The White Sox are on the board this trade season. After days of inactivity, Chris Getz finally pounced by trading Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham to the Cardinals and Michael Kopech to the Dodgers. In exchange, the White Sox received three young players, most notably Miguel Vargas. The 24-year-old right-handed hitter is a high-upside player who could potentially factor into the White Sox’s future plans for years to come.
Vargas was a highly regarded prospect for a long time. He was on Top 100 prospect lists across various publications for several years and was the #37 prospect in MLB before the 2023 season. Vargas is not just a guy who came out of nowhere. The Dodgers have had high-ranked farm systems for the past several years. Vargas was integral in that.
Unfortunately for him, the Dodgers are so loaded at the big league level that he has never received consistent playing time in Los Angeles. That will not be the case in Chicago. Vargas is MLB-ready right now. He has played in 129 MLB games, 30 of which have come this year. He will likely join the White Sox big league team immediately and infuse some much-needed youth and upside into the lineup.
Vargas offers a unique blend of skills and versatility. MLB.com gave his hit tool a 65 grade, while he received 55 grades for his power and arm strength. In addition, Vargas provides defensive versatility. He has played left field, second base, third base, and first base in the big leagues while producing enough offensively to be a well-rounded player.
Vargas is having a solid season. In AAA, he has 14 doubles, eight home runs, eight stolen bases, a .440 on-base percentage, and a 1.005 OPS in just 41 games, all while walking more than he has struck out. His MLB numbers understandably are not as strong, but he has four doubles, three home runs, and his 108 OPS+ in 30 games with the Dodgers in 2024. That means he has been 8% better offensively than the league-average MLB hitter. Vargas has progressively improved at the MLB level with more experience, which is an encouraging sign for his future. He is also fast, ranking in the 75th percentile in sprint speed this season per Baseball Savant.
Defense is more of a question for Vargas. There is no immediate answer as to which position he will settle into in Chicago. His versatility means he can play virtually anywhere. However, it might be in the best interests of his development to give him one position and let him master it. His 87th percentile in arm strength suggests that third base could be his future home.
This three-team trade is confusing on the surface. The White Sox traded away three players only to get three players in return. And while prospects are never sure things to even reach the big leagues, Miguel Vargas is big league ready right now. White Sox fans will almost certainly get an immediate look at what he can do in Chicago. As a 24-year-old who will not be a free agent until after the 2029 season, Vargas could be part of the next core on the next winning White Sox team.
