PREAMBLE
Establish where you see the White Sox at this point, and your mindset/philosophy/strategy in putting together the roster for the upcoming season.
2026 was an incredible season! Venable worked magic to get the pitching staff one game from the ALCS. Of course, pitching is a priority. I would urge Reinsdorf to open up the purse strings considering:
1. a weak AL central
2. an opportunity to defer contracts before the new bargaining agreement
3. he is not getting any younger
Jerry, you want to see another South Side parade in your lifetime. Let's do this!
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Miguel Vargas: Tender
- Brenton Doyle: Tender
- Joey Bart: Non-tender
- Huascar Brazobán: Tender
- Jordan Leasure: Non-tender
- Chris Murphy: Non-tender
Doyle is needed for Peters platoon partner in center. I'd consider Bart for a backup catcher, but I am saving money and counting on Quero to step up. Quero had a challenging year, but he is still young and talented.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Sean Newcomb
Erick Fedde is a useful pitcher, but a team with playoff aspirations must be aiming higher. I believe the White Sox have juiced all they could from the Grichuk/Beni designated hitter platoon. Grichuk has always been a streaky hitter looking at his career statistics and cannot be expected to replicate his 2026 statistics.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Tarik Skubal (10 years, $460 million)
Yes, this is a huge contract. The White Sox need an ace and an opportunity like this is rare. To fit a $130 million budget, we will need to defer payments similar to the Ohtani contract.
2027-2036 $2 million per year ($20 million total)
2030 $40 million
2031: #40 million
2032-2039: $45 million per year ($360 million total)
#2: Randy Arozarena (4 years, $80 million)
Arozarena replaces the Grishuk/Beni platoon in a major way. He isn't expected to field and will be the permanent dh and give Vargas the protection he needs in the order.
#3: Sean Newcomb (2 years, $20 million)
Sean did everything that was asked of him and earned a raise. Solid left-hander hat can serve as an opener, middle relief, setup, "bulk boy", or even closer in a pinch.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Caleb Bonemer, Jaden Fauske, and Pierce George to Anaheim for Reid Detmers.
I don't know if Anaheim is willing to make a deal with the GM situation unsettled. If this doesn't work, offer the same package to the Mariners for one of their young starting pitchers. The White Sox must deal from their surplus of infield talent. I hear a lot of fans urging to trade Conor, but that would be a sell-low move. Conor has proven that he can make adjustments when needed like he did mid-2025. I'm counting on Shomon and Fuller to help him make the adjustments needed to be successful in 2027 and not break his strike out record. Caleb still needs to make adjustments to his swing.
Detmers gives the White Sox a solid #1 and #2 to line up against any team.
No. 2: Trade Beni, Christian Oppor, and $$ for a minor-league lottery ticket pitcher
Benintendi is still a solid RH bat and veteran presence for a second division team. I am hopeful to find a taker to help to meet the $130 million budget, but maybe that is asking too much.
No. 3: Trade David Sandlin, George Wolkow, and Anthony DePino to Boston for Jarren Duran.
This is a buy-low move. The Red Sox outfield is full and their is no room for Duran after his awful 2026 season. Can Shomon and Fuller work with Duran to rework his swing? I don't expect getting him back to his 2024 form, but he still has talent and is a tremendous fielder.
SUMMARY
Antonacci lf $1 million
Teel c $1 million
Murakami 1b $17.5 million
Vargas 3b $6 million
Arozarena dh $20 million
Peters cf $1 million
Meidroth 2b $1 million
B. Montgomery rf $1 million
C. Montgomery ss $1 million
Bench: Duran, Doyle, Quero, Acuna or Baldwin ($16 million total)
#1 Skubal $2 million***
#2 Detmers $6 million
#3 Burke $1 million
#4 Martin $1 million
#5 Castillo $22.75 million
Taylor $1 million
H. Smith $1 million
Newcomb $10 million
Schultz $1 million
Hicks $12 million
Kay $5 million
Brazoban $1.5 million
Hudson $1 million
Other obligations (Beni and Liam $9.5 million)
Ok. So I am a shade over $140 million.
