2026 Lineup Discussion

[Chicago White Sox]

18 minutes ago, fathom said:

Benintendi DH, Sosa gets traded, they sign a corner outfielder for less than 10 million and the catchers lead off is my contrarian prediction 

If you keep Quero, you have to give him consistent at-bats at DH when Teel is catching.  As such, it really limits how much Benintendi can also DH.  Something has to give there IMO or you have to accept shitty LF defense next season to ensure Quero’s bat can develop.

As for Sosa, we now have four LH hitters in our lineup and one switch hitter who is far better from the LH side than that right side.  Sosa as the 10th man who fills in at multiple spots (especially against LHP) can work.  Meidroth being able to cover SS allows us to carry a non-traditional backup infielder like Sosa.  Honestly, if he can learn some LF, he should be able to get plenty of playing time.  It’s actually Mead who seems kind of pointless as the roster is currently constructed.

[nrockway]

3 hours ago, oldsox said:

Other than his throwing, he does an adequate job in left.

He might genuinely be the worst defensive left fielder in the league (of anyone who hasn't been entirely moved off the position). Statcast has him at 4th percentile for both range and arm value. Fangraphs notes he was good for -16.5 dWAR. It's pretty surprising because he used to be kinda good there before joining the Sox. I'm not even sure you want him as part of a DH platoon because he posted some pretty extreme, likely unrepeatable, reverse splits last season (.276/.286/.563 vs Left, .231/.312/.396 vs Right). 

I think his role is pinch hitter and maybe you stick him in left when whoever is out there needs a day off. To his credit, he was technically an above average hitter last season, but I think I'd still want any number of our young players DHing ahead of him.

[southsider2k5]

9 hours ago, Boopa1219 said:

I’m trying to make a lineup and don’t know where to put guys, that’s good and a welcome change. 

No more line ups of 6 number 9 hitters.

[Bob Sacamano]

I kinda like having Chase hit lower and stacking the top with the best all around bats to give them the most ABs but there doesn’t feel like a natural guy to hit there. Kyle Teel maybe but I also think it’s weird having a Catcher hit leadoff lol

Edited 3 hours ago by Bob Sacamano

[almagest]

11 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Last year yes, but I don’t believe he’ll ever replicate a .287 ISO again (his career avg against LHP is .134) and his defense is god awful.  Candidly I don’t want him on team as I think he’s got a 1 win ceiling at this point in his career and gun to head I’m taking the under on that for sure.

God damn what a terrible signing that was. -0.2 fWAR in his three years with the Sox, and at BEST that ends up at like 1.5 at the end of his deal. The warning signs were there too after having his second best offensive season (121 wRC+), but with zero power, and only managing 2 fWAR.

Edited 3 hours ago by almagest

[Chicago White Sox]

6 minutes ago, almagest said:

God damn what a terrible signing that was. -0.2 fWAR in his three years with the Sox, and at BEST that ends up at like 1.5 at the end of his deal. The warning signs were there too after having his second best offensive season (121 wRC+), but with zero power, and only managing 2 fWAR.

Yup.  We’ve had a lot of signings go to s%*#, but thinking a light power, bad defending LF was the final piece was just terrible process and the final gift from an incompetent Rick Hahn.

[Baron]

I assume we can pretty much pencil someone else other than Luis in CF at this point 

[Bob Sacamano]

How much many do the Sox have to kick in with Benintendi to get something worthwhile back?

[WestEddy]

Just now, Bob Sacamano said:

How much many do the Sox have to kick in with Benintendi to get something worthwhile back?

Don't know about that, but James Fox said on the latest FutureSox podcast that he's hearing the Sox would take on money to trade Benintendi, like a Taijuan Walker type of contract, and then just plug him into the rotation. 

[Bob Sacamano]

1 minute ago, WestEddy said:

Don't know about that, but James Fox said on the latest FutureSox podcast that he's hearing the Sox would take on money to trade Benintendi, like a Taijuan Walker type of contract, and then just plug him into the rotation. 

I think he’s a free agent a year sooner too. Probably have to kick in a little money to even it out though right? I was trying to think of somewhere with a small LF where he could fake it like Houston. But they still have that infield logjam that pushes Alvarez to LF sometimes,

 

[kitekrazy]

I just don't want to walk in those shoes. I'd rather guess at lottery numbers.

[southsider2k5]

9 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Yup.  We’ve had a lot of signings go to s%*#, but thinking a light power, bad defending LF was the final piece was just terrible process and the final gift from an incompetent Rick Hahn.

Which never has to happen if Rick gets his first choice, Bryce Harper.

[WestEddy]

8 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

I think he’s a free agent a year sooner too. Probably have to kick in a little money to even it out though right? I was trying to think of somewhere with a small LF where he could fake it like Houston. But they still have that infield logjam that pushes Alvarez to LF sometimes,

 

But doing a quick perusal of the league, there aren't a whole lot of overpaid, middling starters on teams' books. Luis Severino, maybe? A persistent rumor is that Toronto would like to move Jose Berrios, but they're not just going to dump his salary, as he's still pretty serviceable. 

[Bob Sacamano]

4 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

But doing a quick perusal of the league, there aren't a whole lot of overpaid, middling starters on teams' books. Luis Severino, maybe? A persistent rumor is that Toronto would like to move Jose Berrios, but they're not just going to dump his salary, as he's still pretty serviceable. 

I just meant if you were looking to dump him and kick in cash. Not necessarily take back a starter.

[WestEddy]

1 minute ago, Bob Sacamano said:

I just meant if you were looking to dump him and kick in cash. Not necessarily take back a starter.

