PREAMBLE
The White Sox have been cowards in regards to saying when they actually plan to compete next and doing so has apparently given them cover to not spend significant dollars in free agency the last few off seasons. This offseason will be no different, so I will conduct my plan with an eye on 2027 being the first possible contention year, looking for long term value in trades and short term stop gaps to fill needed roster spots for 2026.
COACHING STAFF
- Hitting coach: Cody Atkinson
- Pitching coach: Casey Jacobson
Atkinson has some Venable ties, and Jacobson is apart of a Cub staff that has done a nice job recently with both veteran and young pitchers.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Mike Tauchman: Tender
- Steven Wilson: Tender
- Derek Hill: Non-tender
The OF market remains thin, the Sox didn't trade Tauchman for a variety of reasons at the deadline but the simplest might be that his value in the clubhouse and on the field is much greater then his contractual obligation. Sox stick with Tauchman until Braden Montgomery is ready. Wilson is a normal mid tier relief arm, and $1.5 mil isn't much to keep him around.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Luis Robert Jr.: Exercise $20 million option
- Martín Perez: Buy out for $1.5 million
The Sox have committed to bringing Robert back and they will once again roll the dice on Robert's health and production. At a bare minimum he still plays an above average CF and is a terror on the bases, with no internal option and a weak CF market overall its in the sox best interest to bring him back. Perez I will address later with a different contract obligation.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1 Martin Perez (1 year, $5 million) The Sox have a lot of young pitching on the cusp on the MLB but bringing back Perez to at least start the year in the rotation seems like a good idea.
No. 2 Gregory Soto (2 years, $14 million) A reliable bullpen arm to fill a massive void on the sox staff.
No. 3. Caleb Ferguson (1 year, $3.5 million) Another vet bullpen arm to add to the mix.
TRADES
No. 1: Edgar Quero and Sean Burke to Tampa for Tre Morgan and Brendan Summerhill. Sox could use another prospect bat in the outfield mix for 2027 and Summerhill was high on their list in last years draft. Morgan gives them a stud defensive firstbasemen who hit well in AAA last year and plays with a flare the club is sorely lacking. Quero gives Tampa a hit first catcher who is young and comes with a lot of upside. Burke will provide them a live arm who was best used "starting" games in inning 2...a fun nuance that the Rays know how to use better then anyone.
No. 2: Noah Schultz to the Nationals for Dylan Crews. A prospect blockbuster, Crews was actually getting outplayed a bit in Washington last year by other young outfielders and the Nats have been rumored to be big game hunting (juan soto last year) and maybe Tucker this offseason... which would make Crews all the more expendable if they pulled that off. Schultz is a prospect with ace upside who has climbed the prospect ranks but to obtain a possible future star outfielder you have to give up something big too.
No. 3: Lenyn Sosa and Bryan Ramos to the Pirates for Jeter Martinez and Anthony Solometo. Sox cash in on Sosa's power and toss in an interesting prospect whose time has run out in Ramos. Bringing back two lower level pitching prospect arms isn't the most exciting move in the world, but the Sox will have to clear a little bit of roster space and this seems one way to do it. The Pirates are desperate for offense and should be willing to part with some young pitching to get some cheap hitting.
SUMMARY
C Teel
1b Morgan
2nd Meidroth
3rd Vargas
SS Montgomery
LF Crews
CF Robert
RF Tauchman
DH Benintendi
Lee, Baldwin, Mead, (any 4a outfielder leftover)
1. Shane Smith
2. Davis Martin
3. Martin Perez
4. Grant Taylor
5. Yo Gomez
Jordan Leasure
Mike Vasil
Wikelman Gonzalez
Gregory Soto
Caleb Ferguson
Steven Wilson
Jonathan Cannon
One of the lefties: Gilbert, Alexander, Booser, whoever wins in spring
2026 will not be the most exciting year, but look at how 2027 can pan out. Let's get Grant Taylor back in the rotation, Tanner McDougal and Hagen Smith will soon replace the likes of Perez and Gomez. Some depth will build as Thorpe, Adams, and Bush return from injury. The new 2027 ideal OF will have Crews, Montgomery, and Summerhill a super athletic trio all making low salaries and freeing the sox up to move on from Robert. The young infield of Vargas, Montgomery, Meidroth, and Morgan could be as exciting as the outfield and with Caleb Bonemer and a likely SS 1st round pick in 2026 the future is bright. Teel and Lee complement each other well, and the bench is pretty versitle with Baldwin and Mead.
Jerry should also be sending me kisses as the team budget should come in just over $80 million.
