Where the Chicago White Sox Stand Heading into 2026
Credit: Dan Victor/FutureSox
The offseason has settled into a quieter stretch. As mid-January approaches, much of the groundwork has already been laid, and the next wave of decisions will be shaped more by fit and timing than by urgency to make noise.
That lull has not extended across the league. On the North Side, the Cubs made a push forward by trading for right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera and then handing Alex Bregman a five-year deal worth $175 million, which underscored how quickly activity can accelerate once teams decide it is time to strike.
On the South Side, the front office has emphasized flexibility. Manager Will Venable has framed the winter adds in the same light, calling them “young, physical, athletic” bets with upside, roles intentionally left open for spring competition. While recent days have lacked headline moves, the broader direction continues to come into focus through smaller roster decisions and signals about where additions are still expected.
Momentum can flip fast in this city, and the Murakami signing proved it when it followed a Bears win over Green Bay. With the Bears sending Green Bay home in the playoffs, maybe GM Chris Getz decides the timing is right to ride that energy and look for the next splash.
With roughly a month until pitchers and catchers report league activity is set to pick back up which makes this a natural checkpoint. Here are some things to keep an eye on as the organization shapes its path toward the 2026 season.
MLB Pipeline Executive Poll Regarding White Sox
One way to take the temperature of the league is through the MLB Pipeline Executive Poll. It is not a projection system. It functions more as a snapshot of how decision makers across the sport view talent and organizational progress. From that perspective, where the White Sox appear and where they do not, offers useful context for how this rebuild is being received.
In the Rookie of the Year voting, no White Sox prospect appeared among the vote-getters. It doesn’t suggest a lack of impact talent. It reflects that the industry does not currently view the White Sox as having a rookie expected to break camp in a clear everyday role with an immediate awards runway.
Where the White Sox did register attention is more telling. Braden Montgomery drew mentions in the “breakout prospect of the year” category. Evaluators appear to see a path where his tools translate in a louder way once he is given a full season of opportunity.
Noah Schultz also appeared in the “best future closer” question. That stands out because Schultz continues to be developed as a starter. Votes in that category read less as a role forecast and more as respect for the type of late inning dominance his stuff could offer if deployed that way. Even hypothetically, it underscores how seriously Chicago’s top arms are being viewed.
The other White Sox name that popped was Jedixson Paez. He received votes under “pitchability,” which points to feel for the zone and an ability to sequence hitters rather than reliance on pure velocity or raw stuff. What stands out is not one dominant pitch but how consistently he controls the at-bat. That kind of profile tends to earn trust when attached to a younger arm.
Rankings Update: FanGraphs vs. Baseball America
Viewed together, the FanGraphs and Baseball America rankings tell a consistent story about the White Sox farm system heading into 2026. The value is concentrated near the top, and the organization’s outlook depends far more on converting a small cluster of impact bets than on waves of depth arriving all at once.
That framing lines up directly with how the system was discussed on the Sox Machine podcast. James Fegan summed it up plainly when he said he was “trying to isolate impact,” describing the list as “pretty top-heavy.” FanGraphs reflects that philosophy most clearly, grouping six prospects into the 50 FV tier and treating that cluster as the engine of the system. As Eric Longenhagen cautioned, that optimism comes with realism, noting that a 50 FV outcome is closer to a coin flip than a guarantee and defining the grade as an average regular or mid-rotation arm rather than a future star.
That perspective matters. The takeaway is not that the system lacks upside, but that its margin for error sits below the top tier. That philosophy was echoed recently by Phil Nevin during an appearance on the White Sox Podcast with Chuck Garfien, where the special assistant for player development offered rare insight into how the organization is approaching the rebuild from the inside. Nevin was blunt about that long view, stressing that “a quick fix is not one player,” but something that has to arrive together and hold once it gets there. Nevin framed that reality in simple terms, pointing to a “younger, more athletic” build that starts at the lower levels and is designed to “infiltrate” the major league roster as the wave matures.
Where the two outlets diverge most clearly is in how they order risk tolerance within that top group, particularly on the pitching side. Christian Oppor and Tanner McDougal are the cleanest examples. FanGraphs slots Oppor ahead of McDougal, reflecting what Longenhagen described as being early rather than bold. He pushed back on the idea that Oppor’s ranking is aggressive, saying it only feels that way relative to public consensus, while pointing to a left-hander whose delivery works, whose velocity touches the upper tier, and whose age mirrors that of a college arm. Baseball America flips that emphasis slightly, keeping McDougal steady while pushing Oppor lower, which reflects a more conservative weighting of strike-throwing risk.
