White Sox general manager Chris Getz spoke with reporters on Thursday in advance of this weekend’s SoxFest. The second-year baseball operations leader indicated the team was unlikely to make any significant moves for the remainder of the offseason.
“For the most part, we feel like we’ve got our roster. Yeah, it’s just a matter of getting to Spring Training and prepping for Opening Day,” Getz said (link via MLB.com’s Scott Merkin). While he left open the possibility for “an addition here and there,” it doesn’t seem the Sox expect to do much else before the season gets underway.
That’s to be expected. The White Sox are coming off the worst season in modern baseball history. They certainly weren’t going to be major players in free agency. They’ve somewhat surprisingly signed five MLB free agent deals this winter, though none goes beyond this year. Martín Pérez ($5MM), Josh Rojas ($3.5MM), Mike Tauchman ($2MM), Austin Slater ($1.8MM) and Bryse Wilson ($1.1MM) are guaranteed a combined $13.4MM. They’ve added backup catcher Matt Thaiss and lefty reliever Cam Booser via minor trades.
While the Sox surely hope they’ll be able to flip some of their free agent acquisitions at the deadline, no one from that group is going to net more than a marginal return even if they play well in the first half. Chicago’s biggest decisions were tabbing Will Venable as manager and sending Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox for a four-player prospect return headlined by Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery. Crochet was easily the Sox’s top remaining trade chip.
That title now falls to Luis Robert Jr. The star center fielder is coming off the worst season of his career. Robert hit .224/.278/.379 through 425 plate appearances. Few players had a sharper drop-off relative to their 2023 production. Robert finished 12th in AL MVP balloting two years ago. He played elite defense and hit .264/.315/.542 with 38 homers and 20 stolen bases.
Robert is the only player on the Sox roster who has the ceiling to net them a franchise-changing trade return. That very likely wouldn’t be on the table this winter, though, so it’s logical for Chicago to hold him until the deadline. While Getz didn’t firmly shut the door on trading Robert before Opening Day, he didn’t sound eager to deal the 27-year-old.
“We’re open minded, we’re not looking to move anyone,” the GM said (link via Andrew Seligman of The Associated Press). “With that being said, there are other teams that are working through the free agent process perhaps and there could be some opportunities to have dialogue. We do feel like the majority of our moves have been made. But with that being said, we’re not quite there yet and I look forward to getting this group together out in Arizona.”
Robert will be the Sox’s most important player in the season’s first few months. He’s playing on a $15MM salary in the final guaranteed season of his pre-debut contract extension. He’s guaranteed at least a $2MM buyout on $20MM club options covering the 2026-27 campaigns. If Robert finds anything near his ’23 form, Chicago would market two and a half seasons of club control over a star outfielder. If he plays like he did last season, they’d be looking at middling returns on a player who might get bought out at the end of the season. The Sox have already seen the latter situation play out with Tim Anderson and Eloy Jiménez, each of whom struggled enough to get bought out of what initially seemed to be very team-friendly contracts.
In either case, it’s hard to envision Robert remaining on the White Sox into the 2026 season. By that point, Colson Montgomery could be the new face of the franchise. The lefty-hitting shortstop was one of the sport’s top 15 prospects at this time last year. Montgomery underperformed in his first crack at Triple-A. He hit .214/.329/.381 while striking out at a 28.6% clip during his age-22 season. That has dinged his prospect value to some extent, though he still ranks among Baseball America’s Top 50 minor league talents.
The White Sox added Montgomery to their 40-man roster in November. That was a formality to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. They’d be justified in starting him back in Triple-A, but Getz left the door open for the former first-round pick to take the shortstop job out of camp. “He’s going to get a lot of opportunity come Spring Training,” Getz said (via Merkin). “We expect to see Colson Montgomery playing shortstop for the White Sox this year at some point. … He’s going to get a shot to make the club. Now, we’ve got other players on the roster that are going to compete for shortstop opportunities.”
Brooks Baldwin, who started nine games at shortstop last year, is the only returning player who logged any time at that position. Rojas has been their only major league infield acquisition this winter. He had a bit of run at shortstop early in his career with Arizona but hasn’t played there in four years. Chase Meidroth, whom the White Sox acquired in the Crochet deal, is coming off a .293/.437/.400 showing with Boston’s Triple-A club. His bat seems big league ready, but most scouting reports suggest he’s a better defensive fit at second or third base who can play shortstop on occasion. Meidroth is not yet on the 40-man roster, but it stands to reason that Chicago will give him an MLB look at some point this year.
