In this year's Offseason Plan Project, I felt as though I was preparing for two different Chicago White Sox teams in 2026. By pushing a few more chips into the pile, it's worthwhile for Chris Getz and his front office to persuade veterans to sign one-year contracts with handshake deals, knowing they are entering 2026 as starters and will be given every opportunity to prove they can perform at a high enough level to help a contending team. If that's not with the White Sox, then by July, they will be traded to a team with better playoff odds.
That, of course, would leave a post-trade deadline White Sox team that showcases more prospects, much like the one we saw in 2025. The trio of Hagen Smith, Noah Schultz, and Braden Montgomery could provide an immediate impact similar to that of Colson Montgomery and Shane Smith. Every White Sox fan would prefer that happened regardless of whether the team was within striking distance of a wild card spot or not. We don't know what 2027 holds for Major League Baseball, and Jerry Reinsdorf is not getting younger. Stranger things can (and usually do) happen in the American League Central.
My strategy is a heavy focus on free agency. I'm leaning towards the White Sox holding on to their prospects with the hope that they develop well enough to merit a shot in the majors and provide reliable (and also, cheap) depth. Knowing that this is still a Reinsdorf-owned team, I imagine the Chairman being hesitant about committing to guarantee deals for 2027. The plan I drew up has a lot of one-year contracts with creative accounting (club options with buyouts, baby!). I'm sure that everyone who participates in the Offseason Plan Project is looking forward to playing under Justin Ishbia's version sooner rather than later.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Mike Tauchman: $3.5 Million - Non-tender
- Steven Wilson: $1.5 Million - Tender
- Derek Hill: $1.0 Million - Non-tender
I loved the energy and effort Mike Tauchman provided to the White Sox in 2025. He surprised me in a good way with the way he played right field, showcasing a lot more range and fearlessness than I was expecting from a 34-year-old running with bad hamstrings. But after missing the end of the season with a torn meniscus, I’m pretty concerned about Tauchman’s lower half holding up for half a season. If Tauchman is willing to sign for around $1.75 million, I would consider it from a White Sox perspective, assuming he would be used primarily as a fourth outfielder.
In four major league seasons, Steven Wilson has posted similar numbers in three of those years, with the exception being his bad 2024 campaign. Wilson is the type of reliever who can give you 50 or more innings with a sub-4.00 ERA, but a FIP flirting closer to 5.00 because his walk rate is not ideal. It surprised me, but Wilson had a 123 ERA+ with the White Sox last year. While Wilson's stuff is not overpowering, I have him returning to the White Sox because $1.5 million is pretty cheap for bullpen help.
Derek Hill might get a minor league contract offer to compete for a spot on the 26-man roster in Spring Training, as the White Sox's outfield depth is pretty shallow at the moment. It's hard for me to commit $1 million to Hill.
CONTRACT OPTIONS
- Luis Robert Jr.: $20 Million for 2026 - PICK UP
- Martin Perez: $10 Million for 2026 - DECLINE; $1.5 Million Buyout
Chris Getz made the Luis Robert Jr. decision for everyone. Looking at the outfield free agent class, there are not many quality center fielders available to replace Robert, so while I was skeptical about the White Sox not finding a trade partner last July, in hindsight it now makes sense. That doesn’t mean we won’t get to play this game again come the trade deadline, if Robert is on a heater and the White Sox are still struggling to win games.
Martin Perez was much better than expected when he actually pitched in 2025, but much like Tauchman, I don’t have a whole lot of confidence that he can hold up for half a season. If there are no takers when spring training starts, and Martin is still without a home, I think it’s worth giving him an invite on a minor league contract to see what’s left in the tank.
After deciding on arbitration cases and contract options, I have the following shopping list to fill out a 26-man roster:
- Two relievers
- Two outfielders
- Two starting pitchers
Using 20 players from 2025 as the building block, my current 26 player payroll is at $52.7 million, leaving me with a little more than $37 million in budget to find these six players. As Hayden Christensen said in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, this is where the fun begins.
Note: For contract values I used Spotrac’s Market Value tool.
