Chicago White Sox's Offseason FA Signings Trades Megathread

[WestEddy]

3 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Kelenic was basically free.  Not sure what he has to do with McCarthy.

And we don’t just “surmise” that Barfield made the call.  It was well reported that he suggested to Getz to acquire Fletcher.

Maybe Barfield just thought Fletcher was better than McCarthy and it had nothing to do with not liking McCarthy.

Dude, somebody break into your car last night or something? You seem cranky. 

Kelenic - LHH, plays outfield. Available this off-season. 
McCarthy - LHH, plays outfield, Available this off-season.

Gee, I can't imagine what McCarthy and Kelenic have to do with each other. 

So, then we agree that Barfield made the call (I wasn't sure it was reported that way, and didn't want to look it up) on Fletcher over McCarthy (Fletcher's the better fielder). Yes, Kelenic is basically free. Some here seem to think he's a lunkhead that they don't want around our team. MLBTR estimates McCarthy's arb salary around $1.9M. The Sox are still looking for an OF, and a LHH, at that. 

James Fox said on last week's FutureSox podcast that he heard there's still a couple guys the Sox are eyeing, one who they feel could turn around with a tweak, and another guy who's blocked. McCarthy would have probably cost them a guy on the level of a Justin Sinibaldi. 

[WestEddy]

The Atlanta Braves are signing reliever Tyler Kinley to a one-year deal with a club option, league sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me: https://t.co/ox081dlgQC

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) January 10, 2026

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

Dude, somebody break into your car last night or something? You seem cranky. 

Kelenic - LHH, plays outfield. Available this off-season. 
McCarthy - LHH, plays outfield, Available this off-season.

Gee, I can't imagine what McCarthy and Kelenic have to do with each other. 

So, then we agree that Barfield made the call (I wasn't sure it was reported that way, and didn't want to look it up) on Fletcher over McCarthy (Fletcher's the better fielder). Yes, Kelenic is basically free. Some here seem to think he's a lunkhead that they don't want around our team. MLBTR estimates McCarthy's arb salary around $1.9M. The Sox are still looking for an OF, and a LHH, at that. 

James Fox said on last week's FutureSox podcast that he heard there's still a couple guys the Sox are eyeing, one who they feel could turn around with a tweak, and another guy who's blocked. McCarthy would have probably cost them a guy on the level of a Justin Sinibaldi. 

A couple OF’s they are still interested in?

[chitownsportsfan]

I don't think it really makes much sense to add anybody to the 40 man now. I'd prefer to just wait until spring, mid march maybe, and see what's available then. I know some people thought we'd try and push for 80 wins but it's just not happening, including for (imo) reasons after the 2026 season. 

[WestEddy]

14 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

A couple OF’s they are still interested in?

Fox was a bit vague, but he hypothesized that Kelenic was one of them. 

[ChiSoxFanMike]

Going into the season without a high leverage veteran reliever would be a massive mistake IMO, but I’m expecting it at this point. 

[Texsox]

11 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

I don't think it really makes much sense to add anybody to the 40 man now. I'd prefer to just wait until spring, mid march maybe, and see what's available then. I know some people thought we'd try and push for 80 wins but it's just not happening, including for (imo) reasons after the 2026 season. 

I agree that adding "just" anybody doesn't make sense. I think they are looking at a 75 win season which they can come close to without adding much. 
 

[chitownsportsfan]

3 minutes ago, Texsox said:

I agree that adding "just" anybody doesn't make sense. I think they are looking at a 75 win season which they can come close to without adding much. 
 

Yea it's fine. a 12-15 game improvement is all we can really expect. It doesn't make any sense to spend 20 million or whatever to get closer to a projected 78-80. Keep the flexibility for when the team is closer to a 88 win projection and JR has flipped it over to Ishbia.

[ChiSoxFanMike]

5 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Yea it's fine. a 12-15 game improvement is all we can really expect. It doesn't make any sense to spend 20 million or whatever to get closer to a projected 78-80. Keep the flexibility for when the team is closer to a 88 win projection and JR has flipped it over to Ishbia.

JR isn’t going to flip it over to Ishbia until 2029 at the earliest. They have to try to be competitive before that. Next offseason is when they should start making serious long term moves again.

[chitownsportsfan]

1 minute ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

JR isn’t going to flip it over to Ishbia until 2029 at the earliest. They have to try to be competitive before that. Next offseason is when they should start making serious long term moves again.

Hate to say it but with the lockout pending that plan will be altered. I can't see anybody really doing much next offseason until the new CBA is signed. Fingers crossed somehow they come to an agreement.

Edited 14 hours ago by chitownsportsfan

[southsider2k5]

7 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Hate to say it but with the lockout pending that plan will be altered. I can't see anybody really doing much next offseason until the new CBA is signed. Fingers crossed somehow they come to an agreement.

Yeah, and it feels like the collusion has already started.

[Chicago White Sox]

With Cowles gone, there is a little less positional fat on the 40 man roster.  Romo, Murray, & Peters look like planned AAA depth at their respective positions.  I think all three of them stick through OD.  However, we still have 5 guys without options who aren’t locks to make the roster in Lee, Pereira, Hill, Mead, & Ramos.  Without further additions, I’d expect two or three of those guys to fill bench roles (with a NRI like Kelenic being a possibility for one of those spots).  There should be a way to clear one or two roster spots here if we wanted to add an OF or a veteran arm.

