The late night hot stove was sparked by the Atlanta Braves when a six player trade went down just before midnight. The Braves partnered up with the Chicago White Sox to move Michael Soroka, Nicky Lopez, Jared Shuster, Braden Shewmake, and minor league pitcher Riley Gowens to Chicago and in return got the services of left-handed relief pitcher Aaron Bummer.
The Atlanta #Braves tonight acquired LHP Aaron Bummer from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP Michael Soroka, LHP Jared Shuster, INF Nicky Lopez, INF Braden Shewmake and minor-league RHP Riley Gowens: pic.twitter.com/VHlIEpk56I
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 17, 2023
This move brought the number of players on the Braves 40-man roster to 37. Bummer has been with the White Sox since his debut in 2017, and has a career 3.84 ERA and 3.38 FIP. Last season, Bummer didn't have the best results (6.79 ERA) but his 3.81 FIP suggests he was very unlucky last year.
He has carried a double digit K/9 for multiple seasons in a row now and gives the Braves another lefty option out of the bullpen. He is under team control through the 2026 season thanks to club options in '25 and '26 each valued at just over $7 million.
The package headed back to Chicago isn't exactly the most glamorous one, although if Soroka is able to regain his pre-injury form this is a win for the Sox. With tomorrow's non-tender deadline approaching this move was very much a way to clear some room on the 40-man and get some value back on guys they may not have tendered a contract in the first place.
Nicky Lopez will be a tough blow for sure, given the amazing utility glove he provided as depth, but ultimately his $4 million he was expected to get may have been too steep for the Braves considering how little backup position players see the field for Atlanta.
Shewmake had never hit enough in the minor leagues to feature into the Braves future plans, and 2020 first round pick Jared Shuster struggled to miss bats last year and has been passed by several other prospect arms.
The loss of Lopez's glove stings and the sentimental loss of Soroka surely hurts Braves fans right now, but with the 40-man roster now sitting at 37 and a little money saved it may be perfect timing for Braves GM Alex Anthopoulous to get his free agency holiday shopping underway.