Following a 121-loss season, it is safe to say that the White Sox organization has their work cut out for them moving forward. They are coming off the worst season in modern MLB history, and to make matters worse, they cannot even get the #1 pick in the 2025 draft because of the new draft rules. Further complicating things is that the current White Sox roster has by far the least talent of any team in baseball. They also have an owner who has never shown any willingness to spend on star players in free agency and has said publicly that the team will cut payroll for 2025. All those factors have led to their current predicament.
Thankfully, there have already been signs of positive progress this offseason. The team hired former Rangers associate manager Will Venable to be the manager moving forward, and they also poached former Orioles co-hitting coach Ryan Fuller to be their director of hitting. These external hires are steps in the right direction for an organization at absolute rock bottom, but the front office must do far more on the player acquisition side to get this franchise on the right track again. While there is no scenario in which the team will go from 41 wins to playoff contention in one offseason, this winter will be pivotal in getting this franchise back on track again. I have taken the challenge of setting the foundation of this franchise for years to come.
For this plan, I will be as realistic as possible. That means superstars like Juan Soto will not come to 35th & Shields this winter. It also means that the White Sox will not be signing any highly sought-after free agents and will have a limited payroll to work with. I will also use MLBTradeRumors projections for arbitration-eligible players and Spotrac to calculate the overall payroll. While the final total may not be 100% accurate, it should be close.
The first order of business is evaluating the team’s arbitration-eligible players and deciding who to tender contracts to. The White Sox initially had nine players in this category but are now down to seven, with pitchers Matt Foster and Jimmy Lambert already electing free agency.
Of the seven remaining players in limbo, I am tendering contracts to Garrett Crochet, Andrew Vaughn, Enyel De Los Santos, Steven Wilson, and Justin Anderson while non-tendering Gavin Sheets and Nicky Lopez. Crochet is an obvious keeper, while Lopez is an obvious non-tender. The rest are more open to interpretation. My thought process behind each pick is here.
The decision regarding what to do with Garrett Crochet is the big question surrounding this offseason for the White Sox and will play a significant factor in what the team will look like down the road. The 25-year-old left-hander had a breakout season in 2024 and is now widely considered one of the best pitchers in baseball. His name has been in trade talks for months. Crochet was a rumored trade candidate at the last deadline, but Chris Getz elected to hold onto him.
In a perfect world, the solution is obvious: give Crochet a massive contract extension and make him the team’s long-term ace. Unfortunately, that is not the reality of the situation. Crochet has just two years of team control left, and there is nothing to suggest that Jerry Reinsdorf will pay big bucks to any pitcher, let alone one who has already had Tommy John surgery and shoulder issues in the past. It is also doubtful that the White Sox will be competitive again in the next two years while Crochet is still under contract. For those reasons, I will trade him as part of this plan.
Virtually any contending team could use Crochet’s services. Not only is he supremely talented, but he is very affordable for the next two seasons. Crochet projects to earn just $2.9 million in 2025, which is pennies for the production he will likely put up. The Dodgers and Phillies reportedly made offers for him at the 2024 deadline, and other teams have the prospect capital to get the deal done. The Mets, Red Sox, Cubs, and Orioles are just a few teams with rumored interest in Crochet. Given their reported interest and immense pool of position player prospects, I will trade Crochet to the Boston Red Sox.
SP Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox for IF/OF Kristian Campbell, OF Wilyer Abreu, and SP Luis Perales.
Kristian Campbell’s stock has skyrocketed recently. The Red Sox fourth-round pick in 2023, the 6’3, 191 pound Campbell has performed so well that he is now the #10 prospect in all of baseball per MLB.com and will be the centerpiece of the return for Crochet. In 115 games over the A+, AA, and AAA levels in 2024, Campbell hit .330 with 32 doubles, 20 home runs, 24 stolen bases, and a .997 OPS. While his stats took a slight step back as he progressed through the Red Sox system, Campbell still put up an exceptional .898 OPS in 19 AAA games despite being over four years younger than the average AAA player.
Campbell’s future defensive home is his question mark. He has played every position professionally except first base and catcher. This past season, he played 36 games each at second base and shortstop and another 25 in center field. Versatility is always good, and Campbell’s bat is good enough to carry him regardless of where he plays defensively. He looks to be a future star and will be an integral component of the White Sox lineup.
Wilyer Abreu is a 25-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder with MLB success. His 2024 breakout season included 33 doubles, 15 home runs, and a .781 OPS. He was among the best in MLB in categories such as average exit velocity, barrel %, hard-hit%, and bat speed per Baseball Savant while grading out as a far above-average baserunner. Abreu is also an elite defender in right field. He was in the 91st percentile or better in range (OAA), arm value, and arm strength, earning him the American League Gold Glove award in right field.
