minor-league track record, however, tells a different story. Over his last three seasons in Triple-A, he has posted a .271/.362/.519 line and hit 21 home runs last year alone.
There is plenty to like about Pereira’s game. His power and speed landed him on the MLB’s top-100 prospect list for two consecutive seasons after he hit .300 with 18 homers across two minor league stops in 2023.
But strikeouts remain a concern. The Venezuela native owned a 29% strikeout rate in the minors last season and struck out in 38% of his big league plate appearances.
As for Murray, the White Sox are adding some infield versatility. The 26-year-old is capable of playing shortstop, second base, and third base.
The former fourth-round pick in 2020 is non-rostered and has gone unclaimed in the Rule 5 draft several times. He will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft once again this offseason unless the White Sox add him to the roster.
Murray has yet to play in the big leagues and doesn’t figure to play a big role on the White Sox next season. In 572 plate appearances with Tampa’s Triple-A affiliate, he batted .241/.299/.400 with 18 homers. However, like Pereria, he has strikeout concerns, getting punched out on strikes 138 times last season.
What The White Sox Gave Up
Wilson was one of the White Sox most reliable relievers last season, posting a 3.42 ERA over a career high 55.1 innings. However, the move comes shortly after theChris Murphy who figures to fill the void in the bullpen.
The White Sox acquired Wilson in the Dylan Cease trade just before the 2024 season, but his production took a nosedive after putting on a White Sox uniform. After owning a respectable 3.48 ERA during his first two seasons in San Diego, his ERA ballooned up to 5.71 in 2024, which ultimately led to him being placed on waivers.
The White Sox brought him back into the fold this season, and while his 21% strikeout rate and 9.1% walk rate were nothing to write home about, he did lock down two saves for the club.
Gómez was added to the White Sox rotation late in the season to help eat innings and impressed in his first start against the Tigers, allowing one run on one hit while striking out seven batters. He parlayed that into eight more starts in 12 appearances for the White Sox.
The 26-year-old right-hander finished the season with a 4.84 ERA for the White Sox with a 23% strikeout rate against an 8% walk rate.
Gomez started the season as a long reliever with the Yankees, but was out of minor league options. Despite posting a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings, he was placed on waivers and claimed by the Dodgers. His stint with the Dodgers lasted just three games after he was tagged for seven runs in 4.1 innings, leading him to once again getting DFA’d.
The White Sox snatched him off the waiver wire on May 10th and placed him in Charlotte to try to develop him into a starter. The reset in the minors proved to be beneficial as Gómez proceeded to post a 2.12 ERA in 46.2 innings, with a 32% strikeout rate. Of the 14 appearances he has made for the Knights this season, 11 of them were starts.
Given the number of young arms in the White Sox rotation, Gomez was likely blocked from being a starter. He was also out of minor league options, making him an ideal trade piece for the White Sox.