Both evaluations still land in the same place conceptually. As Fegan put it, the optimism around both arms is tied to what they showed late, and even if the starter traits waver, the fallback outcomes still matter. Longenhagen was blunt about that value, noting that a reliever who throws triple digits and shortens games has real postseason importance. The disagreement is not about talent, but about how much risk each outlet is willing to absorb in its ordering.
At the top of the pitching group, Schultz and Hagen Smith anchor the system’s identity, though their timelines are being treated differently. Schultz is viewed as closer to providing innings, with Longenhagen stressing that it is fine if early results are uneven and reminding listeners that his timeline to be truly dominant stretches beyond his arrival date. Smith remains more developmental, with strike-throwing and plans against right-handed hitters determining how high his ceiling ultimately plays.
The loudest traits in the system live near the same names driving the rankings. The best raw power belongs to George Wolkow, who was also highlighted by MLB Pipeline as a “breakout” candidate. The best fastball and breaking ball belong to McDougal. The best changeup belongs to Oppor. Paez grading out as the best control arm reinforces why he surfaced in the executive poll under pitchability. Longenhagen summed it up simply when discussing Paez, calling his command “pretty special.”
As 2026 approaches, the question for the White Sox farm system is not whether it has enough names, but whether the top of it can carry the weight.
Drew Romo Claimed and Roster Churn
One of the first roster moves of January came with the claim of Drew Romo, with infielder Ben Cowles designated for assignment to open a 40-man spot. In context, it offered a clear signal about how the White Sox are managing depth and flexibility as spring approaches.
Romo adds optionable catching depth at the upper levels, something the organization did not clearly have in place. Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero are set at the major league level, while Korey Lee currently stands as the third catcher on the 40-man roster. Lee has no minor league options remaining, which means he will need to make the Opening Day roster or be moved, though he remains a viable backup in Chicago if either Teel or Quero were to miss time.
Romo has changed teams multiple times this winter, passing through Baltimore and New York before landing in Chicago. He fits as a defense-driven catcher with traits that play in short stints. He receives cleanly and owns arm strength that controls the running game. The bat has settled at the Triple-A level, but his ability to handle innings and staff usage keeps him useful as optionable depth.
If the White Sox follow a similar approach to last spring, the catching group may not be finished. Adam Hackenberg could return to camp again, which would bring the total to five. There is also room for an internal invite, such as 27-year-old Double-A catcher Michael Turner, or a veteran non-roster addition in the mold of Omar Narváez last year, to round out camp.
A similar pattern surfaced on the pitching side. Left-hander Ryan Rolison was designated and claimed by the Cubs following the addition of Sean Newcomb. While unrelated on paper, both moves point in the same direction. The White Sox are trimming the edges of the roster now, preserving flexibility and clearing space as they prepare for more consequential decisions ahead.
Pitching Outlook
If there is one theme that keeps showing up in the White Sox’s early-January messaging, it is that the rotation is being treated as a living group rather than a fixed five. Scott Merkin laid out the top of the staff as a blend of “near certainties” and flexible options, and the way Will Venable and Sean Newcomb have talked about roles reinforces that the club is prioritizing innings coverage and versatility as camp approaches.
Merkin framed Shane Smith as the early favorite for Opening Day, which is as close as the organization has come to attaching a true label to anyone this early. Smith’s own quote fits that tone-setter role: “All I want to do is throw a ton of strikes, make hitters make a decision and get swing and miss.” It is a simple line, but it reflects the identity the staff is trying to build around.
Sean Burke remains one of the more interesting pivots in the group. While he is preparing as a starter, his upper-end velocity gives the staff a viable relief fallback if consistency becomes an issue, which adds another layer of flexibility. Grant Taylor is locked into the staff and will open 2026 in relief, handling multi-inning work while remaining a longer-term starting option.
Tanner McDougal’s breakout season pushed him into the big league conversation, while Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith are both viewed as part of the 2026 plan, even if neither is expected to break camp. Chris Murphy’s versatility keeps him in play across roles, and Duncan Davitt profiles as a depth arm who can cover innings if needed.