Abreu is expendable for Boston because of their sheer amount of outfield talent. Their top prospect, Roman Anthony, will likely take his starting spot shortly. However, Abreu immediately becomes one of the White Sox best players and the long-term solution in right field, as he will not reach free agency until after the 2029 season. The one downside with Abreu is that he could have fared better against left-handed pitchers in 2024, but pitchers are predominantly right-handed. Abreu will be another building block and foundational player in the White Sox lineup.
The White Sox have said they want a position player haul for Crochet, but Luis Perales’ upside as the third piece is immense. A 21-year-old right-handed pitcher, Perales’ fastball reaches 99 MPH and pairs it with a slider. He only made nine starts over the A+ and AA levels in 2024 but struck out a ridiculous 56 hitters in just 33.2 innings. The White Sox collection of pitching talent in the minors is already impressive, and adding Perales will only further what is already a strength.
Red Sox fans will likely think this is a haul because it is. However, Crochet’s talent, combined with his two seasons of extremely team-friendly control, makes him one of the most valuable trade assets on the market. Crochet and Tanner Houck at the top of Boston’s rotation will be a nightmare for opposing hitters, and the Red Sox are in the running for several other top free agents. They have the prospect capital to land Crochet, and if they want to make a splash, he is the guy for them.
SP Davis Martin and RP Jake Eder to the Milwaukee Brewers for IF Tyler Black.
One of the White Sox biggest issues in recent years has been their inability to consistently get on base. They ranked dead last in on-base percentage in 2023 and 2024 by a wide margin. Even in 2022, when they had a respectable record, they still ranked in the bottom half of MLB in that category.
Enter Tyler Black. The Brewers first-round pick in 2021, the now 24-year-old infielder had his first cup of coffee in the bigs this past season. While his initial MLB stint was relatively unproductive, his minor league numbers speak for themselves. He has consistently hit in the minors and gotten on base at a well-above-average clip. In 102 AAA games in 2024, Black had a .375 OBP with 14 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, and 20 stolen bases while maintaining a walk rate of over 13%.
Black’s long-term home defensively is a bit more cloudy. He played first, third, center, left, and DH this past season. While he is not a great defender and lacks power if he lands at first base long-term, his ability to get on base is a trait the White Sox desperately lack and sorely need. His skill set is similar to Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz, who has had a nice career for himself. However, Black has significantly more speed and prospect pedigree than Diaz.
Pitchers Davis Martin and Jake Eder will go to Milwaukee in this deal. Martin’s stuff looked significantly better this past season once he returned from his injury than before, thanks mainly to his new cutter and slider combo. But one has to give to get. Pitching depth is the White Sox biggest strength organizationally, and Martin will already be 28 on Opening Day.
The Brewers always look for affordable starting pitching, and Martin fits their mold nicely with several years of cheap team control remaining. Eder has struggled mightily with the White Sox organization since acquiring him for Jake Burger in 2023. His inclusion in this deal is more of a throw-in upside play from the Brewers perspective, given their history of developing pitchers who struggled in other organizations. This swap represents a win/win for both sides. The White Sox will get a potential lineup fixture, while Milwaukee will receive two long-term pitchers under cheap long-term control.
SP José Quintana to a two-year/$20 million contract.
Chris Getz said the team will be “on the hunt” for veteran starting pitchers, and José Quintana fits that description. Our old friend will be 36 on Opening Day, but his days of being productive are not over. He made 31 starts for the 2024 Mets, pitching to a respectable 3.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 170.1 innings.
Quintana checks many boxes for a young White Sox team in flux. For one, he takes the ball consistently. He has started 63 games over the last two seasons. Durability has been one of his defining traits throughout his career. He also is a consistent performer and a consummate professional. For a young rotation, veteran leadership is vital. Given his history, Quintana can fill that veteran role in the short term and could be a valuable trade chip at the deadline. MLBTradeRumors predicted that Quintana would land a two-year/$20 million contract, so that is what I will go with for this plan. The second year of his contract could also enhance his trade value in the future, as was the case with Erick Fedde this past deadline.
RP David Robertson to a one-year/$11 million contract.
Another old friend will be rejoining the squad. David Robertson pitched in 153 games for the White Sox from 2015 to 2017, accumulating 84 saves. He is one of the rare White Sox free-agent signings in recent memory who lived up to his contract. He has bounced around several teams over the last few seasons, settling in with the Rangers in 2024. Despite being 39 years old, Robertson is still performing at a high level. He pitched to an even 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 68 appearances this past season.
It did not take a genius to realize that the White Sox bullpen was atrocious in 2024. The team had 37 blown saves in 2024, by far the most in baseball. They desperately need a legitimate closer, and Robertson’s 177 career saves give him plenty of experience at the back end. Making him the closer and moving everyone else down an inning will improve the bullpen substantially. And like Quintana, Robertson could be a valuable trade chip at the deadline if he performs to his career norms. MLBTradeRumors has him signing a one-year/$11 million deal, so I will again use that as a baseline.
