The holidays are a good inflection point of the MLB offseason.
Most deals are done before Christmas, and free-agent activity is relatively quiet as front offices take time to be with their family. Surprisingly, the White Sox ($57.1) have outspent the Cubs ($47.6) in free agency so far.
Now, it’s not a significant sum, but for a Sox organization that historically isn’t too active in free agency — and the Cubs operating below what a big-market should be doing in free agency — general manager Chris Getz has made some shrewd signings, finding some opportunity costs at minimal risk after signing left-handed starter Anthony Kay and Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami.
Even with the projected growth of the young core, the Sox still have holes on the roster. The team doesn’t have an everyday right fielder, but they have acquired Derek Hill, Tristan Peters and Everson Pereira. Hill is a center fielder, Peters can play all three outfield spots but has made just four appearances in the majors and Pereira is a former top prospect with pop in his bat but no track record of success in the majors.
But a more pressing concern is their lack of pitching depth. To add to the staff, the Sox likely will have to get creative, and the team still has Luis Robert Jr. as a trade chip.
“We want to bring in greater pitching support,” Getz said Monday. “There’s different ways to do it, whether it be through trade or free agency.”
The trade market might be the best way for the Sox to add pitching after signing lefty Sean Newcomb to a one-year, $4.5 million deal on Tuesday. Newcomb profiles as a reliever who can provide bulk innings, like right-hander Mike Vasil, who threw the fifth-most innings on the team last season (101 innings).
Despite offers from the Mets and Reds going back to last season’s trade deadline, Getz opted to hold onto Robert and exercise his $20 million option.
Robert had a productive second half (126 wRC+), but a hamstring strain ended his season and he played just 110 games. There aren’t many center fielders better than him defensively and he is a threat on the bases. But despite Robert’s immense talent, he has consistently underperformed since his stellar 2023 All-Star season, where he won a Gold Glove and belted 38 homers. But at just 28, there’s still interest in Robert because of his ability and that other organizations think they can help him prove.
That the Reds and Mets have been linked to the Sox isn’t surprising.
The Reds naturally match up as a potential trade partner because of their surplus of starting pitching. They return their entire rotation from last season, and have top prospect Chase Burns waiting in the wings. Behind Burns, their farm system is stocked with talented pitchers — Rhett Lowder (No. 5), Chase Petty (No. 7) and Aaron Watson (No. 10).
Lowder and Petty are 23 and 22, respectively, so they’re closer to making an impact in the majors. Petty struggled at Triple A, sporting a 6.39 ERA before being called up to the majors. Lowder was limited to five appearances across three minor-league levels. Watson, 18, would be a long-term investment.
The Reds also have left-hander Brandon Williamson to offer teams. He’s a former top-100 prospect who has made 26 starts across two seasons in the majors. He missed the entire 2025 season after having Tommy John surgery in September 2024.
Lowder, Petty and Williamson all would immediately slot into the Sox’ rotation alongside Shane Smith, Davis Martin and Kay. The Sox saw last season that they lacked adequate starting pitching depth after their starters threw the fewest innings in the majors. That wore out the bullpen and made it harder for the team to compete down the stretch.
Now, acquiring pitching at the cost of Robert’s plus defense in center field is a tradeoff the Sox would have to weigh. Trading Robert represents the team’s best opportunity at adding another key piece for the future.
“Teams are always checking on top talent,” Getz said. “With that being said, we talk it through, but most importantly, we are planning on him being in a Chicago White Sox uniform.”