Lucas Giolito walked into the Chicago White Sox clubhouse late Wednesday and noticed fellow pitcher Reynaldo López saying goodbye to teammates.
“I was like, ‘Oh, you’ve been traded? Where are you going?’ ” Giolito mentioned Thursday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The two had been in the identical group since 2012 with the Washington Nationals.
“I was like ‘Oh, my God, this is going to be the first time in our whole career we’re not teammates,’ ” Giolito mentioned.
Soon thereafter, Giolito was referred to as into the workplace and came upon he was traded together with López to the Los Angeles Angels for switch-hitting minor-league catcher Edgar Quero and left-handed pitcher Ky Bush.
“I guess they’re not going to break us up,” Giolito mentioned.
Giolito mentioned the commerce was “initially kind of shocking.”
“I knew something like this was coming, but at the same time when it actually happens it is quite a surreal moment,” Giolito mentioned. “A variety of feelings. I grew up right here as a participant and as a person. A variety of failure and quite a lot of success.
“I owe this organization so much. This city, the fans, it’s been an absolute pleasure.”
Giolito and López had been pivotal additions when the Sox started their rebuild in 2016.
Late Wednesday after a 10-7 loss to the Cubs, they had been the primary two gamers moved in what figures to be a busy sell-off by the commerce deadline for a group that entered Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians a season-worst 21 video games beneath .500.
“Given this club’s performance over the last several months, it’s apparent that these types of moves have to take place given where we are at and putting us in the best position we can be going forward,” Sox common supervisor Rick Hahn mentioned late Wednesday evening.
“Certainly not where any of us in the organization thought when this year started we would be come the trade deadline. But clearly moves like these in terms of putting ourselves in the best position going forward are essential, and we are certainly pleased to add Bush and Quero.”
Giolito and López, each free brokers on the finish of the season, joined the Sox group in December 2016 as a part of a commerce that despatched Adam Eaton to the Nationals.
“Obviously Lucas’ and Reynaldo’s tenure with the White Sox is not ending the way we envisioned when we first acquired them,” Hahn mentioned. “I complimented each of them not simply on their performances on the sphere however the gamers they had been in our clubhouse and the best way they represented themselves and this membership off the sphere.
“They will both certainly be missed.”
Giolito is 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 21 begins this season.
“Gio’s been a workhorse for us,” supervisor Pedro Grifol mentioned Wednesday. “I call him Mr. Consistency. He’s the same guy every single day.”
Giolito struggled in 2018 with a 6.13 ERA however put all of it collectively the following season to earn All-Star honors whereas going 14-9 with a 3.41 ERA and 228 strikeouts.
He acquired American League Cy Young Award votes in 2019, ‘20 and ‘21. Among the highlights in 2020, Giolito threw a no-hitter in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He was the group’s Game 1 starter within the 2020 AL wild-card sequence in opposition to the Oakland Athletics, taking an ideal recreation into the seventh inning. He began Game 2 of the 2021 AL Division Series in opposition to the Houston Astros.
Giolito rebounded after a troublesome 2022 to develop into one of the crucial sought-after pitchers on the commerce market. Now he has his vacation spot.
“I like what they got going on, the push that they are trying to make,” Giolito mentioned. “I’m excited to be part of that together with Reynaldo.
“Being able to be (Shohei Ohtani’s) teammate, between him and Mike Trout, two of the best guys in the league, I’m very very excited. It’s going to be a very very fun kind of journey the next few months here.”
López is 2-5 with a 4.29 ERA and 4 saves in 43 reduction appearances this season. He has 52 strikeouts, 22 walks and has allowed seven homers in 42 innings.
He appeared in 205 video games with the Sox from 2017-23, making 91 begins. He was a starter from 2017–20, was used principally as a reliever in 2021 and has been within the bullpen the final two seasons.
“They will both certainly be missed and certainly both can help make that Angels team better positioned for hopefully a postseason run for both of them,” Hahn mentioned.
Quero, 20, is rated by MLB.com because the No. 2 prospect within the Angels group and No. 65 in baseball. He is slashing .245/.385/.332 with 13 doubles, three residence runs, 35 RBIs, 39 runs and 54 walks in 69 video games this season with Double-A Rocket City within the Southern League.
“Quero is one of the more highly regarded catching prospects in the game, at age 20, switch-hitting catcher who is one of the youngest players in Double A,” Hahn mentioned. “He continues to develop as a game caller and is viewed by the industry as one of the top 100 prospects in the game.”
Bush, 23, is rated by MLB.com because the No. 3 prospect within the Angels system. He is 1-3 with a 5.88 ERA and 33 strikeouts in six begins this season with Rocket City. Over his final three outings, Bush is 1-1 with a 1.84 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
“Ky had a lat strain that derailed the start of his season, and I believe there was a small groin issue while rehabbing from that,” Hahn mentioned. “Back at Double A throwing consistently. He provides a four-pitch mix, quality left-handed starter.”
Hahn mentioned he didn’t suppose “by any stretch” the Sox had been achieved with strikes. The commerce deadline is 5 p.m. CDT Tuesday.
“But until you line up on the actual deals and everything gets approved medically, nothing’s done until it’s finally done,” Hahn mentioned. “I could be back at this podium again tomorrow, or I could be not talking to you till Aug. 1. It’s hard to say.”
Giolito mentioned because of Sox followers for the help.
“Going on Twitter and Instagram, it’s just filled with amazing emotional messages from so many fans that I’ve got a chance to perform in front of for the last six or seven years,” he mentioned. “It actually means lots.
“Wonderful, passionate fan base. I’m hoping that at some point in the future they can have a lot more fun watching this team play well.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com