OD 26 Man Roster Projection

[Buehrle>Wood]

Berroa will be there assuming hes healthy. Elite arm and I think your closer at some point.

Edited January 25 by Buehrle>Wood

[GGajewski18]

On 1/25/2026 at 11:45 AM, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Wikelman Gonzalez ? 

Not enough roster spots available especially if Sox keep two Rule 5 guys at the beginning.  

Let him develop as the closer in Charlotte

[Bob Sacamano]

17 minutes ago, GGajewski18 said:

Not enough roster spots available especially if Sox keep two Rule 5 guys at the beginning.  

Let him develop as the closer in Charlotte

Not a guarantee that they will. Kind of hard to.

[Chicago White Sox]

Update post latest moves:

Lineup:

• 1B: Murakami (L)
• 2B: Meidroth (R)
• SS: C. Montgomery (L)
• 3B: Vargas (R)
• LF: Baldwin (S)
• CF: Acuña (R)
• RF: Hays (R)
• DH: Quero (S)
• CA: Teel (L)

Bench:

• BC: Lee (R)
• IF: Sosa (R)
• OF: Pereira (R)
• OF: Benintendi (L)

Rotation:

1. Smith (R)
2. Martin (R)
3. Kay (L)
4. Burke (R)
5. Newcomb (L)

Bullpen:

• CL: Dominguez (R)
• SU: Taylor (R)
• SU: Leasure (R)
• MR: Hicks (R)
• MR: Eisert (L)
• MR: Vasil (R)
• MR: Gilbert (L)
• LR: Paez (R)

DFA or Returned:

• IF: Mead (R) 
• OF: Hill (R)
• RP: Alberto (R)
• RP: Hudson (L)

Edited Monday at 02:26 AM by Chicago White Sox

[Bob Sacamano]

16 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Update post latest moves:

Lineup:

• 1B: Murakami (L)
• 2B: Meidroth (R)
• SS: C. Montgomery (L)
• 3B: Vargas (R)
• LF: Baldwin (S)
• CF: Acuña (R)
• RF: Hays (R)
• DH: Quero (S)
• CA: Teel (L)

Bench:

• BC: Lee (R)
• IF: Sosa (R)
• OF: Pereira (R)
• OF: Benintendi (L)

Rotation:

1. Smith (R)
2. Martin (R)
3. Kay (L)
4. Burke (R)
5. Newcomb (L)

Bullpen:

• CL: Dominguez (R)
• SU: Taylor (R)
• SU: Leasure (R)
• MR: Hicks (R)
• MR: Eisert (L)
• MR: Vasil (R)
• MR: Gilbert (L)
• LR: Paez (R)

DFA or Returned:

• IF: Mead (R) 
• OF: Hill (R)
• RP: Alberto (R)
• RP: Hudson (L)

Why is the text white/light!?!?!?

[Chicago White Sox]

7 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Why is the text white/light!?!?!?

Oh s%*# is it?  I have a dark mode filter on so it must be because of that.

[Bob Sacamano]

3 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Oh s%*# is it?  I have a dark mode filter on so it must be because of that.

Not all of your posts are like that. Just the roster one you keep sharing in this thread.

Edit: at least for me for some reason. Guess I can’t speak for all haha

Edited Monday at 02:26 AM by Bob Sacamano

[southsider2k5]

11 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Not all of your posts are like that. Just the roster one you keep sharing in this thread.

Edit: at least for me for some reason. Guess I can’t speak for all haha

If it is a copy/paste job, it could have been picked up from the original text

[SoxBlanco]

35 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Not all of your posts are like that. Just the roster one you keep sharing in this thread.

Edit: at least for me for some reason. Guess I can’t speak for all haha

It has been like that for me also. Not just you. 

Also, I thought Hays would play LF. @Chicago White Sox, was that an accidental mix up, or are you expecting him to play RF?