How Jedixson Paez fits will hinge on whether he sticks as a Rule 5 piece. That depth picture could expand later in the year as Drew Thorpe, Mason Adams, and Ky Bush work their way back from injury, giving the organization additional starting options as the season unfolds.
Internally, there are also potential bullpen conversions to monitor, including guys like Aldrin Batista and Mathias LaCombe, as the club continues to explore ways to convert surplus starting depth into relief value.
Venable has repeatedly emphasized competition and bulk-inning capability instead of locking in names. “It’s great to have competition with these guys,” Venable said, adding that the club wants “a group of guys that have the capability of pitching bulk innings” and wants to “challenge [them] to grab a starting rotation spot.”
In other words, even the pitchers who project as starters are being treated like they still need to take it. That mindset extends beyond the major league staff, with Nevin noting that pitchers at every level “want structure” and “want to be pushed,” reinforcing why spring roles remain intentionally unsettled.
Venable confirmed Newcomb “is going to come in and compete for a starting job… in that mix for a starting rotation job,” while also stressing the flexibility element that the front office keeps circling. Even when describing preparation, Newcomb framed it like a starter: “ready to attack the lineup once or twice, three times through” if it gets to five or six innings, while staying flexible if the role shifts.
Newcomb said he was looking for “a good opportunity to just get the ball as much as possible, eat up innings,” and noted that Venable’s message was similar, that the club is “looking for some good quality innings to be eaten up.” Even when describing preparation, Newcomb framed it like a swingman who can stretch, ready to “attack the lineup once or twice, three times through” if it gets to five or six innings, but also comfortable adapting if the role shifts.
Newcomb also pointed to Brian Bannister as part of the fit, crediting prior grip work for helping him find the sinker that changed his mix. It’s a small detail, but it explains why this signing reads like a targeted bet rather than generic depth. He also mentioned already knowing Mike Vasil and Shane Smith from offseason work, another subtle way the staff is trying to build continuity in a young room.
It speaks to how the Sox are likely viewing this rotation build in January. It is not just about picking the best five on paper. It is about stacking enough credible bulk options so that early injuries or underperformance do not force the club into a roster scramble. Venable put it plainly when asked about modern pitching depth, “You can never have enough pitching,” and he said the team feels good about having “a number of guys that can come in and pitch bulk innings for us.”
Newcomb put it simply when asked about joining a climbing team. That any season can turn quickly, so the focus is “getting outs… one out at a time,” regardless of where the standings project.
As pitchers continue to find homes closer to camp, the White Sox interest in Griffin Canning reinforces that they are still in the market for a one-year arm. Canning fits the lane they have targeted this winter, which is affordable depth that can compete for starts. The appeal is not certainty, it is coverage and flexibility as spring approaches.
If he is healthy, he can give them innings and help reduce the staff’s reliance on perfect health. The way Chicago has framed the winter reads less like they are finished and more like they are keeping the door open until final decisions arrive. Any late addition does not have to be a starter, either, as a veteran bullpen arm would serve the same purpose of protecting innings and reducing early-season strain.
Roster Questions Remain
Just as the White Sox continue to probe the pitching market for another arm, the outfield remains unsettled as camp approaches. Flexibility exists on paper, but defined roles do not, which keeps this group fluid heading into the next phase of the offseason.
Right now, Luis Robert Jr. stands as the only clearly established everyday outfielder on the roster. That reality matters more than trade chatter. With Andrew Benintendi expected to see more time at designated hitter and limited certainty behind him, the outfield lacks a true foundation beyond Robert. As long as that remains the case, the outfield picture remains inherently uncertain.
That uncertainty has only been reinforced by the volume of recent additions. The White Sox have layered the outfield with a mix of former top prospects and depth options, including Jarred Kelenic, Everson Pereira, Tristan Peters, Derek Hill, and Dustin Harris. It’s also been suggested that Braden Montgomery will see time in the outfield in 2026, albeit not on Opening Day.
Brooks Baldwin remains the club’s main utility option. None enters camp with a guaranteed role, but each arrives with a specific skill set and a legitimate path to playing time. The external market has narrowed as well, with Max Kepler, who fit the type of short-term outfield solution the White Sox had been surveying this winter, effectively off the board following his suspension, removing another option from the lane Chicago has been shopping in.
