PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Philadelphia Phillies bolstered their bullpen just before the MLB trade deadline on Tuesday by acquiring left-handed reliever Tanner Banks from the Chicago White Sox. In exchange, the Phillies sent infield prospect William Bergolla, their 11th-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, to the White Sox.
Banks, 32, has made 108 appearances for Chicago over the past three seasons, showing notable effectiveness against left-handed batters. Throughout his career, he’s limited lefties to a .605 on-base plus slugging percentage. This season, left-handed hitters are batting just .184 against him, with 28 strikeouts in 83 at-bats.
With a 4.13 ERA in 48 innings for Chicago, Banks has struck out 55 batters and walked 15. His ERA+ stands at 102 this season and 109 for his career. His pitch repertoire includes a slider (32.7%), four-seam fastball (29%), changeup (15.7%), curveball (15.3%), and sinker (6.6%).
Banks will join All-Star Matt Strahm and Jose Alvarado as the third left-handed option in Philadelphia’s bullpen.
In a separate move, the Phillies traded Gregory Soto to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for right-handed pitching prospects Seth Johnson and Moisés Chace. Johnson, ranked eighth among Orioles prospects by MLB Pipeline, has been assigned to the Reading Fightin Phils in Double-A.
With these moves, the Phillies have strengthened their bullpen with Carlos Estévez and Banks, added outfielder Austin Hays, and enhanced their farm system with Johnson and Chace.
Soto, who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers in 2023, made 112 appearances for the Phillies, posting a 4.42 ERA with 109 strikeouts and 42 walks.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson had not anticipated major changes before the deadline and expressed his satisfaction with the team’s current roster before Tuesday night’s game against the New York Yankees. “If there is something, it might be a small thing,” Thomson remarked. “Nothing has come across my desk. I love this club. I love the group. Talent’s here. Make-up is here. I love everything about it.”