In the midst of a fairly tame hot stove season, the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, and Los Angeles Dodgers have worked up a three-way trade. Jon Morosi of the MLB Network and Fox Sports broke the deal, which includes two-time All-Star reliever Joakim Soria heading to Chicago.
TRADE IS OFFICIAL: #WhiteSox acquire Luis Avilán, Joakim Soria and cash from #Dodgers for minor league INF Jake Peter; #Dodgers had acquired Soria and LHP Scott Alexander from #Royals for INF Erick Mejia and RHP Trevor Oaks. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 5, 2018
Soria appeared in 59 games for the Royals in 2017. In 56 innings, he posted a 3.70 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts. Avilan, meanwhile, posted a 2.93 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts in 42 innings over 61 appearances for the Dodgers in 2017.
Mejia and Oaks, meanwhile, will bolster the depth of the Kansas City farm system. Mejia worked his way from A+ to AAA ball in the Los Angeles organization in 2017. Over the three levels, the utility infielder slashed at .278/.344/.397, hit eight home runs, and stole 28 bases. Between rookie ball and Triple-A, Oaks posted a 4.03 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, while striking out 81 hitters in 91.2 innings over 18 starts and 19 appearances.
Alexander should slot somewhere into the Dodgers bullpen. He appeared in 58 games for the Royals in 2017, posting a 2.48 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts in 69 innings. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Peter finished the year with a .279/.344/.417 line with 13 home runs.