The White Sox didn’t stand pat at the deadline, but the biggest swing they took may end up being the one that backfires.
Chicago entered August in a far better spot than anyone could have imagined after setting the expansion-era record for losses in 2024. At 59-54, the White Sox sit in first place in the American League Central, holding a 3.0-game edge over the second-place Cleveland Guardians and sitting 4.0 games up on both the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers. Will Venable has earned real credit for pulling this group together and getting it to win tight games late.
Chris Getz still went shopping.
The White Sox general manager made several moves in an effort to strengthen the roster for the stretch run, headlined by a trade for starting pitcher Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners. Chicago sent reliever Seranthony Domínguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catcher-left fielder Boston Smith the other way. The front office also added reliever Huascar Brazobán from the Mets for pitchers Gabe Davis and Zach Franklin, brought in outfielder Brenton Doyle from the Rockies for pitcher Mason Adams and shortstop Carlos Vielma, and landed catcher Joey Bart from the Braves for pitcher Duncan Davitt.
On paper, it was an active deadline. In reality, the Castillo move is the one that raises the biggest eyebrows.
Castillo used to be one of the American League’s top arms and has made three All-Star teams, but this season has been a rough one. He is 3-9 with a 5.06 ERA, and the strikeout profile that once made him so dangerous has faded.
He has fanned 86 hitters in 99.2 innings, while allowing 32 walks and 16 home runs. Across 20 appearances, including 17 starts, only four have been quality starts.
That’s a hard profile to bet on, even for a club in first place. The White Sox are clearly banking on a fresh start helping him rediscover what he once was, but that feels like a leap. Castillo will need more than a new uniform to straighten out the issues that have followed him this year.
Chicago’s need for stability in the rotation is real. Sean Burke has held up his end at the top, going 7-6 with 144 strikeouts in 128.2 innings over 19 starts, nine of them quality starts.
Davis Martin, though, has faded after a strong first two-plus months and now sits at 9-6 with a 4.13 ERA. That makes it tougher for Venable to trust him moving forward.
Castillo gets thrown right into the fire Thursday against the streaking Red Sox, and the White Sox are counting on him to settle things down.
Bart is another addition with a very specific job description. Chicago needs him to handle the pitching staff while No. 1 catcher Kyle Teel recovers from the high ankle sprain he suffered in late July. The White Sox are hoping Teel can return in early September.
The bat, though, is another story. Bart is hitting .220/.391/.367 in 41 games this season with the Braves, Pirates and White Sox, and he has four home runs and 13 RBIs. He can help defensively and behind the plate, but he brings little offense.
Brazobán and Benton also don’t project as difference-makers.
So while Getz was busy and the White Sox did add bodies, the question is whether any of them actually move the needle. Right now, the Castillo trade stands out as the biggest gamble - and the likeliest mistake.
In Other News...
White Sox Already Look Smart For Moving On From Seranthony Dominguez
The White Soxs deadline dealings have already given the front office a fresh talking point, and it starts with the decision to move Seranthony Dominguez to Seattle in the deal that brought Luis Castillo to Chicago. Dominguez had been brought in to handle the closer role, but the fit never really had time to take hold before the Sox turned the page and added another arm in Huascar Brazoban as part of a broader bullpen reset.
Dominguezs first appearance for the Mariners only sharpened the picture for Chicago, since he was hit hard in limited work. Meanwhile, the White Sox are waiting on Castillo and Brazoban to make their debuts, and those arrivals could quickly determine whether this was just a roster shuffle or the kind of move that changes the feel of the pitching staff down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Davis Martins Rough Stretch Just Put The White Sox Rotation On Edge
Davis Martins rough run since July has added another layer of uncertainty to a White Sox rotation already under pressure. His first inning against the Red Sox after the trade deadline stood out as especially shaky, and the broader concern around his recent results has only sharpened the focus on a staff that has been asked to carry more weight after Chicagos deadline moves.
What makes Martins slide more complicated is the possibility that hitters may be picking something up. Martin has already acknowledged the possibility of a pitch-tipping issue, and observers have raised the same concern as the White Sox try to sort through what has changed and what, if anything, needs fixing. With the front offices additions now under scrutiny, Martins next few outings could say as much about the rotations stability as any move made in late July. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Just Made Austin Hays An Afterthought In Their Outfield Shakeup
The White Soxs outfield shuffle took another sharp turn when they designated Everson Pereira for assignment and brought in Brenton Doyle from the Rockies, a move that quickly pushed Austin Hays further into the background. Hays arrived with some hope of giving Chicago a veteran bat in the outfield mix, but his stay never really got rolling, and the roster turnover around him has only added to the sense that the Sox are moving on.
Hays, who spent time on the injured list after a brief run with the club, is now on release waivers and expected to clear because of the salary still attached to his deal. If he gets back to full health, there could still be interest from other teams down the road, but for Chicago the immediate message is clear: the outfield picture has changed, and Hays is no longer part of the clubs plans. [Read more 🡒]