The Chicago White Sox are expected to aggressively pursue pitching help before the trade deadline on Aug. 3.

The young White Sox lineup has been hot this spring, putting them squarely in the postseason race. But the starting rotation has issues and ranks No. 29 in ERA. Chicago’s start against the New York Yankees this week shows how badly the team needs a boost to the rotation.

New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta seems like a good choice for the White Sox, as his $8 million salary would be manageable for a young team that’s still rebuilding.

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has been mentioned as a potential option for Chicago by Mike Axisa of CBS Sports. During an appearance on “The Score” on Thursday, White Sox color analyst Steve Stone threw cold water on the proposition, suggesting Tigers president Scott Harris would want a deal too rich for Chicago to make.

More News: Chicago White Sox: ESPN gives 90% chance of Freddy Peralta trade

Chicago White Sox won’t be in Tarik Skubal sweepstakes

More News: White Sox planning ‘aggressive’ trade: Report

The White Sox would have to “secure” Skubal’s future. He would be a costly rental for a young team that needs to keep as many valuable pieces in the organization as possible.

“Well, if you think that the White Sox are going after Tarik Skubal, I think perhaps they should check the water over there in your building, because number one, to give Scott Harris what he wants for Skubal, you’re going to have to make a deal ahead of time that secures his future in whatever team he’s going to,” Stone said.

“The Dodgers would be the logical team. They have both the money and the prospects. The White Sox will not be in the Skubal acquisition phase.”

The Tigers will certainly be looking to trade Skubal this summer if the team doesn’t make a turnaround before August. Harris will want to get something in return for Skubal before he heads to free agency at the end of the season.

The White Sox aren’t ready to make such a move, but the team will explore more reasonable options that won’t have the same upside as Skubal.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The last two games may not have gone their way, but the Chicago White Sox are still in first place in the American League Central Division. At 38-34, Chicago is a vastly improved team than the product the put on the field over the last few years.

What has been most surprising as of late is that the White Sox have continued winning despite the injury absence of Munetaka Murakami. When he went down with a strained hamstring, many were worried that Chicago would not be able to keep up in the division.

Not only have they been able to keep up, they are now in first place.

The Chicago White Sox land the eighth spot in ESPN’s top-10 rankings

When the season began, Chicago was consistently ranked at or near the bottom of ESPN’s power rankings. This was understandable, of course, given that they lost over 100 games in each of the past three seasons. Additionally, they opened 2026 by being swept.

But now, thanks to their wins over the two best teams in the National League, the White Sox have been ranked eighth:

“The White Sox completed a solid week during a tough stretch of their schedule. First, they took two of two from the Braves, then won their three-game series against the Dodgers thanks to a rally in the rubber game Sunday.

“Chicago scored six runs in the sixth to erase a 1-0 deficit behind three home runs in the inning. It has been their trademark: The White Sox are among the league leaders in slugging and right behind the Yankees in home runs. Even while missing Munetaka Murakami because of injury, their power hasn’t tanked.”

In order to maintain this top-ten ranking, Chicago is going to have to bounce back from what is currently a disappointing series in New York. If they can, they should be able to get to Murakami’s return in a good position to keep the good times rolling.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox linked to unthinkable trade that would change everything
• 4 White Sox players in the hunt for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game
• ESPN gives 90% chance of Freddy Peralta trade

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox knew that the stretch of games they are currently playing were going to be tough. After shocking many by winning consecutive series at home against the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, they have dropped two straight games on the road against the New York Yankees.

Fortunately, they have not fallen out of first place in the American League Central Division because the Cleveland Guardians have dropped two in a row as well. At 38-34, the White Sox are miles ahead of where many thought they would be, and their young stars, such a Colson Montgomery, are a big reason why.

Colson Montgomery made Chicago White Sox history in loss to New York Yankees

Montgomery burst on the scene last year following his mid-season call-up to the Majors. As a rookie, he hit .239/.311/.529 with 21 home runs and 55 RBI in 71 games played.

He has been nearly as good through 69 games to start the 2026 season, slashing .225/.319/.502 with 19 home runs and 44 RBI.

Last night, he hit his 19th home run of the season against New York. It was his 40th career home run, a milestone he has reached faster than any other player in franchise history:

Colson Montgomery reached 40 career home runs in 140 games, the fewest games to the mark in White Sox history

He hit his first homer on 7/22/25. Since that day, he’s second in MLB in home runs, behind only Kyle Schwarber (49) https://t.co/BlP8uvLUum

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 18, 2026

As one can see from the post above, not only has Montgomery reached 40 home runs faster than any player in franchise history, but he also has the second-most home runs in the Majors since he made his debut.