What happened to Luis Robert Jr? Is the drop off because of an injury or something with him personally? Or is it cause he’s on the White Sox?
The answer is yes.
Yeah, D) All of the above
Injury and playing for the White Sox. He’s a star with any good team.
People were saying that about Tim Anderson and Eloy, too. I’m not sure that a change of teams is going to affect how he plays. I wonder of Moncada will get picked up by any team. Maybe a minor league contract, but he has a lot to prove.
I was thinking their proverbial star franchise guy usually has a quick drop off. Must be an organizational thing. Haven’t had consistency with a cornerstone player since Abreu
Robert is not like any of them. The year before last he was one of the best players in baseball. If he’s healthy this year he will bring back a ton in trade. That’s why he hasn’t been traded yet.
He’s not like any of them? He’s like all of them. Eloy, Moncada, and TA all had good seasons. They all are products of a team with no leadership, not direction, no coaching, and most of all, none of them are particularly high baseball IQ guys.
Lack of motivation and a self inflated sense of ego. He’s kinda like the Jimmy Butler of the MLB
Just making cheet up now, there’s nothing remotely similar to Pantera and Jimmy Butler. He doesn’t have any pretense of ego, and doesn’t make pronouncements to be the savior while hanging out with the likes of Marky Mark. Are you just comparing two guys because of their complexion?
Fine, he’s more like the Kyrie Irving or Ben Simmons of the MLB.
Every team would take Jimmy Butler gladly.
Nah, As much as I’m a LuBob hater, the one thing you can’t question is motivation. He shows up every year in TOP physical shape. His workouts causing injury and approach at the plate are the biggest problems.
He is injured 3 out of 4 seasons.
He has had some injuries for sure. But, he’s only 26. And, you have to consider the third rate organization the White Sox are in every way.
Hurt mainly, and then without protection of the lineup, things spiraled
Robert did not look very engaged in the game through most of the season, but that is expected when you have the coaching staff they had. The only hope the Sox have is if Venable can get through to this group of under-performers and motivate them.
Part of it is he’s such a natural athletic ally, he looks effortless getting to balls in the OF. None of say, the faux hustle of a Jim Edmonds who while also being a stellar CF, had a tendency to overly dramatize his catches.
His glove is not the problem, its his at bats. There were times where he looked checked out and not interested in trying. Granted Im sure he was trying before apathy set in and trying to do too much, but he needs someone in his ear to really ensure he knows how gifted he is, but its only part of it, the other part is hard work, to make adjustments and not everything is going to be easy. I feel that the Sox org enabled this not just with him, but Anderson, Moncada, and Eloy as well, and it cost them because it just felt like no one wanted to really make sure these guys were working to improve, and impress upon them how lucky they are to have any talent, and how fleeting it is if you do not continue to work on your craft.
This is fine for this offseason. The team will probably just play better to not lose 120. Hopefully the one years and Luis tear it up to flip those. Let’s also use more of our pipe. We don’t farm to big league enough.
Who makes the postseason first? The Chicago White Sox or New York Jets?
An NFL team is always like three to four good drafts away from being a playoff team. Obvi the Jets are terrible at evaluating players but they only need to find better people at it to be good again.
The White Sox would have to spend money AND also get very lucky with their development/drafting/prospect flipping, neither of which they are likely to do well until and if Reinsdorf goes and there is actual accountability in their front office.
If they both make the playoffs in the same year does it trigger Armageddon?
The seventh seal would open, yes.
Jets,even with a 45 yr old Roger’s lol
As a met fan i’m thankful for the whitesox
62 Mets are no longer the worst team of all time
41-121>40-120-1
Or 121>120. All depends on how you define worst.
Aiden, we all greatly appreciate your optimistic look at history.
I put 41-121>40-120-1 based on winning percentage, they are the 5th worst team in mlb history.
Like I said, we appreciate your optimistic look at history.
Three teams from the division made the playoffs, another was eliminated from the playoff race the last week of the season and the division still was able to amass a cumulative record 35 games UNDER .500.
He’s not wrong.
The Sox were 39-121 after 160 games. That did not match the ’62 Mets (40-120).
They were also 36-117 after 153 games. That matched the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics.
