The White Sox have acquired lefty Manny Banuelos from the Dodgers, per an announcement from the Chicago organization. He’ll go onto the 40-man roster, James Fegan of The Athletic adds on Twitter. Corner infielder Justin Yurchak is headed to Los Angeles in return.
Banuelos, 27, has long been considered a promising talent but has only briefly seen MLB time. He spent all of the 2018 campaign working at the Dodgers’ Triple-A club, where he split his time between the rotation and the bullpen.
All told, Banuelos threw 108 2/3 innings last year, carrying a 3.73 ERA with 10.5 K/9 against 3.5 BB/9. He could be an interesting candidate for a multi-inning role and figures to enter Spring Training with a chance at cracking the Chicago pen. The organization had to place him on the 40-man roster to keep him from minor-league free agency.
As for Yurchak, the 22-year-old scuffled through his second professional season, managing only a single home run in 363 plate appearances. But the 2017 12th-rounder did sport impeccable plate discipline numbers and showed better pop in the preceding campaign.
mrnatewalter
So whose gonna be the LHP when Kershaw walks?
Thronson5
He’s not going anywhere. They’ll extend him another year or two on top of the two years left. He’s not what he once was but he’s still a good pitcher and the Dodgers aren’t trying to find another starter to fill that whole. He will retire a Dodger. Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t see it happening. I do see the Dodgers sending Maeda to the bullpen permanently maybe making spot starts though, I don’t know if Wood or Stripling are back but seems like the rotation and bullpen could be shaken up a bit for sure but I just don’t see Kershaw leaving. Anyone think they will sign a starter in free agency is what I really want to know? There’s some good ones out there and some good relievers.
mrnatewalter
It was a joke thongsong5.
frankiegxiii
That made me laughded out loud
Senioreditor
I’m guessing he gets 3 additional years.
Sheev Palpatine
Ah one of the guys that was supposed to be the Killer B’s for the Yankees’ rotation (Dellin Betances, Andrew Brackman and Manny Banuelos).
GareBear
Completely forgot about the name Andrew Brackman. You just sent me back in time
dugmet
The Killer B’s: Banuelos, Betances, and Brackman.
mack22 2
I hate to say this but unless Kershaw can reinvent himself he will greatly decline in performance
Bald Vinny
Future Hall of Famer Manny Banuelos*
xabial
Current and Former Future Red Sox Hall of Famers:
Will Middlebrooks
Blake Swihart
Bald Vinny
Middlebrooks World Series Rings: 1
Manny, Betances, Brackman, Andujar, Judge, Hicks: 0
The Jeterian argument says he is better.
xabial
Signed minor league deal past 2 years with BOS
Mike Olt
DarkSide830
I followed Manny for most of the previous year and I must say I like what I saw. I think this may have been a nice pickup for the Sox.
Tim Newport
All he needs to do is have a strong first half and he’ll proved the Sox what they need – a bullpen piece to flip for a much stronger prospect than the one they paid to get him.
GareBear
But they did really well to nab him since his k/9 and bb/9 looked strong and he was basically free
TrumpisMyGawd
Because a guy who can’t even sneak into the LA-OKC shuttle is primed for a breakout season, Add that to the fact that he’s long in the tooth and has awful control and you’re looking at the next Lucas Giolito. Congrats to the WS for having the worst pitcher in MLB for both the 2018 and ’19 seasons.
citizen
kershaw in the regular season is great, provided he keeps himself injury free. its the post season where he needs to change his routine or not run him out for 7+ innings when hes out of gas.
buenolos with the braves had no stamina for summer baseball.
clearly yurchak is the corner lf that will put the dodgers over the top for a ws victory!
braves95 2
I almost forgot about this guy
bravesfan88
Wish the best for ManBan…Was rooting for him to bounce back as a Brave, but never seemed to he able to stay 100% healthy for any significant amount of time..
It’s good he seemed to have at least a steady season in AAA last year. Hopefully, this year, he can build off that success, and finally turn it all around..
sss847
this looks like a “kenny gets his man” move
Rickey O'Sunnyvale
Yurchak: More walks than K’s and .390 OBP. Dodgers teach him right launch angle and its Max Muncy 2.0.
DrCrawdad
I thought the Dodgers were onto to something too with Jake Peter last year
Priggs89
*numbers largely inflated by playing 60 games in rookie ball as a 20 year old
restingmitchface
Kinda surprised the article omits Yurchak’s stats entirely. We’re they THAT poor? lol
restingmitchface
CBS Sports wrote an article about this trade, too. The title of their article is…interesting.
“Dodgers’ Justin Yurchak Sent to the Dodgers”
cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/dodgers-justin…
Cam
Considering what the Dodgers have been able to do with guys like Max Muncy, Chris Taylor (Justin Turner even) – this kid is probably one to keep your eye on. Great plate discipline numbers.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Don’t like this deal for the White Sox. Yurchak didn’t have a great year, especially with power, but last year showed he has some pop and some good plate discipline. I’d rather have a 22-yr old who has potential than a 27-yr old career minor leaguer who, even in his physical prime, can’t dominate AAA.
ASapsFables
Manny Banuelos will have a solid opportunity to at least replace the role southpaw veteran FA Hector Santiago filled with the White Sox in 2018.
mannyl101
Dodgers management sure loves trading for middle infielders sure looks bad from the start!
jnoch2008
How about Martin Gonzalez to the ChiSox?