The process is you have a surplus at one position and you use it to strengthen the position where you have a deficit.

You go into that with an open mind and make everyone available. You may prefer to trade player A but if the haul is appreciably better for player B, you make that trade.

The process is followed regardless of the player names involved. It's a lot like any other forms of investing. Don't get too attached to the equity. It's just part of the inventory.

Trading Mune Vargas Bonemer Antonacci Meidroth Burke Taylor Peters...selling high

Trading Colson Quero Teel Braden Carlson...pretty much the opposite.

(Well, maybe Braden's somewhere in the middle.)

15 hours ago, PaleAleSox said:

I think you extend Vargas and Mune right now and let the rest sort itself out over the next couple of years.

What makees you think either one of them want to be extended?

2 minutes ago, oldsox said:

What makees you think either one of them want to be extended?

Good vibes lol.

"That just seemed like a miserably unlucky series, but the Sox are definitely the better team." (motown boards)

"Take Greene out of the lineup, subtract Skubal and Mize, and, yes, the White Sox are a better team. Today would have been Skubal on the mound. Handcuffing the 2026 team was a choice, one they may still overcome but I'm still kind of sore about the trades."

7 hours ago, nitetrain8601 said:

I think some folks are looking too long term and some too short term. They're not going to have the makeup of their entire team, including bench, after this offseason. You'll likely see a platoon of Peters and maybe Doyle. I think after next season, they'll make a decision on Colson, Bonemer, Carlson. Mune is the only lock to get an extension.

They'll likely trade some of the middle infield depth for SP. Seattle, for right now, looks like a good trade partner. Pittsburgh could be too, but they may want to hold onto the SP if they don't plan on ever getting any hitters outside of Bryan Reynolds.

I expect one impactful move in the offseason outside of a resigned Mune. Two max.

I don’t think Carlson really factors into things at all at the moment. He may force his way into the mix eventually, but there is still too much development needed with the bat to have him be part of your mid term plan. Same applies to Fauske, Prosek, & Thome. All super fun & interesting prospects, but for 2027 to 2029 (what we should be focused on this offseason) they are nothing more than ammo to improve the major league roster if needed.

To me, it’s really just Bonemer (since he’s getting very close to be ready) and Roch (because he should move fast given his skill set & 1.01 status) that you need to plan around. And as I outlined in my original post, you probably don’t need to make a decision on who the odd man out is for another year since we can simply replace Benintendi with Caleb when the time comes.

I do think someone eventually goes for a SP like you said. I think you’re right that SEA & PIT are the two most likely trade partners. Just doubtful that we see that move this offseason. I think we’ll use their payroll flexibility to sign a big SP and pair them with Burke, Castilo, and some combo of Martin, Kay, Schultz, McDougal, Thorpe, & Shane Smith to start the 2027 season. If one of the young guys doesn’t step up in the first half of next year, then you start looking to the trade market at the deadline and following offseason to add a controllable SP.

15 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Trading Mune Vargas Bonemer Antonacci Meidroth Burke Taylor Peters...selling high

Trading Colson Quero Teel Braden Carlson...pretty much the opposite.

(Well, maybe Braden's somewhere in the middle.)

I don’t think the Sox trade any of these guys just yet. The positional crunch is another year out and I think you can let some of these guys build up their value. The payroll should have plenty of space for another two years before a bunch of guys start hitting arbitration. For this offseason, we should be focused on adding in free agency, especially if the new CBA comes with a payroll floor.

9 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I don’t think the Sox trade any of these guys just yet. The positional crunch is another year out and I think you can let some of these guys build up their value. The payroll should have plenty of space for another two years before a bunch of guys start hitting arbitration. For this offseason, we should be focused on adding in free agency, especially if the new CBA comes with a payroll floor.

Buy low on Jazz Chisholm or make a bet on fixing Peralta?

We can and probably should scratch Skubal off the wish list.

MLB Trade Rumors

2026-27 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: June Update

The 2026 season is approaching the halfway point. Which impending free agents are trending up? Find out in the latest MLBTR rankings!

Sonny Gray will finish Top 3 in the AL Cy race...at current pace.

At his age, he and Michael King are now clearly the 1A options to Skubal.

And going after an established closer like Chapman does make MORE sense now.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by caulfield12

Short term view:

Resign Newcomb

Have a plan for Mune, either extend or start planning trade

Sign a frontline FA pitcher

Sign a FA catcher (Tyler Stephenson would be nice)

Start extension talks with Vargas

4 minutes ago, Falstaff said:

Short term view:

Resign Newcomb

Have a plan for Mune, either extend or start planning trade

Sign a frontline FA pitcher

Sign a FA catcher (Tyler Stephenson would be nice)

Start extension talks with Vargas

Hudson/Taylor stay as your co-closers?

Still not 100% settled if Sato is coming over from NPB, because he would be in limbo if not signed right off the bat in the period following the World Series, but before the strike/lookout. Will signing early or waiting for new financial landscape advantage or disadvantage him? Unclear.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by caulfield12

2 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Hudson/Taylor stay as your co-closers?

That is to be determined, does Taylor get moved to SP.

Caufield who are some of the Japanese FA SP that will be available. I am not familiar with the Japan League.

15 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Buy low on Jazz Chisholm or make a bet on fixing Peralta?

We can and probably should scratch Skubal off the wish list.

Why we would we buy low on Chisholm? For CF?

11 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Hudson/Taylor stay as your co-closers?

Still not 100% settled if Sato is coming over from NPB, because he would be in limbo if not signed right off the bat in the period following the World Series, but before the strike/lookout. Will signing early or waiting for new financial landscape advantage or disadvantage him? Unclear.

The bullpen is mostly set for next year. Taylor, Hicks, & Brazoban from the right side and then Hudson, Hagen (I think he spends 2027 in major league bullpen), & Murphy from the left side. Ideally you bring back Newcomb (I’d do a two year deal with him) or replace him with a guy who can handle high leverage. The long man can be one of the guys who loses out for the final SP spots.

1 hour ago, oldsox said:

What makees you think either one of them want to be extended?

You gotta try. Make them continue to say no

This is a great thread. Lots of really good thoughts on the future of this team.