2026 Chicago White Sox Roster Before Moves
FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
Reliever 1: LHP Gregory Soto
Contract: 1 year, $5.5 million + club option for $6 million in 2027 or $1.5 million buyout
The White Sox need a more dependable left-handed option out of the bullpen. In 2025, Gregory Soto limited left-handed hitters to a .549 OPS while striking them out at a 26.3 percent clip. Soto’s slider was a weapon as opposing hitters only batted .156 against that pitch while whiffing 45.5 percent of the time. Even though hitters have more success hitting Soto’s sinker, the velocity is still there with a 96.8 MPH average in 2025. In 2022, Soto was Detroit’s primary closer, racking up 30 saves. If the White Sox are serious about moving Grant Taylor back into the starting rotation, maybe Soto could be the primary high-leverage option for Will Venable.
2026 Steamer Projection: 59.0 IP | 0.5 fWAR | 3.47 ERA | 3.57 FIP
Reliever 2: RHP Hunter Harvey
Contract: 1 year, $4 million
A right adductor strain limited Hunter Harvey to only 12 appearances with the Kansas City Royals in 2025, but it was 10⅔ scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts to just one walk. When healthy, it’s a four-seam fastball that clocks at 97 mph consistently mixed with a splitter and the occasional breaking pitch. In his career, Harvey doesn’t have a platoon disadvantage (vs. RH: .655 OPS | vs. LH: 644 OPS). The focus is to make sure that Harvey is healthy and the adductor strain doesn’t throw off his lower half mechanics. With new pitching coach Zach Bove now in the fold, perhaps that past working relationship can help persuade Harvey to sign with the White Sox.
2026 Steamer Projection: 46.0 IP | 0.7 fWAR | 3.41 ERA | 3.33 FIP
Starting Pitcher 1: RHP Dustin May
Contract: 1 year, $5 million
After recovering from a torn flexor tendon in his pitching arm and a scary esophageal tear, the fact that Dustin May pitched at all in 2025 could be considered a blessing. However, the results were not great for May, who posted a 4.96 ERA with a 4.88 FIP in 25 appearances, including 23 starts. He threw 132⅓ innings, and for the White Sox who are hungry for pitchers who can carry that type of workload, that metric might be enough to give May a second chance. At least until the younger arms are healthy or ready to pitch in the majors.
Maybe Brian Bannister can help May find his previous success pre-injury with the sinker, and in return, the White Sox have another starter that can give them five innings every fifth day. For how much free agent starting pitchers go for these days, if the White Sox can sign May for $5 million, I think it’s worth the risk.
2026 Steamer Projection: 136.0 IP | 1.5 fWAR | 4.35 ERA | 4.30 FIP
Starting Pitcher 2: LHP Anthony Kay
Contract: 1 year, $2 million + club option for $3.5 million in 2027 or $500K buyout
A $2 million contract may be low, but after watching highlights from last year, Anthony Kay should be a target for the White Sox. Perhaps they consider utilizing the original Bryse Wilson Plan by having Kay start games early, and if he performs better than Wilson, that’s great. If not, adding Kay to the bullpen is not a terrible idea, as the White Sox again could use more dependable lefties.
2026 Steamer Projection: 120.0 IP | 1.2 fWAR | 4.27 ERA | 4.40 FIP
Outfielder 1: RF Mike Yastrzemski
Contract: 1 year, $12 million
I'll be honest, it does seem a little weird that I wasn't excited about giving 35-year-old Mike Tauchman $3.5 million but willing to sign 35-year-old Mike Yastrzemski for much more. It's the consistency of Yastrzemski's career that gives me confidence that he can be a mainstay in right field for the White Sox in 2026. Despite posting a low batting average, Yastrzemski does a good job of drawing walks (career 10.9% walk rate) and has hit at least 15 home runs in each season since COVID shortened 2020. Looking at his spray chart, all but one of Yastrzemski's home runs were pulled to right field. Could playing home games at Rate Field help Yastrzemski eclipse 20 home runs? If Andrew Benintendi can, so can Yastrzemski.
