The White Sox hired a new manager and cashed in Garrett Crochet for prospects, otherwise making affordable, low-ceiling additions.
Major League Signings
- Martin Perez, SP: one year, $5MM. Includes $10MM mutual option for 2026 with a $1.5MM buyout
- Josh Rojas, 3B: one year, $3.5MM
- Mike Tauchman, LF/RF: one year, $1.95MM
- Michael A. Taylor, CF: one year, $1.95MM
- Austin Slater, LF/RF: one year, $1.75MM
- Bryse Wilson, SP/RF: one year, $1.05MM
2025 spending: $15.2MM
Total spending: $15.2MM
Option Decisions
- Team declined $25MM club option on 3B Yoan Moncada, paying $5MM buyout
- Team declined $7.5MM club option on C Max Stassi, paying $500K buyout
Trades and Claims
- Claimed RP Penn Murfee off waivers from Astros
- Took P Shane Smith from Brewers in Rule 5 draft
- Acquired C Kyle Teel, OF Braden Montgomery, IF Chase Meidroth, and SP Wikelman Gonzalez from Red Sox for SP Garrett Crochet
- Acquired C Matt Thaiss from Cubs for cash
- Acquired cash from Angels for C Chuckie Robinson
- Acquired RP Cam Booser from Red Sox for SP Yhoiker Fajardo
- Acquired RP Tyler Gilbert from Phillies for RP Aaron Combs
- Acquired cash from Padres for RP Ron Marinaccio
- Claimed SS Jacob Amaya off waivers from Orioles
- Claimed RP Brandon Eisert off waivers from Rays
- Claimed P Owen White off waivers from Yankees
Notable Minor League Signings
- Bobby Dalbec, Omar Narvaez, James Karinchak, Brandon Drury, Tristan Gray, Mike Clevinger, Travis Jankowski, Joey Gallo (since released)
Extensions
- None
Notable Losses
- Garrett Crochet, Yoan Moncada, Max Stassi, Gavin Sheets, Nicky Lopez, Enyel De Los Santos, Braden Shewmake
Chris Getz was hired as White Sox executive vice president/GM in August 2023, inheriting manager Pedro Grifol from previous longtime GM Rick Hahn. After about a year in the GM chair with his team sporting a historically bad 28-89 record on the 2024 season, Getz fired Grifol and installed Grady Sizemore as interim manager for the remainder of the campaign. Managers can occasionally ride out rebuilding years, proving themselves on soft factors and retaining the job when the team gets good. The Orioles' Brandon Hyde did this. Grifol, however, did not warrant that level of faith.
Given a clean offseason slate to choose his own manager, Getz ran an extensive search that included Will Venable, Daniel Descalso, Phil Nevin, George Lombard, A.J. Ellis, Donnie Ecker, Danny Lehmann, Clayton McCullough, Craig Albernaz, and many others whose names did not reach the media. Getz had competition from the Marlins on several of these candidates. He ultimately chose Venable on October 29th. McCullough landed the Marlins gig not long after, while Nevin still landed with Chicago but as a special assistant in their player development department.
The Princeton-educated Venable became the 44th manager in White Sox history, and he takes over a team that has nowhere to go but up. Getz himself was the beneficiary of Jerry Reinsdorf's "I didn’t have to interview these people, because I knew them all" hiring approach, which also netted Tony La Russa as manager in October 2020. So it's always a relief to see the White Sox conduct an extensive search as they did with Venable.
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The only question is, how many 100 loss seasons in a row? I’m guessing it’s 2 now going on 5.
Ironically 2 less than the Cub at present
roob – The Marlins could have a worse record this year, just sayin’ ….
I’m saying 4. Only because they have prospects in the system now and the division is weak.
Cleveland will probably be ready for a step back in 3 years. Twins won’t hang around for much longer. Royals and Tigers have some nice young players but they aren’t juggernauts.
But could easily be 5. Have to trust Getz which is a big leap.
Id take the under on that bet, especially with the White Sox now sporting a top-5 farm system that features a strong battery combination. All of their current top-100 prospects are expected to have MLB debuts before the conclusion of the 2026 season which unfortunately also coincides with the expected CBA lockout.
The biggest reason for optimism for White Sox fans is that owner Jerry Reinsdorf is 89 years old and likely to sell the team to Chicago based billionaire equity investor Justin Ishbia. 🙂
Here is to hoping, but after watching this minor league system for 35+ years, and seeing the train wreck over the KW years, Im not sold on anyone coming up and performing. As for recent past, all of those guys were ‘can’t miss’ and all managed to miss to a degree. Montgomery being a great example of what is coming now that a always a Sox prospect. Quero may be good, but he was a good hitter before coming to the Sox and they need a lot more than one guy. They have pitching coming, but I figure at least half of those guys will have TJS in the next couple of years.
Hoping to see some stars shine this season, at least SOME progress and development from someone (though it appears Vaughn is in ‘midseason form’ already). But not expecting it. next year either, maybe even after that.
Maybe with new ownership and a desire to win, not an org that will rebuild a team only to destroy the efforts by stabbing the guy that lead them out of it (Renteria) in the back and replacing him with a guy who clearly is no longer a HoF manager, THEN blame the last management his own misdeeds. Finally to try to have the lowest payroll in the majors all while whining that he needs someone to pay for his new stadium (when the last one was free, still good, and only 35 years old) so he and his cronies can rake it in on the real estate around that new ballpark.
My biggest hope is that ‘the Mummy’ goes away one way or another and the next owner wants to keep the team in Chicago AND wants to win.
Solid 50 win team
Not a terrible offseason tbh, maybe a C or D like last offseason.
