PREAMBLE
$130 million? Really, Jerry? You're getting revenue from postseason games, higher TV ratings despite a dreadful play-by-play announcer, and more sales in Japan due to actually spending a little to get Munetaka Murakami?
We're not doing that, you cheap bastard. I'm adding $25 million to this budget, with the logic that some strategic spending can shore up flaws that were exposed last September and continue to expand the fanbase, all while still providing opportunity for prospects (Bonemer, McDougal, Sandlin) when their performances merit MLB playing time.
This contention window? It's a new day rising. Continuing to spend like the Pirates? It's not funny anymore. Open the checkbook and 2027 could be a celebrated summer.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Miguel Vargas: Tender
- Brenton Doyle: Tender
- Joey Bart: Tender
- Huascar Brazobán: Tender
- Jordan Leasure: Non-tender
- Chris Murphy: Non-tender
If Bart can avoid broken bones, he should earn his salary. I would rather have him as the backup than anyone else on the 40-man roster. Brazobán showed enough with the Mets to take a flyer on him despite the underwhelming end of his season, and he is the stability in some bullpen churn reflected in the non-tender decisions.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- None
Newcomb is due for a raise, which will happen someplace else. I honestly have no idea what the market is for Erick Fedde and Trevor Richards and would be happy to give them NRIs if their winter is quiet. Same for Randal Grichuk and Jake Rogers, though I suspect someone will offer Grichuk a guaranteed contract off of last year's production.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Kaima Taira (3 years, $42 million). Have you seen him pitch? He looks like a mini-Tom Seaver as he drops down to get a ridiculous amount of extension. Add him to the pile of pitchers who can throw 2-3 innings; it's a bonus if he can actually start.
No. 2: Luis Arráez (1 year, $10 million). Why? Maybe the Sox don't strike out 21 times in their final game if Arráez is the DH. I think he'd be available for one year, and if Caleb Bonemer proves ready before September, he'll take at-bats from Arráez while either DHing or, if his glove in left is better than Antonacci's, shifting Antonacci to DH.
No. 3: Clay Holmes (3 years, $60 million). Look, if it helps with Jerry, tell him he's a reliever. He's certainly succeeded in that role, but he's now demonstrated effectiveness in the rotation.
No. 4: Raisel Iglesias (2 years, $36 million). Iglesias in high leverage will reduce stress on Grant Taylor and Hagen Smith, and having him helps envision a world where both of those young pitchers finish the season in the rotation while the bullpen remains dependable. May he be more Liam Hendriks than Seranthony Domínguez.
No. 5: Make Andrew Benintendi a free agent by releasing him with $15 million left on his contract. Will Venable did a remarkable job of shielding this increasingly flawed player, at least until the postseason exposed his slow bat. I suspect all the utility the Sox are going to accrue from this signing is now in the past, and his roster spot goes to Arráez.
TRADES
I had entertained thoughts of trading Chase Meidroth or Sam Antonacci for significant returns, but then thought why would the Sox do that when they could just spend more money? Absent trading Jerry Reinsdorf for an Ishbia to be named now, I will leave this section blank.
SUMMARY
Here's the Opening Day 26-man roster:
Lineup:
LF Sam Antonacci
1B Munetaka Murakami
3B Miguel Vargas
DH Luis Arráez
C Kyle Teel
SS Colson Montgomery
2B Chase Meidroth
RF Braden Montgomery
CF Tristan Peters
Bench:
C Joey Bart
INF/OF Brooks Baldwin
INF/OF Luisangel Acuna
OF Brenton Doyle
Rotation: Sean Burke, Clay Holmes, Davis Martin, Luis Castillo, Anthony Kay
Bullpen: Grant Taylor, Hagen Smith, Noah Schultz, Kaima Tara, Bryan Hudson, Jordan Hicks, Huascar Brazoban, Raisel Iglesias
The budget for this roster (including eating Benintendi's contract) comes it at around $155 million, $25 million above the proposed budget. This Opening Day roster will not be static, as the 40-man will include (among others) David Sandlin, Drew Thorpe, Tyler Davis, Tyler Schweitzer, Tanner McDougal, Shane Smith, Prelander Berroa, Edgar Quero, Caleb Bonemer, & Samuel Zavala. All of these guys are likely to spend some time with the MLB club, and I'd also NRI a bunch of pitchers to stash at Charlotte.
It's a roster that recognizes the accomplishments of the 2025 team while trying to mitigate its flaws. It's a roster that has room for emerging young talent yet is not desperate for minor leagues to force their way onto the Opening Day roster. Will it be enough to win the AL Central? I don't know for sure, but I'll take that ticket to ride.
Last year, the Numero Group issued The Miracle Year, a document of Hüsker Dü's live work in 1985, with a title that could describe what the White Sox accomplished in 2025. This OPP is both an attempt to build on that miracle and a shameless excuse to link one of the great lost nuggets on that record: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orlovBn7kuU .
Hüsker Dü had Grant Hart, the White Sox have Grant Taylor. Now if someone can just grow a Rollie Fingers mustache (or, hell, the Sox hire old infielder Greg Norton to coach and grow a version of bassist Greg Norton's mustache), the White Sox will divide and conquer.