The 2024 White Sox are the worst team since the Cleveland Spiders. The Spiders had all their good players transfered to another team by an owner of both teams. They also managed to lose over 100 games on the road.
johncoltrane: Cleveland fans should brace themselves. The Sox are coming after their all-time record of 134 losses.
@avenger
that was in the 1800s right?
and the whitesox 121 losses is the record since 1900?
Nowhere to go but up.
That’s what they thought last January too.
Sideways?
Oh Baby
You know why the White Sox call it fan fest? Because they only got one fan. Badum tsss.
Swingandamiss: I’m surprised they had any kind of fan fest. They certainly didn’t make it public. No players there, I presume.
They have to be bad this year since they tanked in a year they couldn’t draft higher than 10th. Plus no one should want this team to get any better until they have a new owner who isn’t a complete jerk.
Teel,braden,schultz,hagen,quero
Tons of young talent
Dont f it up chicago
They do have a top 5 system now, grant you that.
No one is better at un-developing talent than the Sox.
Nope. Top 10. Only 3-4 position players that have a chance to be anything. Lots of good pitching prospects.
10 best minor lg systems in no particular order
red sox, white sox, cubs, reds, tigers, dodgers, pirates, mariners, nationals, orioles
Bryan Ramos and Jacob Gonzalez are two nice infielders who should see ABs at some point this season too. Ramos was holding his own when he first got called up before getting inured last year.
I think Montgomery is going to end up being the one that got away for Boston. Moreso than Teel. Kid seems to have a good makeup and is super athletic.
Trade the White Sox to Nashville. It’s ridiculous that Chicago has TWO MLB teams and GA, AL, MS, TN, SC, NC, KY all have just the Braves.
Kentucky and parts of Tennessee is Reds country. While other parts of Tennessee and Mississippi support the Cardinals.
The OBVIOUS point made is that one city doesn’t need a failed franchise when they already have another one and so many other markets don’t have a team that would be hugely supported.
yanksphan: Yeah. Like LA and NY don’t need two teams either. The only state that doesn’t have a professional baseball team at any level is Wyoming. Maybe they’ll be next in line for an expansion team.
There is no way WY is getting an MLB team. Maybe a minor league team but it has been this long without a team.
NY has plenty of bad teams in other pro sports where there is little to no economic spending advantage among teams. If MLB didn’t pander to geography, it’s almost as if NY might have the same fate in baseball.
WSox just need a decent owner, which sale should occur in next 3-4 years. Chicago is good with 2 teams. MLB will add 2 teams in near future for Nashville and whoever else.
Yeah, there are numerous fans in the city who just won’t go to a Cubs game. Similar to New Yorkers who will root for the Mets through thick and thin whose family upbringing made the Yankees repellant. Have had season tickets at various points for both clubs and we’d always be selling Wrigley tickets to out of towners or suburbanites.
Dumpster: You’re absolutely, 100% right.
If they expand the playoffs to every team yes.
unpaidobserver: You think you’re kidding?
If Luis Robert Jr. is injured or underperforms this season, the Sox won’t be able to give him away.
They have two club options after this season.
They’ll probably just buy him out
No way is Reinsdorf paying ANYBODY $20m/year. They signed five FA for under $14m.
Winners want to play with winners. Nobody on this team is worth anywhere near $20 Million. So, I expect he’ll keep his purse closed.
By the same token, if no one offers a couple good prospects, he is not being given away this offseason. Even strong side platoon OFs and ones that can’t offer much D cost 8 figures on the FA market. Reds are at top of list who should trade for him. He’ll thrive with Francona.
He’s still young and affordable enough to sign to a long term extension where he’d be part of the core when the rooks are ready to take the next step uo in say…26-27, heh. The roaring 20s, they’re back!
Agreed and I wouldn’t mind the reds taking a chance on him, but Chicago must be asking for too much or he’d have likely have been traded already.
If that happens again this year every team would still take a chance on a 27 year old with that talent.
White Sox / A’s ALCS?
As a cubs fan, I admire the work Getz is doing the right way to make Sox better all the way around because on the north side Jed is living off his one big move this off season in adding Tucker with their only team goal 90 wins.
Yeah, that’s a head scratcher. Understand trading capital for Tucker but for a one yr window, with little surrounding activity? Yikes. Better be a deep run – Cubs haven’t even won a playoff game in 8 yrs
You are absolutely correct about the cubs. As for the Sox they may surprise this year. I am quite envious of your team having top 2 lefties in minors so please be patient. Future looks bright.