Fully agree, and I would have voted C, although I’m leaning more D after letting their would-be ace Patrick Corbin slip through their fingers to Texas.
dis – The Teel Deal makes it AT LEAST a C …… major haul for Crochet, they fleeced Boston.
Maybe a B if you feel ownership is saving money and willing to spend in the future if young players develop and the team has a surprisingly decent season.
As Robert Plant sayeth: “Whole Lotta little”- ehhhhh
Dump – I think these Robert Plant lyrics sum up the White Sox better:
The lights are on, but you’re not home
Your mind … is not your own
You can’t sleep, you can’t eat
There’s no doubt, you’re in deep
Your throat is tight, you can’t breathe
Lol, aren’t yours Robert PALMER fever?
Big – Wow did I screw that up! You’re obviously right, I had the wrong Robert. Thanks for the catch.
Must have had the 80’s on my brain because that’s my decade. LOL
Same! 😉
That is some funny sheet.
Or better yet Reinsdorf should be saying,
“Got a monkey on my back
M-m-m-m-m-monkey on my back, back, back, back
Gonna change my ways tonight
Nobody’s fault but mine”
Ahahahahahaha!
Getz had little to work with. I gave it a C rating
Ditto with last offseason
Getz had little experience too, all his experience came from the guys the Mummy blamed for the last failed rebuild (when it was the Mummy’s fault to begin with). How does one put such a guy into place? The Mummy was being lazy AND cheap.
I feel the infamous Fedde trade exposed his lack of experience.
Sox are rebuilding their rebuilt rebuild. Marlins will actually be better than them.
Should have been going with younger team control players. Grabbing dfa. Minor trades. These veterans are too good or at least too average. Will help them win games. But won’t fetch significant prospects. Guys a revenue sharing team would sign to keep revenue sharing.
It would be surprising if they are not bottom 3 along with Marlins/Rockies as far as draft lottery. Robert and a couple low cost BP arms they’ll have to hope perform well enough to add to the farm system via trade.
Probably 3 worse. Perez Tauchman ain’t moving the needle much. But won’t bring back millions worth of prospects. Seems the goal is to tank. Why not claim dfa like crazy and be active in rule 5 draft. Make minor trades.
Rule 5 first pick Shane Smith via Milw had a nice spring for them. He may get the final starting rotation spot. Their ping pong ball % will take care of itself with little variance as far as the pick in ’26 if there even winds up a no doubt top guy everyone would want like Harper or Skenes. Lightning in a bottle ML invites like Dalbec and Gallo didn’t bring much thunder as far as the nothing to lose attempts. Long way to go with accumulating/developing position players.
Offensive Rebuilding:
The White Sox have made some moves to add offensive players, but the overall impact is questionable. The addition of players like Cavan Biggio is a solid move. However, they are still lacking a lot of power.
Grade: D+
Starting Pitching Overhaul:
The White Sox have made efforts to improve their pitching staff, but significant challenges remain. There are many questions surrounding the consistancy of the rotation.
Grade: D
Defensive Improvement:
The White Sox are working to improve their defense, but it’s an ongoing process.
Grade: C-
Roster and Cultural Reset:
The team is in a clear rebuilding phase, focusing on developing young talent and establishing a new culture. This is a process that takes time.
Grade: C
Overall Evaluation:
The White Sox’s offseason reflects a significant rebuilding effort. Overall, they would likely receive a grade in the D range.
A realistic win projection for the White Sox would be in the 60-67 win range.
You wanna bet they don’t win 60 games?
How much?
Name it.
$100 to the winner’s charity of choice.
Old york is using old ai to slop these together
@YourDreamGM
I’ve never used ai in my life. What are you talking about?
@roob
60-67 seems reasonable.
It does not. Idk either way but there’s no chance this team doesn’t lose 100 or more games. They have almost no talent. Robert will be traded.
I would be less surprised if they lost 120 than I would be if they only lost 105.
@roob
No one in the Central got better really and the Sox were quite competitive against the Indians last year, who won the division. I think around 60 seems reasonable.
If you watched the Sox last season, the rest of the Central did not need to get better for the Sox to be as awful as they were last season. Now with less talent, Robert likely going somewhere else, and a guy new to being a manager this will be interestingly horrible.. However, if Venable does not call in a bullpen arm that has not warmed up yet Ill consider that a ‘win’ at least.
The Cavan Biggio who was last seen as a NRI with division the division rival Royals?
@Aaron Sapoznik
What’s wrong with that?
White Sox play in a weaker division and Grifols was incompetent so the Sox should surprise.
..The reason Detroit and KC made the playoffs was because they play the White Sox a lot
That’s the same reason that they’ll make the playoffs again.
Mr. Reinsdorf please sell the team. Terrible brand of baseball from ownership to low minors. Ask the Southside.
Yep. He has no reason not to sell, he is near 90, and he already knows his kids are selling the stake in the team when he dies. I think he is just staying as owner just to spite the fans that he thinks abandoned him.
Nothing makes me more depressed about the White Sox than a well-written article.
Max Stassi to the Mets.
Who the hell gave them an A for the offseason? Must be the front office for the White Sox or the drunk and clueless
No Crochet, Fedde, Kopech, Soroka or De Jong. Robert gone mid season.
110 losses easy.
Never mind the inexperienced and overwhelmed GM that was hired as GM cause he knew Jerry by his first name.
Im not sure of an exact number, but at least 100 losses.
I would not be surprised if the ‘goal’ of the team is to stay out of the triple digits for losses this season.
I mean, anyone that does well is likely gone by the AS break. Just maddening….
7-0 lead today vs Twinkies, just saying