CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-handed pitcher A.J. Puckett and lefty Andre Davis from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera and cash considerations.
Cabrera, 32, is hitting .295 (117-397) with 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 56 RBI and 54 runs scored in 98 games this season. He is tied for the major-league lead with nine outfield assists. Cabrera batted .297 (464-1,617) with 95 doubles, 39 homers, 219 RBI and 194 runs scored in 407 games over three seasons with the Sox after signing as a free agent on December 16, 2014.
Puckett, 22, is the No. 13 ranked prospect in the Kansas City system according to MLB.com. He is 9-7 with a 3.90 ERA (47 ER/108.1 IP) and 98 strikeouts over 20 starts this season with Class A Wilmington. Puckett was named to the Carolina League All-Star Team and ranks among the league leaders in wins (T2nd), starts (T3rd), strikeouts (7th) and IP (7th).
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Puckett has allowed two runs or less 10 times in 2017, and is 3-0 with a 2.91 ERA (10 ER/31.0 IP) over his last five starts. He was a non-roster invitee to spring training with the Royals this season.
Puckett, a native of Danville, Calif., has gone 10-11 with a 3.80 ERA (68 ER/161.0 IP) and 140 strikeouts in 32 starts over two seasons (2016-17) in the Royals organization. He originally was selected as the Royals first pick (second round, No. 67 overall) of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Pepperdine University. Puckett was named West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year as a junior in 2016.
Davis, 23, is 5-4 with a 4.83 ERA (46 ER/85.2 IP), 87 strikeouts and one complete game over 18 starts this season with Class A Lexington. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Davis is averaging 9.1 strikeouts per 9.0 IP with a season high of 11 on May 28 vs. Columbia. He was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 17-23 after throwing 7.0 scoreless IP with three hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts in a victory at Columbia on April 20.
Davis, a native of Castro, Calif., has gone 9-8 with a 5.27 ERA (83 ER/141.2 IP) and 147 strikeouts in 36 games (24 starts) over three minor-league seasons. He originally was selected by the Royals in the eighth round of the 2015 draft out of Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
Following the trade, the White Sox 40-man roster is at 35.
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