[Chicago White Sox]

4 minutes ago, SoxBlanco said:

It has been like that for me also. Not just you. 

Also, I thought Hays would play LF. @Chicago White Sox, was that an accidental mix up, or are you expecting him to play RF?

I just went with him in RF due to his arm being better than Baldwin’s.  I could see those two flipped flop though.

[ptatc]

13 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Update post latest moves:

Lineup:

• 1B: Murakami (L)
• 2B: Meidroth (R)
• SS: C. Montgomery (L)
• 3B: Vargas (R)
• LF: Baldwin (S)
• CF: Acuña (R)
• RF: Hays (R)
• DH: Quero (S)
• CA: Teel (L)

Bench:

• BC: Lee (R)
• IF: Sosa (R)
• OF: Pereira (R)
• OF: Benintendi (L)

Rotation:

1. Smith (R)
2. Martin (R)
3. Kay (L)
4. Burke (R)
5. Newcomb (L)

Bullpen:

• CL: Dominguez (R)
• SU: Taylor (R)
• SU: Leasure (R)
• MR: Hicks (R)
• MR: Eisert (L)
• MR: Vasil (R)
• MR: Gilbert (L)
• LR: Paez (R)

DFA or Returned:

• IF: Mead (R) 
• OF: Hill (R)
• RP: Alberto (R)
• RP: Hudson (L)

I think Taylor is high leverage, middle relief, multi-inning guy. They seem to want to try to stretch him out for a possible shot at starting at some point.

I also think Murphy will be a lefty in the pen over ine of the others.

Edited Monday at 03:17 PM by ptatc

[Chicago White Sox]

Couple of questions / thoughts as I look at the roster above:

1. DFA’ing Romo makes me feel we’re carrying three catchers to start the season, which leaves only three bench spots to cover everything else.
2. With Lee on the bench, Teel & Quero should get plenty of time at DH.  It also feels like Benintendi will get some time at DH as well.
3. The primary OF should be Acuna in CF and some combo of Hayes & Baldwin in the corners.  Pereira replaces Baldwin against LHP and Benintendi fills in against RHP with Baldwin shifted over to CF when Acuna needs a day off.
4. Based on the above, two of the three bench spots are going toward OFs, which means the last one should go to an IF.  Given other SS coverage options, it feels like Sosa is a shoe-in for the role of they keep him.
5. How does Antonacci their impact decision-making?  If Getz feels he could be ready by July, do they proactively trade Sosa and give Mead the reserve IF spot?  I still believe that’s a very real possibility if a market is there for Sosa.
6. The top three of the rotation appears to be set, leaving two roles open for competition.  I think Burke is the heavy favorite for the #4 spot as he got better as last year progressed and could easily be our best SP if he can get his slider back in form (which was an offseason priority for him).
7. The final rotation spot is wide open and reflects a fairly big hole at the moment.  Will they add one more SP in free agency or go with what they have?  My gut tells me this is what they are going with and the #5 spot will likely come down to Newcomb vs. Cannon (and maybe Vasil).  That being said, I think this spot will quickly go to Thorpe, Sandlin, or McDougal.
8. The right side of the bullpen is mostly locked in and will occupy at least five spots and likely six.  Dominguez, Hicks, Leasure, Taylor, & Vasil will all make the Opening Day roster.  My guess is one of the Rule 5 guys will be that sixth guy, but Gonzalez will certainly challenge them for that last spot.
9. The left side of the pen is a big question mark and I think anything is possible there assuming Newcomb starts the year in the rotation.  Gilbert is out of options and was ok last year which should give him an edge.  Hudson is also out of options, but was bad last year.  However, he has survived multiple rounds of roster shuffle and I think they want to give him a legit shot to make the OD roster.  I could see those being your two lefties early on with Eisert & Murphy in AAA to start the season.  Borucki is also probably in the mix.
10. Unless Paez is one of the PTBNL in the Hicks trade, there is zero chance we are able to keep both him and Alberto.  Paez remains the favorite for that last spot as they obviously liked him better at the time of the Rule 5 draft and he can provide some bulk garbage innings.  IMO, Alberto will have to be an absolute monster this spring to make the team given recent additions.

