Phillies trade veteran relief pitcher Trevor Richards to White Sox

Trevor Richards (Keith Allison, Wikimedia Commons)

The Philadelphia Phillies have traded relief pitcher Trevor Richards of Aviston, Illinois to the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations according to Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors on Tuesday. Richards is joining his ninth Major League Baseball franchise after previously pitching two seasons with the Miami Marlins (2018 and 2019), three seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays (2019 to 2021), one season with the Milwaukee Brewers (2021), four seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (2021 to 2024), one season with the Minnesota Twins (2024), one season with the Kansas City Royals (2025), one season with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2025), and one season with the Philadelphia Phillies (2026).

Richards did not pitch much for the Phillies. He only pitched in two games and 4 1/3 innings. He gave up four hits, one earned run, and three walks, to go along with five strikeouts, an earned run average of 2.08 and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.62.

What is most interesting about this deal is the fact that the Phillies are trading a veteran reliever to the White Sox. Philadelphia was expected be an elite team in the National League this season. However, the Phillies have already made a managerial change in 2026, and at 16 wins and 20 losses, are nine and a half games back of the National League East Division leading Atlanta Braves.

The White Six are only one game better than the Phillies. At 17 wins and 19 losses, Chicago is in the more competitive division. The White Sox are actually only half a game back of the division leading Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. Now Richards to contribute to the White Sox and has the opportunity to play in his home state of Illinois.