The Chicago White Sox and Atlanta Braves have officially completed a six player deal that was first talked about earlier in the week. The White Sox will be sending starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and relief pitcher Boone Logan to the Braves in exchange for shortstop Brent Lillibridge, catcher Tyler Flowers, left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez and third baseman Jon Gilmore.
The highlight of this deal for the White Sox is shortstop Brent Lillibridge who is a pretty good prospect even though he struggled last year in Triple-A Richmond while he hit just .220 with a .294 on-base percentage in 90 games. He has been successful in 127 of his 162 stolen-base attempts at the Minor League level.
Flowers caught Cox’s attention during Spring Training, and certainly wowed some scouts with the power he showed while playing in the AFL this year.
While playing for Advanced Class A Myrtle Beach this season, Flowers hit .288 with 17 homers and a .498 slugging percentage. Although he has the offensive tools to succeed, scouts have said that he needs to make great strides from a defensive standpoint to be serviceable as a catcher at the Major League level.
Gilmore, a 20-year-old third baseman, hit .186 in 27 games with Class A Rome this season. While with Rookie Level Danville in 2007, he hit .337 with four homers and a .473 slugging percentage.
Rodriguez, a 20-year-old left-handed pitcher, went 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 14 relief appearances for the Gulf Coast League Braves this year. In 29 innings, he recorded 45 strikeouts and issued 13 walks.
Chicago White Sox
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