That uncertainty also applies to Lenyn Sosa, whose path has narrowed as first base and DH continue to crowd. As Elijah Evans noted on the Just Baseball podcast, Sosa still holds enough value to matter even if the fit in Chicago has evaporated. He hit for real power last season, but with Murakami in the fold and the DH rotation spoken for, there is no clean runway to everyday at-bats. That does not force an immediate move, yet it places him firmly in the tier of players where the White Sox would rather extract value than let it erode through limited usage.
Curtis Mead fits into that same bucket. Both are controllable hitters with clear flaws, but enough offensive track record to interest clubs that need lineup help and have pitching depth to spare. The likely return in either case would not be a headline arm, but rather a starter-type profile with upside and risk attached, the kind of depth piece that becomes meaningful over the course of a long season. For Chicago, that exchange aligns with the broader roster goal of clearing positional logjams while redirecting value toward innings. That same lack of clarity also keeps the trade market relevant, particularly for controllable bats whose value may be better realized elsewhere.
Internally, the club is also exploring creative solutions. There is interest in seeing whether Sam Antonacci can handle left field exposure. That look would be developmental, but it fits a broader pattern the organization has already leaned into. Nevin described Antonacci with one word that continues to surface internally, “infectious,” a player whose intensity and edge tend to raise the standard around him. That reputation showed up last season when Antonacci chose to skip downtime after Birmingham’s title run, opting instead to report immediately to the Arizona Fall League to get to work.
The White Sox have shown a willingness to test infielders in the outfield, with players like Bryan Ramos, Korey Lee, and Miguel Vargas logging time there at different points. It reflects a recognition that the infield pipeline is crowded, a reality that will eventually extend to players like Caleb Bonemer as timelines converge. Finding defensive homes elsewhere can be a way to refine the roster as decision points approach.
External options remain part of the equation as well. A speculative scenario involving Nick Castellanos illustrates how interconnected these conversations can become. If Philadelphia were to land Bo Bichette in free agency, clearing salary could become necessary. In that case, Castellanos could shake loose as a byproduct rather than a primary target. For the White Sox, absorbing that contract could fill an immediate outfield need while potentially returning prospect value, effectively solving multiple problems through timing and leverage rather than headline chasing.
The through line mirrors the pitching side. Chicago is building optionality. Another arm still feels likely, and another outfielder could follow for the same reason. These are not moves driven by urgency. They are moves driven by alignment, timing, and the need to bring structure to a roster group that remains very much in flux.
Other Notable Headlines to Start 2026
The international signing period opens January 15, and the White Sox are positioned to be active. Multiple commitments are already lined up, and this window continues to reflect a renewed emphasis on building depth and upside internationally. James Fox’s preview offers the clearest look at how this class could shape the next wave of the system.
A handful of White Sox players are set to gain international exposure this spring through the World Baseball Classic. Munetaka Murakami will represent Japan, while Curtis Mead is expected to play for Australia. Lenyn Sosa could factor into Venezuela’s roster, and Kyle Teel has been discussed as a possible option for Italy. Teel has been floated as an option, but Venable made clear that nothing is finalized yet. It should make the tournament a bit more interesting for White Sox fans at the very least.
Several younger players are currently taking part in a White Sox performance camp in Arizona, which is focused on baseball activity and strength work. These camps are more about routine and preparation, but they often signal which prospects the organization is prioritizing heading into spring.
Danny Mendick has been named manager of the Charleston RiverDogs (Single-A, Tampa Bay Rays) for the 2026 season, another example of organizations placing recent big leaguers into development roles. A trend we’re seeing with more and more former White Sox are taking on coaching roles.
ESPN’s Buster Olney noted that Murakami’s contract includes language preventing a minor league assignment without his permission, removing ambiguity about how the club plans to deploy him.
The White Sox will appear on Peacock twice in July as part of MLB’s return to NBC and Peacock, including a Star-Spangled Sunday game on July 5th in Cleveland against the Guardians and a Sunday Leadoff matchup in Toronto on the 19th in the early afternoon against the Blue Jays. The exposure is limited, but it marks a step back into the national broadcast rotation.
The White Sox win total has opened at 65.5, a snapshot of how the market views the roster today. Internally, the focus is less on the number and more on how much clarity the club can create before Opening Day.
