PREAMBLE
The journey through the psyche of Chris Getz is a perilously bland exercise. His rise to the helm of general manager is still baffling to me. So far everything has been done in moderation to course correct Jerry’s Titanic that has already hit multiple icebergs. To believe that there is hope that this team can reach respectability feels like the same belief as the worker below deck thinking “Once I throw this bucket of water overboard, we will start to float again.”
Yet here I am, and here are all of you. The rats that did not flee the ship. Dare we dream of a 2026 that sees a winning record at the end of the campaign?
Will this OPP show Getz how it can be done with a budget of $90 million? Probably not, but I love to try every year anyways. Please be kind to a man who is truly just a fan and appreciates Jim, Josh, and James’s platform to spout off ideas that are likely idiotic. Especially with my MLB Trade Rumors crutch removed, I have hobbled once more through the porthole and my final nautical related banter.
COACHING STAFF
- Hitting coach: Derek Shomon (Obviously)
- Pitching coach: Zach Bove (Who else?)
I got nothing. I obviously wrote this after the hirings and had I attempted a guess, it would have be Herbert "The Milkman" Perry at hitting coach and Man Soo Lee to come back for a big promotion (at a discount rate) from bullpen catcher to pitching coach.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Mike Tauchman: Tender
- Steven Wilson: Non-tender
- Derek Hill: Non-tender
It was nice to have Tauchman around last season putting up above league average numbers for almost 100 games. It helps to have professional hitters for the younger players. Wilson and Hill on the other hand will be replace by Rule 5 picks (that is what we in the biz call foreshadowing).
CLUB OPTIONS
- Luis Robert Jr.: Exercise $20 million option
- Martín Perez: Buy out for $1.5 million
I would have done what Getz has already made official and keep Luis Robert and let Martin test the market. There is no one that is available on the FA market that 1 - still has MVP potential and 2 - (and more importantly) cannot say no to the White Sox offer.
Martin feels like a guy that will still be around come May should disaster strike.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Dustin May (1 year, $8.4 million + $2.5 million in incentives, limited no trade clause).
The headliner of the new faces for the White Sox. As deliberated on the recent podcast, the chance for May to be ensured a starters role is on the south side. An incentive laden deal helps both sides feel good about the temporary marriage. May has the best deadline flip potential on the team (outside Robert). And Getz does something his predecessor was loathe to do in providing May some, contractually obligated, say in his future team.
No. 2: Griffin Canning (2 year, $12.25 million with a 3-year team option at 7 million).
With an escalating contract starting at 5.75 million the first year, Griffin Canning was the last player I landed on to round out the 26-man roster. This is a huge gamble coming off the injury. He is hopefully healthy enough to join the team by the end of May. Yoendrys Gomez will be holding down the fort until then. Maybe other teams are also willing to gamble, but the Sox pay a Sox Tax with an overvalued AAV and a second year. The payoff is, if he does pitch like he did in 2024, the White Sox can keep him on a cheap year 3.
No. 3: Harrison Bader (3 year, $36.75 million).
Last year, I wanted to sign Bader to a 3-year, $25 million dollar contract. He is now coming off a career year and back in free agency. This year, I am not messing around. Bader could be fill in at center should Robert get traded (or injured). His defense will help the young pitching staff, and he can platoon with Tauchman to help keep both fresh throughout the season.
No. 4: Devin Williams (1 year, $6.75 million with a player option at $10 million or a $1 million buyout).
The White Sox lack of backend relievers forced a lot of creativity from Veneable in his first year manning the bench. Giving Williams the guarantee that he is the closer, letting him bounce back from his season with the Yankees to help recapture his form. With the uncertainty of 2027, the player option gives Devin security, if needed.
No. 5: Lewin Diaz (2 year, $5 million).
He could very well be a more expensive Lenyn or Mead, but I am going to make a small bet that his time in the KBO has done him real good and can come back to the MLB a la Eric Thames.
Putting this here with no other spot to track Rule 5 ---
Rule 5
Pick. 1: Jake Bennet
A current starter who came back from injury with the Nats will be slotted into the bullpen to work with the MLB staff and can be stretched out as a long relief with the intent to allow him to compete for a starting job in 2027.
Pick. 2: Nick Morabito
A good all around player that lacks power. He can be stored on the bench as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. He has the potential to be a table setter and, with the chance of playing time in the OF freeing up after trade(s) will get his shot with the Southsiders in 2026.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Andrew Benintendi, Lenyn Sosa, and $8 million (both this year and next) for JJ Bleday and Ryan Lasko
This is a paying for a bounce back move from Bleday as well as filling out needed AAA outfield depth with Lasko. Why would the A’s do this? The A’s are still a ways away from contending, like the White Sox. They need to fill out their major league club and Sosa gives them flexibility. Benintendi allows them to shop Rooker, which will net them better prospects than trading Bleday straight up to a different team.
SUMMARY
This was an especially challenging year. I do not see the Sox actually trading Benni for anything of value right now, but keeping to the budget required moving some of the contract. I feel good about the end product. Could they get to 82 wins? Even if everything breaks right, I don't think so. Because breaking right would likely mean one or some of Robert, Williams, Bader, and May, are traded midseason.
The signing of Lewin Diaz moves Vargas to 3rd. The final roster spot went to Bryan Ramos. Being out of options and showing willingness for positional flexibility wins him the opportunity. Hopefully he makes the best out of it.
The starting 9 would likely shake out like this:
Tauchman (DH)
Teel (C)
Diaz (1B)
Chase (2B)
Vargas (3B)
Montgomery (SS)
Bader (RF)
Robert (CF)
Bleday (LF)
Here is the full roster and financials below. The final budget comes in just under $91 million.
Starters
Martin, Davis $780,000.00
Burke, Sean $780,000.00
Griffin Canning $5,750,000.00
Smith, Shane $780,000.00
Dustin May $10,900,000.00
Subtotal $18,990,000.00
Relief
Leasure, Jordan $780,000.00
Cannon, Jonathan $780,000.00
Booser, Cam $780,000.00
Eisert, Brandon $780,000.00
Iriarte, Jairo $780,000.00
Taylor, Grant $780,000.00
Devin Williams $6,750,000.00
Jake Bennet $780,000.00
Subtotal $12,210,000.00
Catcher
Quero, Edgar $780,000.00
Teel, Kyle $780,000.00
Subtotal $1,560,000.00
Infield
Vargas, Miguel $780,000.00
Lewin Diaz $2,500,000.00
Baldwin, Brooks $780,000.00
Meidroth, Chase $780,000.00
Montgomery, Colson $780,000.00
Bryan Ramos $780,000.00
Subtotal $6,400,000.00
Outfield
Robert Jr., Luis $20,000,000.00
JJ Bleday $1,000,000.00
Tauchman, Mike $3,000,000.00
Nick Morabito $780,000.00
Harrison Bader $16,500,000.00
Subtotal $41,280,000.00
Deferred $$$
Liam Hendriks $1,000,000.00
Jose Abreu $1,500,000.00
Subtotal $2,500,000.00
Trade $$$
Benintendi, Andrew $8,000,000.00
Subtotal $8,000,000.00
TOTAL $90,940,000.00
