Phillies & White Sox Swing Deal For 9-Year Veteran Immediately After Being DFA'd

The Chicago White Sox have been surprising many around baseball, as the back-to-back 100-loss club has gotten themselves near .500 in a better-than-expected start to the season.

The starting pitching has been excellent, standing 5th in the majors in ERA, at 3.53. But in the bullpen, they sit 23rd with a 4.71 ERA.

In an attempt to bring in some veteran experience to the relief corps, the White Sox have swung a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies for veteran reliever Trevor Richards, just hours after he was designated for assignment.

Prior to tonight’s game against the Athletics, the Phillies reinstated right-handed pitcher Jhoan Duran from the 15-day injured list. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 5, 2026

The Phillies get 'cash considerations' in return.

Richards began his career as a starter in the majors, but has been pretty much a full-time reliever for the past five years, with a handful of starts thrown in here and there. He was DFA'd by the Phils earlier on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old's performance from year to year has been all over the map, but this season he's been bringing it. Big time. He got into just two games for the Phillies at the big league level after getting called up about a week ago, posting a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings. At Triple-A LeHigh Valley, he was absolutely killing it, with a ridiculous 26:3 strikeout to walk ratio in 14 innings, for 16.7 K/9. He has a 1.93 ERA, allowing just 5 hits.

If Richards can continue that type of run in the White Sox's bullpen, it would add a much-needed solid veteran arm to the mix on the South Side.

For his nine-year major league career, Richards has a 4.52 ERA. He's had stops in Tampa Bay, Miami, Toronto, Milwaukee and Minnesota.