OF Mark Canha to a one-year/$5 million contract.
Mark Canha has been around the block. A veteran of parts of ten MLB seasons, the 35-year-old outfielder has historically performed well against left-handed pitchers, and 2024 was no exception. He hit .275 with a .774 OPS against lefties in 129 plate appearances this past season. Given that Andrew Benintendi and the newly acquired Wilyer Abreu hit left-handed, Canha complements them nicely. He can play either outfield corner when Benintendi or Abreu needs a day off against a tough lefty. Canha is also a veteran presence and another player who could be trade bait at the deadline.
SP Sixto Sánchez to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.
Sixto Sánchez is the definition of a reclamation project. A former top prospect in all of MLB, Sánchez’s career has flamed out because of injuries and poor physical conditioning. He was so bad that the Marlins, who are not very good either, sent him to AAA earlier this month. Sánchez refused the assignment and is now a free agent. If any team is in the position to give a guy an audition during spring training, it is the White Sox. There is nothing to lose and considerable upside if he gets back on track. Sánchez is a classic change of scenery candidate. Despite being around for a long time, he is still just 26 years old.
Lineup:
Tyler Black DH (24) (L) ($800,000)
Wilyer Abreu RF (25) (L) ($800,000)
Luis Robert Jr. CF (27) (R) ($15,000,000)
Andrew Benintendi LF (30) (L) ($17,100,000)
Andrew Vaughn 1B (26) (R) ($6,400,000)
Colson Montgomery SS (23) (L) ($740,000)
Kristian Campbell 2B (22) (R) ($740,000)
Edgar Quero C (21) (S) ($740,000)
Bryan Ramos 3B (23) (R) ($800,000)
Lineup Total: $43,120,000
Bench:
Miguel Vargas 3B/1B/LF (25) (R) ($800,000)
Lenyn Sosa 2B/SS (25) (R) ($800,000)
Mark Canha OF (36) (R) ($5,000,000)
Korey Lee C (26) (R) ($800,000)
Bench Total: $7,400,000
Starting Rotation:
José Quintana (36) (L) ($10,000,000)
Jonathan Cannon (24) (R) ($800,000)
Drew Thorpe (24) (R) ($800,000)
Sean Burke (25) (R) ($800,000)
Jairo Iriarte (23) (R) ($800,000)
Starting Rotation Total: $13,200,000
Bullpen:
Jared Shuster (26) (L) ($800,000)
Justin Anderson (32) (R) ($1,100,000)
Steven Wilson (30) (R) ($1,000,000)
Fraser Ellard (27) (L) ($800,000)
Enyel De Los Santos (29) (R) ($1,700,000)
Prelander Berroa (24) (R) ($800,000)
Gus Varland (28) (R) ($800,000)
David Robertson (39) (R) ($11,000,000)
Bullpen Total: $18,000,000
Retained payroll:
Yoán Moncada ($5,000,000)
John Brebbia ($1,000,000)
Max Stassi ($500,000)
Deferred Payroll:
Liam Hendriks ($1,500,000)
Jose Abreu ($1,000,000)
Retained/deferred payroll total: $9,000,000
Total overall team payroll: $90,720,000
1B/DH Tim Elko, OF Dominic Fletcher, IF Brooks Baldwin, RHP Nick Nastrini, LHP Ky Bush, RHP Jordan Leasure, RHP Penn Murfee, RHP Ron Marinaccio
The 2025 White Sox will not be a good baseball team. There is no way around that. However, the team constructed above differs from the teams the organization has put out there in recent years. The team above is very young, with most of the lineup, bench, rotation, and bullpen under contract for the next half-decade or longer.
The lineup is also much more balanced in handedness than in recent seasons and has traits the White Sox teams of the past few years have not had: upside and the ability to get on base. The rotation will be young and full of potential, and it doesn’t even include Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith. The bullpen is a combination of younger players and potential deadline trade chips. The handful of older players on this roster might be traded at the deadline for prospects to continue accumulating younger talent.
Only time will tell if my proposed moves age well. However, one thing is clear: the White Sox must make significant roster changes while operating under considerable financial constraints. I have done both of those things. Take notes, Chris Getz.
Tender LHP Garrett Crochet, 1B Andrew Vaughn, RP Enyel De Los Santos, RP Steven Wilson, and RP Justin Anderson.
Non-Tender: 2B Nicky Lopez and 1B/DH Gavin Sheets.
Trade SP Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox for IF/OF Kristian Campbell, OF Wilyer Abreu, and SP Luis Perales.
Trade SP Davis Martin and RP Jake Eder to the Milwaukee Brewers for IF Tyler Black.
Sign SP José Quintana to a two-year/$20 million contract.
Sign RP David Robertson to a one-year/$11 million contract.
Sign OF Mark Canha to a one-year/$5 million contract.
Sign SP Sixto Sánchez to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.
