PREAMBLE
The White Sox are in the same spot they were in 2021; young team coming off a devastating ALDS loss. "The money will be spent" lives in infamy for most of us. Some of us blame Jerry, some blame Rick Hahn. I blame Kenny. But with a new regime, in a similar position, I expect Getz to right the wrongs of his predecessors and spend in a savvy manner to get the most out of this core.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Miguel Vargas: Tender
- Brenton Doyle: Tender
- Joey Bart: Non-tender
- Huascar Brazobán: Non-tender
- Jordan Leasure: Non-tender
- Chris Murphy: Non-tender
Keeping the 2 starters from my plan; backup catcher and the bullpen can be filled out with better (or cheaper) players.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- None
Not resigning any; I'd love to have Grichuk back off the bench, but I think his performance this year earned him a larger role with another team. I'd also like to keep Newcomb, but I got the vibe from management that they worked him like a dog down the stretch because they had no intention of bringing him back.
FREE AGENTS
Kaima Taira (6 yr · $120M)
Walker Buehler (2 yr · $6M)
A.J. Puk (2 yr · $2.5M)
Travis d'Arnaud (1 yr · $1.3M)
Gavin Lux (2 yr · $7M)
Kevin Ginkel (1 yr · $3M)
TRADES
- Trade with COLSent Luis Castillo + $15M cashReceived Danny Cancro
- Trade with LAASent Tristan Peters, Andrew Benintendi, Billy Carlson, Tanner McDougalReceived Reid Detmers, Samy Natera Jr.
- Trade with SFSent Davis Martin, Edgar Quero, Sebastian RomeroReceived Rafael Devers + $15M cash
Trade 1 rationale: Colorado has 2 MLB level SPs under control for 2027; Chase Dollander and Ryan Feltner. Dollander needed an opener most of the season, and is set to miss the start of 2027 after internal brace procedure. Feltner just isn't very good. Sox send Castillo for a low level prospect, eating $15M of his remaining deal.
Trade 2 rationale: Angels have a pretty inept organization outside of Mike Trout. After moving Adell and Soriano at the deadline, and rumors of moving Neto this offseason, Angels seem to be ready for a full scale rebuild. Detmers having 2 years of control left should command a decent return. With the rebuild, they'll need someone to take ABs in the 2027 season. For the small price of $15M, they get Andrew Benintendi! But in all seriousness, for taking on his full salary, White Sox give a return of a rookie All Star CF, a top 100 prospect SS (that has a glove unlike Nimmala), and a power pitcher with a lot of upside. Sox get a rotation anchor for the next 2+ seasons and a young bullpen arm that has shown flashes of brilliance.
Trade 3 rationale: Giants have been trying to offload Several contract seemingly since they acquired him. If they still are hoping to offload him, I would offer Davis Martin (hoping they buy into his 2026 first half), Edgar Quero (who is in need of a change of scenery and an extended chance), and a young, high upside minor leaguer. SF eats half of Devers 2027 salary, Sox take on the rest of the deal. In Devers, the Sox add another power source, but one that gets on base more and strikes out less than the other Sox power bats. His bat could provide a ton of protection for Mune and Vargas, helping them get more pitches to hit. No more pitching around Vargas without consequences for CLE!
SUMMARY
Batting Order
- S. Antonacci (LF)
- M. Murakami (1B)
- M. Vargas (3B)
- R. Devers (DH)
- C. Meidroth (2B)
- K. Teel (C)
- B. Montgomery (RF)
- C. Montgomery (SS)
- B. Doyle (CF)
Pitching Staff
Rotation
- SP1: R. Detmers
- SP2: S. Burke
- SP3: K. Taira
- SP4: N. Schultz
- SP5: W. Buehler
Bullpen
- CP: G. Taylor
- SU: H. Smith
- RP: S. Natera Jr.
- RP: J. Hicks
- RP: A. Puk
- RP: K. Ginkel
- RP: A. Kay
- RP: M. Vasil
Bench
- OF: B. Baldwin
- C: T. d'Arnaud
- SS: L. Acuña
- 2B: G. Lux
The payroll on this roster comes out to $129.8M. The White Sox revamp their rotation with one of the best SPs on the trade market, the best NPB pitcher being posted, and Walker Buehler, who at the very least can eat some innings as a 5th starter. Moving Kay to the bullpen keeps a stretched out pitcher in case he's needed with Schultz being far from a guarantee to eat innings.
The Sox bullpen in 2026 was an island of misfit toys. It hurt them down the stretch. With Vasil returning from injury, and acquiring Natera in the Detmers trade, Sox add a couple very talented young arms that weren't there last year. To supplement them, Sox get AJ Puk as a cheap injury bounce back candidate, and add his D'back teammate Kevin Ginkel, a reliable horse for Arizona the past couple seasons.
While the lineup led the AL in runs in 2026, the productive half of their DH platoon likely won't be back, and the other half shouldn't be back. Sox take a swing to add a force to the middle of the lineup; one with postseason experience and a World Series title under his belt.
On the bench, Brooks Baldwin returns from injury to be the 4th OF. Sox add a vet to backup Kyle Teel. d'Arnaud is known for how well he calls a game and assists the pitching staff. A perfect backup, similar to Jake Rogers, but probably comes cheaper. Lastly, Gavin Lux is brought in on a prove it deal after being hurt the entire 2026 season.He's versatile, logging innings at corner OF, as well as every IF position throughout his career. Lux also comes with postseason experience, as does d'Arnaud.
Overall, aside from the bullpen/depth moves, this was a plan constructed to not only focus on 2027, but well beyond. All prospects moved were at positions of depth in the system, and all of the active roster players moved have question marks or lack a defining role entering the off-season. Let me know what you think!