[WestEddy]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Couple of questions / thoughts as I look at the roster above:

1. DFA’ing Romo makes me feel we’re carrying three catchers to start the season, which leaves only three bench spots to cover everything else.
2. With Lee on the bench, Teel & Quero should get plenty of time at DH.  It also feels like Benintendi will get some time at DH as well.
3. The primary OF should be Acuna in CF and some combo of Hayes & Baldwin in the corners.  Pereira replaces Baldwin against LHP and Benintendi fills in against RHP with Baldwin shifted over to CF when Acuna needs a day off.
4. Based on the above, two of the three bench spots are going toward OFs, which means the last one should go to an IF.  Given other SS coverage options, it feels like Sosa is a shoe-in for the role of they keep him.
5. How does Antonacci their impact decision-making?  If Getz feels he could be ready by July, do they proactively trade Sosa and give Mead the reserve IF spot?  I still believe that’s a very real possibility if a market is there for Sosa.
6. The top three of the rotation appears to be set, leaving two roles open for competition.  I think Burke is the heavy favorite for the #4 spot as he got better as last year progressed and could easily be our best SP if he can get his slider back in form (which was an offseason priority for him).
7. The final rotation spot is wide open and reflects a fairly big hole at the moment.  Will they add one more SP in free agency or go with what they have?  My gut tells me this is what they are going with and the #5 spot will likely come down to Newcomb vs. Cannon (and maybe Vasil).  That being said, I think this spot will quickly go to Thorpe, Sandlin, or McDougal.
8. The right side of the bullpen is mostly locked in and will occupy at least five spots and likely six.  Dominguez, Hicks, Leasure, Taylor, & Vasil will all make the Opening Day roster.  My guess is one of the Rule 5 guys will be that sixth guy, but Gonzalez will certainly challenge them for that last spot.
9. The left side of the pen is a big question mark and I think anything is possible there assuming Newcomb starts the year in the rotation.  Gilbert is out of options and was ok last year which should give him an edge.  Hudson is also out of options, but was bad last year.  However, he has survived multiple rounds of roster shuffle and I think they want to give him a legit shot to make the OD roster.  I could see those being your two lefties early on with Eisert & Murphy in AAA to start the season.  Borucki is also probably in the mix.
10. Unless Paez is one of the PTBNL in the Hicks trade, there is zero chance we are able to keep both him and Alberto.  Paez remains the favorite for that last spot as they obviously liked him better at the time of the Rule 5 draft and he can provide some bulk garbage innings.  IMO, Alberto will have to be an absolute monster this spring to make the team given recent additions.

5) I don't think they'll "pre-plan" what to do with Antonacci. He's not even on the 40-man. Meidroth would have to stumble for Ant to get a shot. Or maybe, I don't know, Benintendi OPS's about .520 in the first 2 months. Ant will have to really force the issue. 
7) I believe Getz is just waiting for somebody to drop mid ST. Martin Perez just signed a minor league deal. These guys are going to see their markets aren't developing. 
9) Gilbert and Hudson start out with the inside track, and roster spots are theirs to lose. Getz kept Hudson over many when the 40-man got tight. They want to see what he has in spring. Newcomb could break camp in the rotation for a few cycles, and if Hudson struggles (and Newcomb looks weak 2nd time through the lineup), that's the move to the pen for New. 
10) The closer we get to pitchers & catchers, Paez looks like a PTBNL. Maybe the other is Alberto, and the Red Sox send somebody to the Rays to facilitate that. 

