Chris Getz waited just two games to push the chips all in on Braden Montgomery. Unfortunately, Derek Hill, who picked the wrong poker table to plant himself at, was the casualty in an unusual barter between the White Sox and Phillies. In a wild and unpredictable world where the Sox find themselves having leverage, Chicago exchanged Hill and international bonus-pool money for Philadelphia’s No. 29 prospect outfielder Dylan Campbell and infield prospect Jose Colmenares.
Hill came to the South Side in
late September last year from a waiver claim that seemed to be just another one of the Getz’s random pickups that wouldn’t mean much in a few months. And while Hill doesn’t jump off the page as an irreplaceable starter, he’s exceeded expectations. His .213/.284/.375 slash line with eight RBIs, seven walks, and four home runs is sufficient for a pinch hitter, and his versatility makes him a go-to bench guy. His timely hits have made him a valuable piece of the Sox bench, and his glove is serviceable. But the harsh fact of the matter is that there are a lot more Hills than Bradens. Just look at Chicago’s farm system.
This time, the Sox didn’t quite trade Hill for a couple of Vienna Sausages and a cake shake that gets tossed in the trash halfway through, but their return is nothing to boast about. Twenty-three-year-old Campbell was drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round in 2023 because of his ability to use the entire field, along with a plus arm and glove. With the Fightin Phils, he’s hitting .216/.281/.412 with 31 RBIs and a few too many strikeouts for a guy who is known for making good swing decisions.
The South Siders added another middle infielder to their prospect squad in Colmenares, 24, although it’s hard to see a clear path for him to the majors. He’s been bouncing around the minors since 2018, when the Yankees signed him as an international free agent. His .278/.403/.413 slash line paired with 25 walks is refreshing to see after years of stagnation, but his development trajectory won’t do much to ease the sting for Hill supporters.
Hill was a great stopgap for Montgomery, but Getz knows it’s time to stop stalling and start fully believing in these young guys. This trade is the first sign that Getz is done clinging to Quad-A depth pieces and ready to fully commit to the youth movement. If the Sox remain in contention, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take Jerry’s credit card for a spin and make a real run for October.