On the pitching side, there is very little fat IMO.  Eisert & Hudson on the left side could be DFAed to open up a spot for an addition in free agency or trade.  That being said, they may want as many of these LH guys in camp and have the best man win (Hudson is out of options FWIW).  Then you have a post hype prospect in Iriarte coming off a disaster of a season and with no signs of his stuff coming back.  Do you try to sneak him through waivers before camp?  Would any team actually take him?  Unless you’re getting positive off-season reports, he’s firmly in the mix of players you DFA to open up a roster spot.

[WestEddy]

55 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

With Cowles gone, there is a little less positional fat on the 40 man roster.  Romo, Murray, & Peters look like planned AAA depth at their respective positions.  I think all three of them stick through OD.  However, we still have 5 guys without options who aren’t locks to make the roster in Lee, Pereira, Hill, Mead, & Ramos.  Without further additions, I’d expect two or three of those guys to fill bench roles (with a NRI like Kelenic being a possibility for one of those spots).  There should be a way to clear one or two roster spots here if we wanted to add an OF or a veteran arm.

On the pitching side, there is very little fat IMO.  Eisert & Hudson on the left side could be DFAed to open up a spot for an addition in free agency or trade.  That being said, they may want as many of these LH guys in camp and have the best man win (Hudson is out of options FWIW).  Then you have a post hype prospect in Iriarte coming off a disaster of a season and with no signs of his stuff coming back.  Do you try to sneak him through waivers before camp?  Would any team actually take him?  Unless you’re getting positive off-season reports, he’s firmly in the mix of players you DFA to open up a roster spot.

If Ryan Rolison can't get through waivers, I'd imagine there's always going to be a club who takes a flier on the arm of Iriarte. 

You also have three guys who hit the 60-day IL at some point in spring training. 

I was wondering if they have a bead on a guy, and they'd hold off announcing the contract until spring training when they can roster him in place of Bush, Thorpe or Berroa. 

[WestEddy]

1 hour ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Yea it's fine. a 12-15 game improvement is all we can really expect. It doesn't make any sense to spend 20 million or whatever to get closer to a projected 78-80. Keep the flexibility for when the team is closer to a 88 win projection and JR has flipped it over to Ishbia.

Yeah, if they're around 84-85 wins, adding that 5 WAR dude probably puts them up the win curve and into the playoffs. 

[Chicago White Sox]

15 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

If Ryan Rolison can't get through waivers, I'd imagine there's always going to be a club who takes a flier on the arm of Iriarte. 

You also have three guys who hit the 60-day IL at some point in spring training. 

I was wondering if they have a bead on a guy, and they'd hold off announcing the contract until spring training when they can roster him in place of Bush, Thorpe or Berroa. 

Are we sure all three of those guys need to go on the 60 day DL?

[ChiSoxFanMike]

I’m desperate for rumors and this probably isn’t true, but who knows.

 

[WestEddy]

3 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Are we sure all three of those guys need to go on the 60 day DL?

No, I'm not sure, but TJS takes about 15-18 mos recovery. 

Thorpe:

It’s hard for Thorpe to be patient as he anticipates his return to the mound — which could be sometime next June or July — but he has enjoyed watching the rotation that he hopes to join next year.

Right-hander Drew Thorpe joins White Sox as he continues recovery from Tommy John surgery - Chicago Sun-Times

I believe Ky Bush and Prelander Berroa are on the same timeline. 

 

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

1 minute ago, WestEddy said:

No, I'm not sure, but TJS takes about 15-18 mos recovery. 

Thorpe:

It’s hard for Thorpe to be patient as he anticipates his return to the mound — which could be sometime next June or July — but he has enjoyed watching the rotation that he hopes to join next year.

Right-hander Drew Thorpe joins White Sox as he continues recovery from Tommy John surgery - Chicago Sun-Times

I believe Ky Bush and Prelander Berroa are on the same timeline. 

 

Ill say this about Thorpe as someone who isnt a huge believer that he'll succeed at all, the guy has the mindset and drive to be great. 

[PaleAleSox]

40 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’m desperate for rumors and this probably isn’t true, but who knows.

 

Le grille?! What the hell is that?!

[Autumn Dreamin]

Yanks reportedly offering 5 years in the $30m AAV range, but Bellinger/Boras want more.

[Autumn Dreamin]

 

Oh

Edited 9 hours ago by Autumn Dreamin

[Timmy U]

$35 mil seems rich for Bregman, but the cubs can afford it.

[fathom]

32 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

$35 mil seems rich for Bregman, but the cubs can afford it.

Yeah lots of money but they’re absolutely loaded

[WhiteSox2023]

I can’t see this being a good signing considering Bregman is turning 32 before the season starts.  Obviously this means Tucker is gone.  Not so horrible of a contract to debilitate the Cubs but I would have looked elsewhere.  Regardless, I truly hope Getz is trying to trade for Matt Shaw right now.

Edited 6 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[Chicago White Sox]

45 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I can’t see this being a good signing considering Bregman is turning 32 before the season starts.  Obviously this means Tucker is gone.  Not so horrible of a contract to debilitate the Cubs but I would have looked elsewhere.  Regardless, I truly hope Getz is trying to trade for Matt Shaw right now.

Why would we want Matt Shaw?