Chicago White Sox's Offseason FA Signings Trades Megathread

[WhiteSox2023]

6 minutes ago, oldsox said:

who is better, Shaw or Vargas?

Shaw arguably outperformed Vargas in his rookie season last year by some metrics (not all), while Vargas was playing in his fourth MLB season.  Shaw is also 2 years younger than Vargas (24 vs 26) and has 2 more years of control.  Vargas will be a free agent in 2030.  Shaw will be a free agent in 2032.

Edited 8 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

In that scenario, I assume Marsh moves to CF full-time so they don’t necessarily “need” Crawford?  I think that trade makes sense for the Sox and I’d be aboard.  Not sure I see the Phillies seriously going after Tucker considering they appear to have the outfield and DH covered already…

Castellanos

Marsh

Garcia

Schwarber

I believe that’s already a combined $53.2 million dollars in payroll for 2026 for that outfield and DH.  I know they want to dump Castellanos but at $20 million remaining for him for 2026, they are probably in a worse position trying to move him than the Sox with Robert.

Yeah, I’d assume Marsh is the primary CF but he would need a platoon partner.  Regardless, that wouldn’t be Crawford due to handedness.  I don’t believe that Castellanos ends up in their 2026 plans and will eventually be cut.  He has negative surplus value and they appear to be done with him altogether.

[Bob Sacamano]

3 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Yeah, I’d assume Marsh is the primary CF but he would need a platoon partner.  Regardless, that wouldn’t be Crawford due to handedness.  I don’t believe that Castellanos ends up in their 2026 plans and will eventually be cut.  He has negative surplus value and they appear to be done with him altogether.

Wish the Sox took swings like taking on salary and prospects from a team trying to salary dump because Castellanos would be an obvious one.

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, oldsox said:

who is better, Shaw or Vargas?

No idea, but Shaw isn’t going to be free while Vargas is.  Ultimately, I don’t see us being interested in Shaw given our glut of infielders.  Just a poor use of resource allocation unless he comes incredibly cheap, which I very much doubt.

IMO, you need to see what you have in Vargas at 3B this year.  If he can handle the position and show a bit more power, he can be a core piece from 2027 to 2029 or at worse a valuable trade chip.  Vargas flashed enough last year to avoid blocking him with further outside additions.

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Shaw arguably outperformed Vargas in his rookie season last year by some metrics (not all), while Vargas was playing in his fourth MLB season.  Shaw is also 2 years younger than Vargas (24 vs 26) and has 2 more years of control.  Vargas will be a free agent in 2030.  Shaw will be a free agent in 2032.

Let’s be honest, Vargas has two full seasons worst of plate appearances and was significantly better in his second set.  There is still plenty room for improvement at his age and with his limited experience.  We’ll see if he can ever live up to his past top 60 prospect status, but he’s far from a finished product (good or bad).

[Chicago White Sox]

11 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Wish the Sox took swings like taking on salary and prospects from a team trying to salary dump because Castellanos would be an obvious one.

I agree, but probably harder now after signing Murakami and keeping Robert (assuming that they do).

[southsider2k5]

12 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

No idea, but Shaw isn’t going to be free while Vargas is.  Ultimately, I don’t see us being interested in Shaw given our glut of infielders.  Just a poor use of resource allocation unless he comes incredibly cheap, which I very much doubt.

IMO, you need to see what you have in Vargas at 3B this year.  If he can handle the position and show a bit more power, he can be a core piece from 2027 to 2029 or at worse a valuable trade chip.  Vargas flashed enough last year to avoid blocking him with further outside additions.

This part here again.  

[WhiteSox2023]

1 minute ago, southsider2k5 said:

This part here again.  

Part of the thought would be to potentially move him to LF since he played there in college.  Benintendi could DH until he is finally gone forever.

[southsider2k5]

5 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Part of the thought would be to potentially move him to LF since he played there in college.  Benintendi could DH until he is finally gone forever.

Again, we have dudes we could do that with on our own.  Not interested in wasting resources on shorter term acquisitions for failed former top prospects.  It is positively Getzian.

[WestEddy]

18 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Part of the thought would be to potentially move him to LF since he played there in college.  Benintendi could DH until he is finally gone forever.

1) Matt Shaw isn't available. 
2) I'm picking Vargas over Shaw 10 times out of 10 due to coachability, track record and makeup. 
3) There is no need to obtain another infielder. The Sox have already chosen Vargas, Meidroth, Monty, Mead, maybe Ramos...Murray...Antonacci - to work with and place-hold until Bonemer, Carlson and 2026/1,1 start filtering up. 
4) Any trade resources should be used to add an OF, SP or bullpen, in that order. 
5) As a thought exercise, yeah, it would be fun to grab Matt Shaw off waivers, or to trade Benintendi for him. Nothing palatable is in the realm of possibilities.
6) I support you in wishing Chris Getz was banging the phones to obtain him. I think that would be a waste of Getz's time and energy. And yours. 

[GreenSox]

2 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

To get this thread back on track, there has been some buzz that the Phillies are trying for Kyle Tucker.  If they add Tucker, does that take them out of the Realmuto market and force them to look at cheaper options for catcher?  I know it won’t be popular here, but I still like the idea of a Quero for Crawford trade and Justin will be hard pressed to get any meaningful playing time if Tucker is added.

Good trade for Sox if Philly is willing.

