CHICAGO -- Austin Slater hit the first home run of the 2025 season for the White Sox and on Wednesday, prior to their scheduled series finale against the Phillies at Rate Field, the right-handed hitting outfielder became the team’s first significant move around what figures to be an active Trade Deadline period.
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Slater was sent to the Yankees in exchange for Minor League right-hander Gage Ziehl. The White Sox recalled outfielder Will Robertson from Triple-A Charlotte, who arrived to the clubhouse on Wednesday morning, leaving the 40-man roster currently at 38.
TRADE DETAILS
Yankees receive: OF Austin Slater
White Sox receive: RHP Gage Ziehl
Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and right-hander Adrian Houser remain prime targets for contending teams in advance of the 5 p.m. CT Deadline on Thursday. Houser was scheduled to start on Wednesday, but he was scratched in favor of reliever Tyler Alexander as the opener.
“We were transparent with him,” manager Will Venable of the Houser move. “Just the market around him and the potential for a trade. Just thought it was in everyone's best interest to switch starters today."
It’s only fitting that Slater’s first homer came against Yusei Kikuchi, since his strong suit was taking down left-handed pitchers. The White Sox agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million free-agent deal with Slater going into the season, and the veteran produced in his designated role as the club was able to trade him for a talented young hurler.
“We are very excited to add Gage to the system,” White Sox director of player development Paul Janish said via text on Wednesday. “Our pitching group is excited about his arsenal and his potential to be a starter at the Major League level. Personally, I love his reputation as a fierce competitor.”
The 22-year-old Ziehl, who was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 18 prospect in the Yankees’ organization, checks in at No. 14 with the White Sox and will report to High-A Winston-Salem. Ziehl is 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA and 70 strikeouts against 14 walks in 16 games (14 starts) covering 82 1/3 innings this season with Single-A Tampa, Double-A Somerset and High-A Hudson Valley. Ziehl made 14 starts with Tampa before being promoted to Hudson Valley on Saturday.
The 6-foot, 225-pound Ziehl was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Miami. He also was drafted by the Cubs in the 11th round in 2021, but he did not sign.
Slater, 33, slashed .236/.299/.423 with six doubles, five home runs, 11 RBIs and 20 runs scored over 51 games this season. He posted an .859 OPS in 77 plate appearances against southpaws.
“It’s always bittersweet,” Slater said of the trade on Wednesday. “Really enjoyed my time here and met some incredible people. Super fun clubhouse to be in.
“[I’m] then also really excited to go play for the Yankees. One of those teams as a kid you always dream about playing for. And they are right in a race for the playoffs. Excited to go there and try to help them out.”
Robertson, 27, is slashing .324/.361/.765 with four doubles, three homers, six RBIs and 10 runs scored in eight games with Charlotte. He was named International League Player of the Week for the period of July 21-27.
Venable appreciated the contributions made by Slater in his short time with the team.
“Especially with our young group to have a veteran presence and a guy with his experience and just a great guy that was willing to put young guys under his arm and really help our group,” Venable said. “So yeah, gonna miss Austin, but excited for him and his opportunity to play for a contender down the stretch here."