[Jake]

On 2/1/2026 at 9:02 PM, Chicago White Sox said:

Update post latest moves:

Lineup:

• 1B: Murakami (L)
• 2B: Meidroth (R)
• SS: C. Montgomery (L)
• 3B: Vargas (R)
• LF: Baldwin (S)
• CF: Acuña (R)
• RF: Hays (R)
• DH: Quero (S)
• CA: Teel (L)

Bench:

• BC: Lee (R)
• IF: Sosa (R)
• OF: Pereira (R)
• OF: Benintendi (L)

Rotation:

1. Smith (R)
2. Martin (R)
3. Kay (L)
4. Burke (R)
5. Newcomb (L)

Bullpen:

• CL: Dominguez (R)
• SU: Taylor (R)
• SU: Leasure (R)
• MR: Hicks (R)
• MR: Eisert (L)
• MR: Vasil (R)
• MR: Gilbert (L)
• LR: Paez (R)

DFA or Returned:

• IF: Mead (R) 
• OF: Hill (R)
• RP: Alberto (R)
• RP: Hudson (L)

My thinking is they will not let go of Mead so soon. I'm not 100% on it, but I think Getz is going to try to find a spot for him on the roster. I also do not think Benny will spend much time on the bench to start the year. This leads me in the direction of thinking Baldwin starts the year in AAA. Getz has shown a tendency to use minor league options as a way to delay making 40-man roster decisions. I think Lee is a goner if both catchers are healthy at the end of spring.

[WestEddy]

I really think Baldwin needs to play regularly. Somebody mentioned optioning him to get a better look at those out of options, and that makes a little sense, but if he's on this team, he needs to be in the OF. 

 

We are exactly 1 week out from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training! So here’s how I would build out the Opening Day 26 man roster for the #WhiteSox.

Not necessarily a prediction, just what I would do on Opening Day… pic.twitter.com/h1s4VHw9V2

— Dylan Barnas (@NotCease) February 3, 2026

 

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

I still think Lee is an odd-man out, even with Romo being DFA'd. If you plan on keeping Mead, I especially don't see how Lee makes it.

[Chicago White Sox]

5 hours ago, WestEddy said:

5) I don't think they'll "pre-plan" what to do with Antonacci. He's not even on the 40-man. Meidroth would have to stumble for Ant to get a shot. Or maybe, I don't know, Benintendi OPS's about .520 in the first 2 months. Ant will have to really force the issue. 
7) I believe Getz is just waiting for somebody to drop mid ST. Martin Perez just signed a minor league deal. These guys are going to see their markets aren't developing. 
9) Gilbert and Hudson start out with the inside track, and roster spots are theirs to lose. Getz kept Hudson over many when the 40-man got tight. They want to see what he has in spring. Newcomb could break camp in the rotation for a few cycles, and if Hudson struggles (and Newcomb looks weak 2nd time through the lineup), that's the move to the pen for New. 
10) The closer we get to pitchers & catchers, Paez looks like a PTBNL. Maybe the other is Alberto, and the Red Sox send somebody to the Rays to facilitate that. 

Regarding Antonacci, I think he’ll eventually be a better fit for the roster as a LH fill-in for Chase at 2B and Vargas at 3B than Sosa is.  Maybe they don’t need to solve it now, but I don’t see any path to rostering both Sosa & Mead and that will force them to think a bit longer than they probably normally would.

For SP, I could certainly see them adding someone on a minor league deal, but I don’t expect a big addition at this point.  I think they want to leave a spot open for the TJS & AAA guys eventually (yes I know you can never have too much pitching).

Agree on the LH side of the bullpen front.  Don’t know how the Alberto being a PTBNL would work mechanically.  Seems very unlikely to me it’s even possible.

[Chicago White Sox]

3 hours ago, Jake said:

My thinking is they will not let go of Mead so soon. I'm not 100% on it, but I think Getz is going to try to find a spot for him on the roster. I also do not think Benny will spend much time on the bench to start the year. This leads me in the direction of thinking Baldwin starts the year in AAA. Getz has shown a tendency to use minor league options as a way to delay making 40-man roster decisions. I think Lee is a goner if both catchers are healthy at the end of spring.

