The Chicago White Sox have acquired Adam Haseley from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for McKinley Moore. In a player-for-player deal, the Sox get some much-needed outfield depth and a left-handed bat, while the Phillies get a 6’6″ 225-pound right-handed pitching prospect. White Sox fans have been clamoring for the front office to make a trade or sign a player to help the big league club, and, today, they did indeed make a trade.
Meet Adam Haseley
Adam Haseley was first selected by the Phillies in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2017 MLB June amateur draft. His minor league experience has stretched over four seasons and 294 games. In his minor league career, Haseley carries a .281 / .351 / .418 slash line and has been a plus defender overall, spending time in each of the three outfield positions.
After making his major league debut on June 4th, 2019, Haseley struggled to assert himself into the everyday lineup for the Phillies. Overall, Haseley carries a major league career slash line of .264 / .322 / .373 with five home runs, 20 doubles, and 39 runs batted in over the course of 116 big league games. What Haseley does bring to the White Sox is defensive reliability in a position of need. While he may find himself on the opening day roster for the White Sox with Andrew Vaughn being injured, by no means should Hanesely rest easy. Haseley is a left-handed bat, something the White Sox have openly been shopping for. However, his bat leaves a ton to be desired at this early stage of his career.
Goodbye McKinley Moore
McKinley Moore was drafted by the White Sox in the 14th round of the 2019 MLB June amateur draft and to be completely honest, figuring out why other than frame and his plus fastball has proven difficult. Drafted out of The University of Arkansas At Little Rock, where McKinley played three collegiate seasons, he posted 6.10, 8.71, and 8.15 Earned run averages for those three individual seasons never carrying a WHIP ( walks plus hits per inning pitched ) lower than 1.645 and that was the only season he carried a WHIP under two.
McKinley was flat out terrible in college and the numbers reflect that. In the 2018 college season, McKinley posted an eye popping 10.45 runs against per nine innings pitched. Apparently, someone within the White Sox orginization saw something they liked in the large framed flamethrower and that got him drafted albeit in the 14th round.
McKinley throws hard, topping out around 98 but that is about it. McKinley has shown progression in his control and overall stuff lowering his ERA since joining the White Sox down to 4.43 over 63 innings. If McKinley can continue down this path, his ceiling may be a back end of the bullpen / set-up man but even that is being optimistic.
Summary
Overall on paper the Sox won this trade outright prior to any baseball being played. This feels like the Phillies giving up on a prospect. Haseley has had a rough start to spring ball this year going just 2-18 at the plate thus far. Hopefully a change of scenery can bring about big changes for the outfielder and he can find a new home on the Southside of Chicago.
Haseley, at a bare minimum, gives the Sox a decent defensive outfielder option, and Mckinley was light years away from the major league roster for the White Sox. Being drafted in the first round by any major league club is tough and you have to show tools in order to get there. So Haseley has some talent, but can he find it in Chicago?
Main image credit Embed from Getty Images
