For the third straight summer, the White Sox are selling. For the second straight summer, they designed their team to be disassembled by the deadline. The only question is whether Chris Getz will inspire more favorable reviews of his activity th is time around.
Last July's activity disappointed on multiple levels, although he was able to salvage one major point of contention. He couldn't find the right return for Garrett Crochet during the summer, but Crochet's workload restriction and demand for an extension clouded the picture, and Getz ended up getting an appropriate package of prospects after the season, when the market opened up to teams that weren't invested in the last two months of 2024.
But whether it was getting a surprisingly slight return for Erick Fedde (even though he was packaged with Michael Kopech and Tommy Pham), or closing out a sad chapter by trading Eloy Jiménez for a warm body who has since retired, the deadline didn't provide a sense of forward momentum, especially when Miguel Vargas' bat and face reminded everybody that not every change of scenery is welcomed.
Getz is holding a similar hand this time around: an underperforming former pillar, a breakout veteran pitcher with peripherals that invite doubt, and a whole host of players who might help fill out benches and bullpens. The only one he's lacking is a comp for Crochet, unless he surprises everybody by trading Edgar Quero or Kyle Teel when there's been no reported smoke.
What are we looking at here? Let's try to set some expectations for the White Sox on the block:
Luis Robert Jr.
Jon Heyman says eight teams have "checked in" on Robert, but as long as his OPS starts with ".5," it's probably in the same fashion that vultures "check in" on carrion. Last year's Eloy Jiménez trade sets the absolute floor of his value, but given that Robert still brings a plus glove to the table, Chris Getz should be able to do better, if only because there are a few teams that could run Robert out there in center, have him bat eighth, and hope for the best. The Dodgers traded for Kevin Kiermaier under similar circumstances last year.
That's probably not enough motivation to start a real bidding war, especially if Harrison Bader and Cedric Mullins are also on the block. However, if the White Sox are willing to cover the bulk of his remaining salary and buyout, perhaps any deal can be sweetened to the point that it can be digestable.
Adrian Houser
Since the White Sox lured him away from Triple-A Round Rock in mid-May, all he's done is deal. Houser has a 1.56 ERA while averaging better than six innings a start no matter the opponent, and while he's pitching over his head, even the expected stats see a credible starter (3.12 FIP, 3.68 xERA). He's getting lucky to an extent -- his 3.8 percent home run/fly ball rate is the second lowest in baseball for any pitcher with 50 innings -- but he's turned back the clock on his fastball velocity, and his curveball is better than ever, so there are material reasons for his resurgence beyond luck.
In terms of last year's rental starters, he's pitching as effectively as Jack Flaherty, who pulled in a 50 FV prospect and a rosterable infielder. But his name brand value is closer to that of Michael Lorenzen, who returned a 26-year-old righty the Rangers have already cut.
Mike Tauchman
His .283/.375/.434 line represents his best production since 2019, but it comes with some reservations. He's only played in 45 games due to repeat hamstring issues, and the way he's guarding his leg shows up in his sprint speed:
- 2021: 27.2 ft/second
- 2023: 27.3
- 2024: 27.2
- 2025: 25.1
For purposes of comparison, Edgar Quero covers 25 feet per second, so this is pretty dreadful. Tauchman's decent outfield play suggests he can reach top gear when absolutely necessary, but he'd prefer not to.
He also hasn't homered in 23 games. During this stretch, he's only slugging .333 with four doubles while seeing more fastballs than ever, which appears to be the league's countermove to his lifter puller renaissance. He can still provide tough plate appearances for a team that can deploy him more strategically, and that probably generates some measure of interest. For example, such qualities are why three different teams traded for Mark Canha over the course of a calendar year. It's just that none of the three prospects exchanged in those trades is on a major league trajectory, so temper expectations accordingly.
Korey Lee
As we discussed in Tuesday's Minor Keys, the Padres have reportedly been interested in Lee's services, and the White Sox acquired Blake Sabol, who is the kind of quintessential Triple-A catcher who could lead the playing time mix in Charlotte if and when the Sox find a better opportunity for Lee elsewhere. The Matt Thaiss trade probably sets the bar for excitement, although Lee is younger and more athletic, and there aren't better catchers readily available on the block.
Aaron Civale
He's been traded for three straight summers, and the last time he was dealt, he brought back a guy who's slugging 1.000 and averaging two RBIs a game. Now it's up to the White Sox to unearth another team's hidden gem the way the Brewers did with Andrew Vaughn.
Of course, Civale has a 5.58 ERA with peripherals to match (5.56 FIP). His best attribute is the ability to absorb crooked numbers with efficiency, as he's still averaging five innings a start. Unfortunately, that skill set probably has the most value on a team like the White Sox, although Martín Pérez might be able to return over the final two months to serve the same kind of role if the White Sox find somebody who likes Civale more.
Austin Slater
He was traded twice last July, and since he's slugging .528 against left-handed pitching, he could very well be on the move again. He was traded for a journeyman reliever the first time, and cash considerations the second.
Michael A. Taylor
He was ostensibly signed as center field depth to keep Robert fresh, rested and in top working order. But at the All-Star break, Taylor has somehow outproduced Robert at the plate. Taylor’s still bringing it as a defender and slugging against lefties, but Robert can say the same thing, and Robert is the superior threat on the basepaths. Can the White Sox move two of these guys?
Tyler Gilbert/Cam Booser
The White Sox acquired both with the idea that they could provide the kind of opportunity to boost their profiles, at least in the sense of guaranteed playing time. Gilbert has come closer to fulfilling that vision, as he's been hell on lefties while showing the ability to open games and throw multiple innings, whereas Booser started tailing off in May and then hit the injured list with a shoulder problem in mid-June. Then again, Gilbert has spent time on the IL twice this season with the same left knee issue, so he doesn't quite sell durability the way Tanner Banks did last year.
From here, you might have some team taking a liking to Brandon Eisert, or one that has always wanted Josh Rojas in its mix, but any transactions centered around them or other names not mentioned won't move needles. Just like last July, the more transformative trade might have to wait until the winter meetings.
