White Sox Trade Omar Narvaez to Seattle in Exchange for Alex Colome

White Sox trade one of their best offensive players from 2018 to Seattle in exchange for a solid right-handed relief pitcher.

The White Sox have traded catcher Omar Narvaez to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for acquiring relief pitcher Alex Colome. With a need to fill in their bullpen, the Sox addressed a major void this offseason but it came at the expense of a starting catcher.

Colome comes to the Sox from a Mariners organization that appears to be in rebuild mode. The Sox acquire a player that has experience as a closer and as a high-leverage relief pitcher. Colome could very well be the Sox closer going into the 2019 season.

Last season with the Mariners, Colome appeared in 47 games and posted a 2.53 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 46.1 innings pitched. Colome pitched a total of 68 innings in 2018 with 21.2 innings pitched with the Tampa Bay Rays before being traded to the Mariners. In 2017, Colome recorded a career-high 47 saves with the Rays.

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Colome was an All-Star in 2016 and finished that season with a career-low 1.91 ERA, 71 strikeouts and 37 saves in 56.2 innings pitched. With the acquisition of Colome, the Sox greatly improve their bullpen for next season and beyond. Colome won’t be eligible to become a free agent until after the 2020 season.

The Mariners will be getting back one of the Sox better offensive players from this past season in Narvaez. This past season, Narvaez hit .275 in 90 total games to go along with nine home runs, 14 doubles, and 30 RBIs. As the Sox filled a void in their bullpen, they will now have to fill another void at catcher after trading Narvaez.

With the loss of Narvaez, the Sox will need to either trade for another catcher or sign a free agent catcher this offseason. There are a few starting catchers available as free agents such as Martin Maldonado and Yasmani Grandal. The loss of Narvaez will be great but the offseason is still early and the Sox could find an adequate replacement for him before the start of next season.

The Sox still have many more voids to fill either through trades or free agent signings. Acquiring Colome via trade shows the Sox are currently intent on greatly improving this team for the foreseeable future. More acquisitions are coming for this Sox team and fans should remain excited about where this franchise is headed.