The White Sox and Cubs made a trade today, as the White Sox have sent right-handed pitcher Matthew Thompson to the Cubs for left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn, per Sahadev Sharma and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. This swap of prospects clears a 40-man roster spot for the Cubs to accommodate their recent signing of Cody Bellinger while adding another bullpen arm to the mix for the White Sox.
This trade represents a homecoming for the 26-year-old Horn, as he was a 5th-round pick of the White Sox in 2020. The Sox then traded him to the Cubs at the 2021 trade deadline for reliever Ryan Tepera. Horn had a decent but not spectacular 2023 season in the Cubs system, pitching to a 4.21 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 45 games between the AA and AAA levels. While his stats do not look great, he does have a quality fastball, slider, and curveball in his arsenal. Horn’s 10.0 K/9 in AAA indicates that his stuff is good and can consistently miss bats. It is also worth noting that the White Sox have overhauled their pitching development this offseason by adding Brian Bannister to the mix, so perhaps he sees something he likes in Horn. While the White Sox did sign left-handed reliever Tim Hill this offseason, that was only a 1-year deal. Horn might become a long-term option from the left side in the Sox bullpen.
The 23-year-old Thompson was a second pick of the White Sox back in 2019 from Cypress Ranch High School in Texas. Thompson has gradually worked his way up the White Sox system, reaching the AA level in 2023. However, he was ineffective, as he had a 4.85 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 124.1 innings over 27 starts. It is also worth noting that the Birmingham Barons home ballpark is notoriously pitcher-friendly, which makes his numbers look even worse. High school draft picks are risky, especially pitchers. Thompson has not developed the way the White Sox thought he would, which is likely a big reason they decided to part with him.
Horn figures to immediately become a factor in the White Sox big league bullpen situation, as many spots are up for grabs this spring. If he does not make the team, he will likely start the season in AAA and get a crack at the MLB club at some point this season. Thompson also receives a change of scenery, going to an organization in the Cubs that has made strides in their pitching development in recent years. He will likely start the season in AA for the Cubs and can perhaps improve under the direction of their pitching instructors.
Both pitchers have struggled with walks and command over their respective minor league careers, so it will be interesting to see if this change of scenery unlocks anything for either of them. While this is not a huge trade in the scheme of things, it is always a fun day when the White Sox and Cubs make a trade with each other!
