The White Sox traded one month of Miguel Gonzalez’s services late Thursday for a long shot.
General manager Rick Hahn snuck in one more deal before the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline at 11 p.m. CST when he shipped Gonzalez to the Texas Rangers for Single-A third baseman Ti’quan Forbes.
A second-round pick in 2014 who has struggled in the minors, Forbes is “a low-level prospect that has potential to contribute,” according to one American League scout.
Forbes, 21, is hitting .221/.276/.304 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 197 plate appearances at Advanced-A Down East in the Carolina League. He has a .245/.304/.329 career slash line and 15 home runs in 1,424 career plate appearances.
Gonzalez also reportedly drew interest from the Baltimore Orioles, who found the asking price for a one-month rental to be too high, according to the Baltimore Sun. The right-hander pitched six strong innings in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins, posting his eighth quality start in nine tries since he returned from the disabled list on July 18. A free agent after this season, Gonzalez is 7-10 with a 4.31 ERA in 133 2/3 innings this season.
Gonzalez is owed a little more than $1 million on his one-year, $5.9 million contract.
The deal is the latest from the White Sox, who traded seven players in July and also moved Tyler Clippard earlier this month. Before Thursday’s start, White Sox manager Rick Renteria said he was surprised someone hadn’t yet acquired Gonzalez, who has a 3.27 ERA over his last nine turns.
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The trade also potentially re-opens a spot in the team’s rotation for Derek Holland, who appeared to be headed to the bullpen after his start Wednesday in order to make room for Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez is set to come off the disabled list on Friday. Renteria said after Wednesday’s game there was a possibility Holland would move into the bullpen to make space for Lopez.