Bruce: I’m interested in what exactly you think Getz is doing right. He’s done nothing but sign crap FA. He has gotten a couple of promising players in trades but the Sox don’t know how to develop talent. Montgomery was supposed to replace TA two years ago and he still hasn’t had a sniff of the majors. Colas was the next great outfielder. He was a bust and hasn’t been seen since the beginning of 2023. This organization stinks from top to bottom.
Montgomery is only 22 years old. Nobody was expecting him to be a major league SS at the age of 20.
Just be patient that’s all. Your Sox on right track. As for Jed, he’s always bargain basement spending which is so frustrating because team has the resources.
They have some good young cheap talent coming up, no question about that. Anyone has to be better than Pedro Grifol at this rate. Even if you win only 47-50 games, it’s still a win/win for this organization because Venerable will have a better product out there in terms of effort and a fundamentally strong club. Sadly, none of that will matter until Jerry is gone and they get an owner who is willing to invest in a winning product and pay some elite free agents. There’s no Dick Allen to come and save this organization from baseball purgatory like Allen did in 1972. It’s going to be a rough 2025 and beyond for the club and it’s fans.
Remember, in order to get Dick Allen the Sox had to give up Tommy John.
The good thing for the White Sox is it’s virtually statically impossible to be as bad as last season. However, they are still a last place team for the foreseeable future
This year is guaranteed but they won’t be last place forever.
Aiden: Who could possibly be worse than this team? Former fellow bottom dwellers like the A’s and Angels have improved. The Rockies haven’t done anything but they’ll still be better than the Sox. Optimism is one thing. Reality is another.
Crazy to say this, but I could see the White Sox contending for this division as soon as 2026. They have a really good farm system and dealing Robert this summer will stock it even further. The AL Central is pretty weak overall, which will help them get off the mat pretty quickly.
Rapid turnarounds can’t be ruled out.
Not a chance. Zero.
You’re right. It is crazy to say that. They are miles away from being relevant. 2027 will be their next shot at .500
We’ll endure another 210 losses over the next two years and then won’t be able to agree on economic terms of a new CBA. It’s 1994 all over again, baby.
The other teams in the division are not standing still. Cleveland is always competitive, and the Royals and Tigers are improving. The Twins are also never dominate, but always competitive. I would not count on the rest of the division falling off as the path to a division title. It will have to be earned.
That would be quite the betting payoff. We heard it here first!
Mr. Reinsdorf please sell the team. Terrible brand of baseball from ownership to low minors. Ask the Southside.
They’re gonna lose 100 + for the next 2 seasons at least.
With new owners and a new park near Naperville, the Sox could move from worst to first in a short period of time.
It wasn’t the worst season in modern history. Their winning percentage was .253 and the Mets’ was .250.
I laughed when I heard the Soxfest was moved to a more ‘intimate’ location, ie smaller, to ‘connect better’ with the fans..LOL. More like they figured not many would show up to see this band of castoffs and hopefuls. The only thing maybe worth seeing are some of the guys from the 05 team. Can only hope Reinsdorf shows his face so people can spit in it and boo him out of the building, but I would be surprised if he had the nerve to make an appearance.
Last year we were “a Mike Tauchmann away from 43 wins.”
To the MLBTR staff,
Thank you for making sure to cover even the most desolate franchises. As a Sox fan for 33 seasons, I know how little hope there is for a turnaround, especially a quick one. The Sox are deservedly overlooked by The Athletic and most major sites now that Crochet is gone, but you’re still putting out the occasional piece about them. We don’t have much to which to look forward, and this makes me appreciate even more the effort to cover them fairly.
How about the blonde he’s high-fiving in the picture, she’s probably hot
Did the White Sox change hitting coaches? Amazing how the 3 stars fell off so much at the same time??
White Sox have had a new hitting coach almost every year, including getting Marcus Thames for this past year, whom they’re inexplicably keeping. Rumor is the Sox hitters were getting only the bare minimum baseline info about a pitcher and were going to bat with no real plan most of the time. Some of that was on them for not buying in to what the team was trying to do, but my understanding is a lot on the Sox for gaps in communication between analytics and hitting coach and players. Getz has tried to streamline this process this offseason.
And injuries did more to fell Moncada than anything. He ended last year strong and started this year well, but then missed so much time that the team decided it was just time to move on.