Chicago adds right-hander Trevor Richards from the Phillies as it navigates roster and injury moves.
A bullpen gamble is turning into a roster reset for Chicago: the White Sox have acquired right-hander Trevor Richards from the Phillies in exchange for cash considerations.
The move also reshapes Chicago’s immediate plans. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Sox placed right-hander Drew Thorpe on the 60-day injured list. That clears the spot for Richards, who will become part of the Sox’s active roster once he reports to Chicago.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the timing reflects a recent stretch of bullpen disruption.. Jhoan Duran. the team’s closer. landed on the injured list with an oblique strain. while Zach Pop and Kyle Backhus also went to the shelf.. Duran was expected to return the same day Richards was moved. which made his availability a key factor in how the Phillies handled their roster.
This is one of those trades where roster math meets opportunity. When a team’s late-inning picture is altered by injuries, teams often look for depth they can deploy immediately, especially from pitchers who show they can miss bats without needing a long runway.
For the Sox, Richards arrives with a clear storyline: flashes of strikeout ability paired with the ongoing question of command.. Earlier in the season. he posted standout numbers at the Triple-A level. including a strong strikeout-to-batter faced performance and low walk totals across a short sample.. That burst helped justify why Philadelphia brought him to the majors. and why Chicago is willing to take a fresh look.
In the majors with the Phillies. Richards appeared briefly. allowing an earned run over a little more than four innings while working through a small number of batters.. Still. his overall big-league history has shown a pattern teams can both like and fear: the ability to generate strikeouts. alongside a tendency to run into control issues.
From 2021 to 2023. his results mixed punch-outs with higher walk rates. shaping an ERA that never fully translated his strikeout upside into consistent run prevention.. Those control concerns intensified after a mid-to-late 2024 shift. when his time elsewhere featured more walks and other trouble that limited his staying power.
At this stage, the Sox’s bet is straightforward: can Richards carry some of the cleaner Triple-A form into major-league innings? And with Thorpe still sidelined after Tommy John surgery, Chicago’s bullpen needs answers sooner rather than later, making Richards a timely target for evaluation.
In the end, this deal is less about long-term certainty and more about momentum and timing.. For fans. it’s a reminder that baseball rosters can change quickly. and that a single productive stretch in the minors can become the difference between being stuck on the edge and getting a real shot in a new uniform.