Chicago White Sox are wasting no time firing up the hot stove.
Manny Banuelos back in 2012 was a Top 30 prospect for Baseball America, MLBPipeline, and Baseball Prospectus. So much promise that hasn't translated because of Tommy John surgery in 2012. Rehab setbacks made Banuelos miss all of 2013, and the prospect luster was lost. After the New York Yankees gave up on Banuelos, he joined the Atlanta Braves in 2015 and made seven appearances with six of those starts. In 26.1 innings, Banuelos had a 5.81 ERA striking out 19 with 12 walks. That was the last time Banuelos appeared in the majors.
Since then, Banuelos went from the Atlanta Braves to the Los Angeles Angels system in 2017 and joined the Los Angeles Dodgers system in 2018. The past two seasons Banuelos has been used as a swing-man. Appearing in 31 games in 2018, 18 of those started, Banuelos carried a 3.89 ERA in 108.2 innings striking out 127 and walking just 42.
What the White Sox gave up in return was moving first baseman, Justin Yurchak. The 12th round selection in 2017, Yurchak demonstrated a good eye at the plate but with little power to show for it. His hitting splits at Kannapolis this past season was .256/.348/.326 in 2018 with just one home run.
More than likely Banuelos is someone who will help start games in Charlotte in 2019, but if the White Sox don't bring back Hector Santiago, maybe there's an opportunity for Banuelos to compete for the swingman role. With this trade, the White Sox 40-man roster is now at 35.