I can’t imagine we only go with two catchers on our 40 man roster.  The fact we DFA’ed Romo makes me feel like they are going to go with three catchers.  Maybe they add someone during camp, but right now I lean Lee makes the OD roster.

I think there is zero chance Baldwin isn’t on the 26 man roster.  He’s easily one of our 10 best players and I don’t think the presence of Benintendi or desire to keep Mead will change that.  Regarding Andrew, I think he splits time between DH & LF and primarily against RHP (I know he had reverse splits last year).  I think the goal there is to keep him healthier by playing him less in the field and hoping it drives better overall production even if in a more restricted role.

I do think Getz would like to keep Mead and I think he’d like to cash in on Sosa if possible.  Lenyn is simply not the type of player Getz likes give his free swings ways and poor defense.  I still think there is a good chance he is traded before Opening Day and Mead becomes the primary reserve infielder.

[Chicago White Sox]

2 hours ago, WestEddy said:

I really think Baldwin needs to play regularly. Somebody mentioned optioning him to get a better look at those out of options, and that makes a little sense, but if he's on this team, he needs to be in the OF. 

 

 

Very close to what I’m expecting at the moment.

[BamaDoc]

I think the complicating issue with Paez as a PTBNL is that before he can be returned to his original team, he must pass through waivers where any team could claim him.  I suppose you could work it that should he pass through waivers, he would be in the pool of players eligible to be picked by White Sox.

[Chicago White Sox]

14 minutes ago, BamaDoc said:

I think the complicating issue with Paez as a PTBNL is that before he can be returned to his original team, he must pass through waivers where any team could claim him.  I suppose you could work it that should he pass through waivers, he would be in the pool of players eligible to be picked by White Sox.

That’s a good point and probably kills the idea.  Honestly, I’m guessing all three PBTNL’s are simply org guys and will be officially named once each side know where there are gaps on their minor league rosters.  I’d be surprised if we got even one meaningful prospect from either PTBNL coming our way.

[WestEddy]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Regarding Antonacci, I think he’ll eventually be a better fit for the roster as a LH fill-in for Chase at 2B and Vargas at 3B than Sosa is.  Maybe they don’t need to solve it now, but I don’t see any path to rostering both Sosa & Mead and that will force them to think a bit longer than they probably normally would.

For SP, I could certainly see them adding someone on a minor league deal, but I don’t expect a big addition at this point.  I think they want to leave a spot open for the TJS & AAA guys eventually (yes I know you can never have too much pitching).

Agree on the LH side of the bullpen front.  Don’t know how the Alberto being a PTBNL would work mechanically.  Seems very unlikely to me it’s even possible.

I'm not even sure how Rule 5 works where getting the original team to give up their claim. I would think the player would have to go through waivers, 1st. My suggestion was that the Red Sox send the 2nd PTBNL to the Rays, and they release the White Sox from Rule 5 on Alberto.

[vilehoopster]

I know I keep saying this over and over, but I can't see how Sosa, the returning team leader in HRs, RBIs, and hits, is going to end up out of the lineup. Now, I don't think he will lead the team in any of those categories this year, but I still think he can/ will hit 25 to 30 HRs this year. I am really stumped how everyone can just continue to ignore that (Not all ignore that; some podcasters agree with me). Some people on this board don't even have him as the DH. How can a team that struggles for power and runs just sit a guy who, if healthy, is going to hit, at least, 25 HRs. I also say this over and over:  his defense at 2nd was not that bad; it's his 1st base defense that hurt his D-stats. 

But I am realistic, and I get this vibe from White Sox management that Meidroth is, right now, set at 2nd. When people like Merkin and Garfien are listing Meidroth at 2nd in their preseason predictions, they're hearing that from Sox management. 