I can’t see a team in the Phillies’ position turning their catching over to Quero:  Not a lot of experience and he had a negative fWar.

[Chicago White Sox]

29 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Good trade for Sox if Philly is willing.

I can’t see a team in the Phillies’ position turning their catching over to Quero:  Not a lot of experience and he had a negative fWar.

A lot of negative WAR was framing though.  He’s known as a good pitching handler and I believe the other aspects of his defense are viewed as being solid (or will be with time).  But yes, maybe going young at catcher is a tougher sell when you are trying to win a World Series.  But if it allows you to afford Tucker…maybe?

[WestEddy]

Twitter:

 

• Phillies meet with Bichette today and make a real offer.

• Bichette accepts.

• Phillies immediately pull trigger on trading combo of Bohm/Castellanos/Walker/other to clear $$$

• Phillies add a catcher.

• Phillies announce Bichette deal.

Is this how it would go down?

— PhilliesDad (@BucksCoDad) January 12, 2026

 

What I would do the rest of the offseason if I ran the Pirates:

- Trade Joey Bart for Alec Bohm
- Replace Bart with Andrew McCutchen
- Sign Tyler Anderson or Patrick Corbin

Only trade for Bohm if you can’t get Eugenio Suarez, but having Cutch as a bench RHH would be good.

— Kody Duncan (@KodyDuncanPGH) January 12, 2026

 

 

[chw42]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

No idea, but Shaw isn’t going to be free while Vargas is.  Ultimately, I don’t see us being interested in Shaw given our glut of infielders.  Just a poor use of resource allocation unless he comes incredibly cheap, which I very much doubt.

IMO, you need to see what you have in Vargas at 3B this year.  If he can handle the position and show a bit more power, he can be a core piece from 2027 to 2029 or at worse a valuable trade chip.  Vargas flashed enough last year to avoid blocking him with further outside additions.

What is this infatuation with Shaw that I clearly don't see? He had 3rd percentile exit velo, 16th percentile bat speed. He doesn't hit the ball hard at all. Sure he's fast and good on defense, but you can't stick at 3B hitting the ball that softly. His entire Baseball Savant page is blue (ironic) except his whiff% and sprint speed. 

[Chicago White Sox]

3 minutes ago, chw42 said:

What is this infatuation with Shaw that I clearly don't see? He had 3rd percentile exit velo, 16th percentile bat speed. He doesn't hit the ball hard at all. Sure he's fast and good on defense, but you can't stick at 3B hitting the ball that softly. His entire Baseball Savant page is blue (ironic) except his whiff% and sprint speed. 

Not sure to be honest, but’s he got some pedigree from past prospect rankings and for certain people he has friends in the right places.  I personally don’t see enough to pay up what would likely be a steep price to block someone like Vargas who also has some prospect pedigree and doesn’t cost us anything to give him an extended look at 3B this year.

[chw42]

11 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Not sure to be honest, but’s he got some pedigree from past prospect rankings and for certain people he has friends in the right places.  I personally don’t see enough to pay up what would likely be a steep price to block someone like Vargas who also has some prospect pedigree and doesn’t cost us anything to give him an extended look at 3B this year.

I don't think any team will pay a huge price for him when the Cubs don't really have a place to play him. You can't really negotiate with any leverage if the alternative is that he sits on the bench or spot starts a few times a week. 

[WhiteSox2023]

34 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Not sure to be honest, but’s he got some pedigree from past prospect rankings and for certain people he has friends in the right places.  I personally don’t see enough to pay up what would likely be a steep price to block someone like Vargas who also has some prospect pedigree and doesn’t cost us anything to give him an extended look at 3B this year.

Obviously you are referring to me, and you would be wrong.  I liked him as a prospect before I ever even knew about his own personal beliefs.  I believe Shaw attended the memorial service in late September.  Nice try though.

Edited 4 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[southsider2k5]

39 minutes ago, chw42 said:

What is this infatuation with Shaw that I clearly don't see? He had 3rd percentile exit velo, 16th percentile bat speed. He doesn't hit the ball hard at all. Sure he's fast and good on defense, but you can't stick at 3B hitting the ball that softly. His entire Baseball Savant page is blue (ironic) except his whiff% and sprint speed. 

If he was a few years older, he sounds a lot like a Getz target.

[Chicago White Sox]

13 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Obviously you are referring to me, and you would be wrong.  I liked him as a prospect before I ever even knew about his own personal beliefs.  I believe Shaw attended the memorial service in late September.  Nice try though.

I wasn’t referring to you…you have always seemed to like the kid.

[Chicago White Sox]

We really need some general free agent movement.  Bregman should help, but don’t think we see a lot more trade movement until guys like Tucker, Bichette, Valdez, & Suarez sign.  And U fully expect a couple more interesting trades from Getz before OD.

Edited 4 hours ago by Chicago White Sox

[WhiteSox2023]

[oldsox]

I thought Castellanos played well in Playoffs last year.

[Snopek]

I'm almost always in the camp of "get the guy you need now and worry about the back half of the contract later" but 7 years for Bellinger would be wild.

[WhiteSox2023]

1 minute ago, Snopek said:

I'm almost always in the camp of "get the guy you need now and worry about the back half of the contract later" but 7 years for Bellinger would be wild.

That’s crazy and I can see why even the Yankees are balking at that request.

[WhiteSox2023]

Does Imai have a rug or is that actually his hair?

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GE47DXcGW/?mibextid=wwXIfr