2026 Steamer Projection: 97 G | .228/.318/.408 | 15 HR | 45 RBI | 102 wRC+ | 1.0 fWAR
Outfielder 2: Cedric Mullins
Contract: 1 year, $7 million + club option for $10 million in 2027 or $2 million buyout
While I like Yastrzemski as a right fielder option, the White Sox really do need to find a center fielder with whom they are comfortable making at least 50 starts at the position. The best-case scenario is obviously that Luis Robert Jr. can play every game, but the likelihood of that happening is incredibly slim. Whoever they sign for outfield depth should plan on playing a good chunk in center to prepare for a Robert stint on the injured list.
Enter Cedric Mullins, who has been on the decline since his 6.0 fWAR season in 2021. Last year, Mullins hit .229/.305/.433 with a 106 OPS+ in 91 games before Baltimore traded him to the New York Mets. That arrangement did not work well for Mullins or the Mets. In 42 games, Mullins was putrid, batting .182/.284/.281 resulting in a 62 OPS+.
Mullins needs a second chance to prove he can still be a productive outfielder, and the White Sox are home to second chances. By signing Mullins, he would be the primary left fielder, pushing Andrew Benintendi to the designated hitter role, but also ready to play some innings in center field when Robert is hurt or needs a break. Benintendi would still find some playing time in the outfield as Venable can work out a DH rotation with his veteran outfielders.
2026 Steamer Projection: 98 G | .230/.303/.386 | 12 HR | 43 RBI | 92 wRC+ | 1.2 fWAR
PROJECTED 2026 ROSTER
Starting Rotation - 2026 Opening Day
- RHP Shane Smith
- RHP Davis Martin
- RHP Dustin May
- RHP Sean Burke
- LHP Anthony Kay
Bullpen - 2026 Opening Day
High Leverage: RHP Grant Taylor
High Leverage: LHP Gregory Soto
High Leverage: RHP Hunter Harvey
Medium Leverage: RHP Jordan Leasure
Medium Leverage: RHP Steven Wilson
Medium Leverage: RHP Wikelman Gonzalez
Medium Leverage: LHP Tyler Gilbert
Swing Man: RHP Mike Vasil
Lineup vs. RHP
- L - Mike Yastrzemski - Right Field
- R - Luis Robert Jr. - Center Field
- L - Kyle Teel - Catcher
- L - Colson Montgomery - Shortstop
- R - Miguel Vargas - Third Base
- L - Andrew Benintendi - Designated Hitter
- R - Lenyn Sosa - First Base
- L - Cedric Mullins - Left Field
- R - Chase Meidroth - Second Base
Lineup vs. LHP
- S - Edgar Quero - Catcher
- R - Luis Robert Jr. - Center Field
- R - Miguel Vargas - Third Base
- L - Colson Montgomery - Shortstop
- R - Lenyn Sosa - First Base
- L - Andrew Benintendi - Left Field
- R - Bryan Ramos - Designated Hitter
- L - Cedric Mullins - Right Field
- R - Chase Meidroth - Second Base
Conclusion
With a 26-man player payroll of $88,980,000, I have some leeway to bring back a Mike Tauchman or Austin Slater-type veteran bat to give Will Venable options in pinch-hit situations. However, I’m also okay with the idea of having a bench with younger players like Brooks Baldwin, Curtis Mead, and Bryan Ramos. They also haven’t outright earned a starting spot, so I’m okay with them waiting behind more proven veterans.
While adding veteran position players like Yastrzemski and Mullins can help build a more solid floor, make no mistake, the leap in victories will have to be generated by the young players like Colson Montgomery and Kyle Teel. If Miguel Vargas and Lenyn Sosa continue to take a step forward at the plate, there’s a chance the White Sox could have six or more hitters that are league average (100 wRC+ or better).
Adding relievers like Soto and Harvey can help shore up the bullpen, but I am concerned about my starting pitching staff to start the season. I’m not sure what the staying power is for Sean Burke or Anthony Kay in a rotation, but I think they are major league arms. They could be moved to the bullpen when Hagen Smith and/or Noah Schultz prove they are ready for innings in the majors.
I would love for the White Sox to surprise and be an honest contender for the AL Central in 2026. Hearing Chris Getz after introducing Zach Bove as his new pitching coach, he invites that optimism, but would think that 2027 or 2028 are more realistic goals. It depends significantly on the development of the younger players. My offseason plan, hopefully, would give Will Venable more dependable veterans.
