The Chicago White Sox completed a series of roster moves ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline to strengthen their pitching staff and add depth to their lineup. On the morning of July 10, the team officially acquired reliever Huascar Brazobán from the New York Mets in exchange for minor league pitchers Gabe Davis and Zach Franklin. This trade was one among several the White Sox executed in the final days before the deadline.
General Manager Chris Getz provided insight into the negotiation process during a Wednesday press conference at Fenway Park. Getz explained that talks with other teams began weeks prior to the deadline, often involving discussions around each club’s objectives and what they hoped to achieve in trades. He noted that this particular deadline was unusual in that many teams had not yet fully decided their strategic directions, creating a “waiting game” atmosphere across the league.
“Most teams were planning for different scenarios," Getz said. “You earmark certain players that you would have interest in, but until a direction is chosen, it’s harder to execute trades.” The White Sox, he added, were actively seeking starting pitching. However, the potential trades involving starters did not align with what the team was willing to offer, prompting the front office to reassess.
The decision to pursue Brazobán, a reliever with team control, came after this reassessment. Getz described him as an upgrade for the bullpen and felt that the price of giving up two minor league pitchers was fair. “The timing of completing the trade just happened to be fairly late,” he said.
In addition to Brazobán, the White Sox bolstered their roster by acquiring outfielder Brenton Doyle from the Colorado Rockies, catcher Joey Bart from the Atlanta Braves, and starting pitcher Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners in prior deals. These moves were part of a broader strategy to improve key areas without sacrificing top organizational talent.
Getz emphasized the importance of strong relationships among front offices in facilitating trades. Given the complexity of player evaluations and negotiations, multiple members from different teams often collaborate over several conversations to finalize deals. He highlighted that while analytical data plays a significant role in modern baseball management, building trust and rapport remains crucial for successful transactions.
Reflecting on the White Sox’s approach, Getz expressed confidence in how the organization managed the deadline. “We got better in the areas that we needed to get better, and we built some depth,” he said. “We got controllable players, we maintained the top-end talent in our organization. When you’re in first place, you’re playing all these what-ifs, and we feel very good about the process we’ve carried out.”