As roster decisions tightened, Chris Getz turned two expendable arms into a potential long-term outfield bat.
It was a busy Tuesday evening for Chris Getz and the Chicago White Sox.
With the deadline to finalize 40-man rosters looming, the White Sox were forced to make several difficult decisions on prospects eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. That meant freeing up roster spots, reshuffling the deck, and getting value for players who would otherwise be designated for assignment in the coming days.
Every team in Major League Baseball was operating under the same pressure — and it led to a flurry of activity across the league.
The most surprising move the White Sox made all day was a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Chicago is sending right-handed reliever Steven Wilson and right-handed starter Yoendrys Gómez to Tampa Bay in exchange for outfielder Everson Pereira and infield prospect Tanner Murray.
Wilson enjoyed a nice bounce-back season in 2025, posting a 3.42 ERA across 59 relief outings. But he faded in the second half — a 5.33 ERA from July 12 through the end of the season, with underlying metrics that left plenty of room for improvement.
Gómez, meanwhile, flashed at times. After bouncing from the Yankees to the Dodgers before landing in Chicago, he logged 48.1 innings down the stretch as a member of the rotation. But he was firmly on the outside looking in heading into 2026. With a crowded rotation competition ahead, he was a strong DFA candidate — making this a smart window for the White Sox to get value before losing him for nothing.
But the return is where this deal gets interesting.
The White Sox desperately need outfield help, and Everson Pereira brings legitimate upside and real minor-league production. His MLB debut didn’t go well — a .146 average and .442 OPS in 50 games — but there’s a reason he was once a top-10 prospect in the Yankees’ system.
The strikeouts are an issue, yes. But the power is real. Pereira played 78 Triple-A games between the Yankees and Rays in 2025 and hammered 21 home runs with an .868 OPS. His career minor-league slugging sits at .504, and he’ll still be just 24 on Opening Day.
Get him in the hitting lab with Ryan Fuller and see what happens. If the Sox can tap into that raw juice, they may have added an outfielder with legitimate long-term value and years of club control. That’s a worthwhile lottery ticket.
Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) on X
Consider me a fan of the #WhiteSox taking a flyer on Everson Pereira.
Still just 24 years old with loud tools. Consistent production in upper levels of the minors despite a rough 50 career MLB games.
Get him working with Ryan Fuller. OF is a big need.
As for Tanner Murray, he’s a 26-year-old super-utility type. He played second base, third base, shortstop, left field, and right field for Triple-A Durham in 2025. The Rays drafted him in the fourth round back in 2020.
His .700 OPS this past season was the lowest of his professional career, but he tied a career high with 29 doubles and blasted 18 home runs, more than double his previous best. Murray will likely compete for a bench spot in 2026.
Still, even if the deal were just for Pereira, I’d like it.
Gómez didn’t have a clear role on the 2026 roster, and Steven Wilson — productive at times — represents the volatility of modern relievers. Nothing about his White Sox tenure suggested he was untouchable or irreplaceable, especially with bullpen depth already forming and the addition of Chris Murphy earlier in the day.
Credit to Chris Getz for this one. This is exactly the type of move a rebuilding-but-ambitious organization should be making. Limited downside, real upside, and the chance to add another long-term piece to the core.