If he's putting up 1 WAR a season, he's probably worth around 2/$15. So, depending on what they're getting back, I'd think they'd have to kick in $15M. Maybe they'd take back a failed bullpen arm getting $7-10M.

[almagest]

44 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Yup.  We’ve had a lot of signings go to s%*#, but thinking a light power, bad defending LF was the final piece was just terrible process and the final gift from an incompetent Rick Hahn.

The Sox just got hung up on him after missing out in the draft and never let that go. Like they've done with so many other players. Hopefully that's coming to an end.

[WestEddy]

5 minutes ago, almagest said:

The Sox just got hung up on him after missing out in the draft and never let that go. Like they've done with so many other players. Hopefully that's coming to an end.

I think they still do that somewhat, evidenced by Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, but I don't think we're going to have a "Getz always gets his man" meme. Acquiring former 1st rounders like Jared Shuster and Ryan Rolison seems more inadvertent than the focus. 

[thxfrthmmrs]

2 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

If you keep Quero, you have to give him consistent at-bats at DH when Teel is catching.  As such, it really limits how much Benintendi can also DH.  Something has to give there IMO or you have to accept shitty LF defense next season to ensure Quero’s bat can develop.

As for Sosa, we now have four LH hitters in our lineup and one switch hitter who is far better from the LH side than that right side.  Sosa as the 10th man who fills in at multiple spots (especially against LHP) can work.  Meidroth being able to cover SS allows us to carry a non-traditional backup infielder like Sosa.  Honestly, if he can learn some LF, he should be able to get plenty of playing time.  It’s actually Mead who seems kind of pointless as the roster is currently constructed.

Don’t see the need to trade Sosa or Benintendi. Mead, Lee, Hill, Pereira has the makings of worst bench offense in the league. Having flexibility of Sosa getting to play 5 days a week and playing matchups, getting guys days off, backfilling for injuries would be hugely important for this team.

[almagest]

11 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I think they still do that somewhat, evidenced by Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, but I don't think we're going to have a "Getz always gets his man" meme. Acquiring former 1st rounders like Jared Shuster and Ryan Rolison seems more inadvertent than the focus. 

Yeah, those are guys who are still very young and have a good shot to be quality players though. I don't mind that. Guys like Benintendi and Blake Rutherford were poor choices due to not being very good. 

[LittleHurtCG]

17 minutes ago, thxfrthmmrs said:

Don’t see the need to trade Sosa or Benintendi. Mead, Lee, Hill, Pereira has the makings of worst bench offense in the league. Having flexibility of Sosa getting to play 5 days a week and playing matchups, getting guys days off, backfilling for injuries would be hugely important for this team.

Agree here. That bench sounds like a recipe for disaster. This year seems like a last call audition for each player listed. 

[Chicago White Sox]

16 minutes ago, thxfrthmmrs said:

Don’t see the need to trade Sosa or Benintendi. Mead, Lee, Hill, Pereira has the makings of worst bench offense in the league. Having flexibility of Sosa getting to play 5 days a week and playing matchups, getting guys days off, backfilling for injuries would be hugely important for this team.

I agree on Sosa, but don’t agree on Benintendi.  He can’t field at all and has bat is basically league average at this point.  I guess he could fit as a role player, but I’d rather go find a LF upgrade and cut ties altogether.  Again, I just don’t see a great role for him if we are planning to use Quero as our primary DH.

[almagest]

9 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I agree on Sosa, but don’t agree on Benintendi.  He can’t field at all and has bat is basically league average at this point.  I guess he could fit as a role player, but I’d rather go find a LF upgrade and cut ties altogether.  Again, I just don’t see a great role for him if we are planning to use Quero as our primary DH.

I would agree, but the Sox aren't going to eat $30+ million. I also don't think he's tradable in any scenario except where the Sox take on a worse player/more risk. Unfortunately I think he's the DH/LF for 2026.

[WBWSF]

15 hours ago, CWSpalehoseCWS said:

If the season started tomorrow, I would roll with this:

1. 2B - Meidroth (R)
2. C - Teel (L)
3. SS - Montgomery (L)
4. CF - Robert (R)
5. 1B - Murakami (L)
6. 3B - Vargas (R)
7. LF - Benintendi (L)
8. DH - Quero (S)
9. RF - Baldwin (S)

 

Looks to me that this lineup could be very good. Add Braden Montgomery in that lineup sometime in 2026  could make the lineup even better.

Edited 1 hour ago by WBWSF

[Chicago White Sox]

17 minutes ago, LittleHurtCG said:

Agree here. That bench sounds like a recipe for disaster. This year seems like a last call audition for each player listed. 

Pereira is worth a gamble as the weak side platoon partner for Baldwin in RF.  No guarantee there obviously, but he’s the exact type of player we should be taking a chance on for that role.  The others I’m unsure on.  I think people here are writing off Mead way too early though.  He’s another guy I feel could eventually rotate in at a few spots against LHP, but he’s very redundant with Sosa.  If we keep Robert, then Hill doesn’t do much for me.  I think Lee is fine as a backup catcher, but he won’t serve much purpose other than injury insurance.

I do think Antonacci will be a key bench piece by the 2nd half of the season.  And one of our corner OFs will likely he delegated to a reserve role once Braden comes up.  With the versatility of certain guys, I feel ok about a learn bench.  But to me, that is assuming Sosa is the 10th man and playing quite frequently.

[Chicago White Sox]

21 minutes ago, almagest said:

I would agree, but the Sox aren't going to eat $30+ million. I also don't think he's tradable in any scenario except where the Sox take on a worse player/more risk. Unfortunately I think he's the DH/LF for 2026.

I think we’re stuck with him for at least half of this season.  I do think at some point they might consider cutting him.