Breaking down White Sox' offseason needs as GM Meetings open in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – In three weeks, player movement will halt as team owners lock out the players, and talk of the market price of a No. 3 starting pitcher will be replaced with the stupefying details of collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

Few major deals go down in November in this league, but if past history is indication, it will be easier than trying to finalize the roster while a hastily-arranged spring training is underway. The 2022 White Sox signed three free-agents within the first two days of the last lockout ending, and traded for AJ Pollock two weeks later. All of them contributed less wins above replacement to that year’s team than Elvis Andrus, who signed in mid-August.

So yes, it would be good if the White Sox checked some items off their to-do list before 11pm on Dec. 1, when the current CBA expires. Could we get a second look at that list?

Starting pitching

It will be useful next season to track how many innings White Sox starters are actually throwing, accounting for opener usage in a way current statistics cannot. Nevertheless, Sox starters threw the fewest innings in MLB in 2026.

They don’t talk like they’re secretly getting more than numbers let on.

“We're going to need more out of our starting pitching,” general manager Chris Getz said last month. “That doesn't mean that Sean Burke, or Noah Schultz or Davis Martin or Luis Castillo or David Sandlin [aren’t] going to be big parts of getting starter innings for us, but there's going to be opportunities to add.”

Even with Castillo’s $22.75 million salary in tow, Cot’s Contracts estimates the Sox with less than $100 million committed to next year’s payroll. There would be significant room to add even if the team set a cap at $128 million, which was their reported opening day total…in 2011. Getz assured the club has “payroll flexibility” to wield. Even if Tarik Skubal is a bridge too far, there are bulk innings to be had in free agency.

Michael King was 10th in MLB in innings, Kaima Tara is the most intriguing arm in a Japanese market the Sox now scout devotedly, Michael Soroka looked like the starter the club envisioned two years ago. All of them and more are on the market, where the team’s biggest investment of the winter should go.

Outfield

With promising rookies Sam Antonacci and Braden Montgomery dominating corner outfield reps in the second half, it might surprise that Getz wants an outfielder, even with slugging prospect Caleb Bonemer nearing the majors, and Brooks Baldwin and Tanner Murray on the mend.

But Tristan Peters played in the All-Star Game two weeks before–and Everson Pereira whacked a double and a homer one day before–the Sox traded for fleet-footed Brenton Doyle. Their drive to bolster their outfield defense can’t be underestimated.

Antonacci energized the lineup, but understandably was a below-average defender in left; a position he first began learning in spring. Montgomery is a potential long-term fixture, but the coaching staff wants significant offseason progress in his ability to elevate the ball.

Most immediately, Randal Grichuk and Tommy Pham are free agents. With Andrew Benintendi a designated hitter exclusively, a right-handed outfielder who can play scratch or better defense in a corner would tie together a mix heavy on useful pieces, and light on true everyday regulars.

Relief pitching

Literally every MLB team needs to add relievers every offseason. If and when the White Sox move Grant Taylor and Hagen Smith to starting, they will need to replace the high-leverage options they trusted most this postseason.

That aside, they simply need to replace the innings shouldered by outgoing free agent Sean Newcomb, who has 96 ⅓ more reasons to pursue a starting opportunity than he already had when the left-hander arrived in Chicago. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Mike Vasil can’t be expected to shoulder all of it.

Another left-hander would be a good idea. He was better than it looks, but Bryan Hudson had a 6.15 ERA in the second half. Chris Murphy has good stuff, but inconsistent results kept him off the playoff roster. Internally, there are far more right-handed relief options than southpaws.