But this will be the 3rd season in a row that Sosa has been dismissed/ underestimated by Sox management.  I think/ predict that starting with spring training and into May, Sosa, with his bat and improved glove, will force management to open their eyes and put Sosa full time at 2nd base.

I also have said this over and over: not that I think Meidroth is bad or even average; I just think it's easier to believe that Sosa will improve his defense and walk rate (which he already was improving in 2nd half of season), then ever believe Miedroth will hit more than 10 home runs in a season. 

Also, back on the topic of the opening day 26 roster, I would like to add vote to the people who predict that Vasil will be the Sox's 5th starter. 

And let me state a 2nd surprising prediction: I think that Hagen Smith will leave spring training as a member of the bullpen. The right handers in the bullpen look very, very solid. I know, I know relievers are volatile and all that. But you have to be impressed with the quality of RH arms in the Sox bullpen. But the left side, even if Sean Newcombe is not starting but in the pen, the rest of the left handers look well below average, at best. That's why I see Hagen leaving spring training as a lefty in the bullpen. 

[BamaDoc]

I hope your surprising prediction is wrong.  I think moving Hagen Smith or for that matter Schultz to the pen now would be developmental malpractice.  If they are close to their innings limit and aren't up starting, I could see bullpen for last month or 6 weeks to get a intro to MLB but otherwise the team really needs at least one of them to be successful starters.

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, vilehoopster said:

I know I keep saying this over and over, but I can't see how Sosa, the returning team leader in HRs, RBIs, and hits, is going to end up out of the lineup. Now, I don't think he will lead the team in any of those categories this year, but I still think he can/ will hit 25 to 30 HRs this year. I am really stumped how everyone can just continue to ignore that (Not all ignore that; some podcasters agree with me). Some people on this board don't even have him as the DH. How can a team that struggles for power and runs just sit a guy who, if healthy, is going to hit, at least, 25 HRs. I also say this over and over:  his defense at 2nd was not that bad; it's his 1st base defense that hurt his D-stats. 

But I am realistic, and I get this vibe from White Sox management that Meidroth is, right now, set at 2nd. When people like Merkin and Garfien are listing Meidroth at 2nd in their preseason predictions, they're hearing that from Sox management. 

But this will be the 3rd season in a row that Sosa has been dismissed/ underestimated by Sox management.  I think/ predict that starting with spring training and into May, Sosa, with his bat and improved glove, will force management to open their eyes and put Sosa full time at 2nd base.

I also have said this over and over: not that I think Meidroth is bad or even average; I just think it's easier to believe that Sosa will improve his defense and walk rate (which he already was improving in 2nd half of season), then ever believe Miedroth will hit more than 10 home runs in a season. 

Also, back on the topic of the opening day 26 roster, I would like to add vote to the people who predict that Vasil will be the Sox's 5th starter. 

And let me state a 2nd surprising prediction: I think that Hagen Smith will leave spring training as a member of the bullpen. The right handers in the bullpen look very, very solid. I know, I know relievers are volatile and all that. But you have to be impressed with the quality of RH arms in the Sox bullpen. But the left side, even if Sean Newcombe is not starting but in the pen, the rest of the left handers look well below average, at best. That's why I see Hagen leaving spring training as a lefty in the bullpen. 

If the Sox put Hagen Smith in the bullpen to start the season, then I’ve lost all confidence in this org.  Is this something you actually want to see happen?

As for Sosa, despite 22 HRs he was only a league average hitter last year.  He was certainly better in the second half, but was substantially better against LHP (121 wRC+) than RHP (101 wRC+).  Those splits could make him an everyday guy at 2B if the defense was sufficient, but don’t really work for a full-time DH role.  I also don’t agree with you on his defensive performance at 2B.  It looked bad per the eye test and graded out as -10 runs per DRS.  Not sure why you think he’s going to suddenly better out there.