One might assume that Munetaka Murakami has a chance to break this mark if he comes back with enough games to play and continues to rake at the rate at which he was before he got hurt. Still, what Montgomery has been doing ever since last July has been nothing short of impressive.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox linked to unthinkable trade that would change everything
• 4 White Sox players in the hunt for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game
• ESPN gives 90% chance of Freddy Peralta trade

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have run into a bit of a buzzsaw the last couple of nights, losing to the New York Yankees in a pair of blowout losses. However, they are still 38-34 on the season and are smack dab in the middle of playoff contention.

Because of how surprising the White Sox have been this year, they may ultimately end up crashing the MLB trade deadline.

Just about everyone anticipated that Chicago would be a midsummer seller, but things have changed. With the White Sox looking like favorites in the AL Central, they could ultimately try to bolster their roster for a postseason run, and they have the chips to do it.

Chicago’s farm system has become rather enviable over the last year, and it has impressive depth that it can use in significant trades.

With the White Sox in dire need of starting pitching, adding another rotation arm should be at the top of their priority list. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel seem to believe that the South Siders will try to do just that, and they have identified a shocking potential target for them: Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan.

Chicago White Sox linked to blockbuster trade for Joe Ryan

Passan and McDaniel gave Ryan a 55 percent chance of being dealt, which should not come as much of a surprise with Ryan having just one year of club control remaining and the Twins certainly not resembling contenders.

But would Minnesota actually trade Ryan to a division rival?

Ryan has logged a 3.17 ERA this season, allowing 66 hits while racking up 92 strikeouts over 82.1 innings of work. He boasts a sparkling 0.996 WHIP, and his 5.75 K/BB ratio is genuinely elite. Not only that, but his 2.89 FIP indicates that he has actually gotten a bit unlucky in 2026.

The Twins could reap quite a haul for Ryan. They know this, which is why they will surely do everything in their power to send him out of the AL Central. They would probably even prefer to ship him out of the American League in general.

But if the White Sox were able to land Ryan, they would suddenly lay claim to a really impressive one-two punch of Ryan and Davis Martin at the top of their rotation with Sean Burke as a solid No. 3. It would absolutely increase their chances of a division title, and it would make them a relatively scary team in the playoffs.

It would truly be something if Chicago were able to pull this off, but it just doesn’t seem all that probable.

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The first-place Chicago White Sox have been one of baseball’s biggest surprises this season. Not only have they blown past preseason rebuilding expectations, but they’ve also proven their strong start was no fluke and appear poised to remain in the playoff conversation throughout the year.

As a result, several players have begun generating All-Star buzz, including first baseman Munetaka Murakami, third baseman Miguel Vargas, shortstop Colson Montgomery, and starting pitcher Davis Martin. With Phase one of MLB All-Star voting just over the half way point, here is where the position players rank as of June 15.

Four Chicago White Sox players in the hunt to be 2026 All-Stars

Despite being on the injured list with a hamstring strain since May 30, Murakami currently ranks third among all American League first baseman with 437,07 votes. He trails Ben Rice of the New York Yankees with 509,830 and Vladimir Guerrero Jr of the Toronto Blue Jays with 603,014 votes.

Miguel Vargas is in the same position in the third base standings with 329,208 votes. There is a further gap between him and the second and first place players however as Kazuma Okamoto of the Blue Jays has 556,172 votes and Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays has 625,520 votes.

At shortstop, Colson Montgomery holds the fourth most votes at 176,673. Bobby Witt Jr of the Kansas City Royals is leading this position by a wide margin, with 890,575 votes, while Andres Gimenez of the Blue Jays and Kevin McGongile trail him with 354,651 and 266,239 votes respectively.

In order to advance to phase 2 of MLB All-Star voting, these White Sox position players have to be in at least second place. This means there is some work for each to do in order to keep their mid summer classic aspirations alive. Phase 1 of voting ends on June 25.

As a reminder, pitchers are not voted in by the fans. Rather, player votes and commissioner selection is how they are selected. With how dominant Davis Martin has been this year, it’s hard to image he won’t be selected.

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With a surprising start to the season, the Chicago White Sox are expected to be aggressive before the trade deadline on Aug. 3.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today and Jon Hayman of the MLB Network expect the White Sox to go after pitching help at the deadline, especially for a starting pitcher who can help a rotation that has a chance to play extra baseball in the playoffs after two miserable seasons.

Before taking on the New York Yankee on Wednesday, the White Sox have a 38-33 record, and are tied with the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central.

One pitcher for the White Sox to keep their eyes on is New York Mets right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta. Per ESPN, there is a 90 percent chance the Mets trade Peralta this season. Despite having the MLB’s second-highest payroll, New York is in the dumps with a 33-41 record, the worst in the National League East.

More News: White Sox planning ‘aggressive’ trade: Report

Chicago White Sox: Freddy Peralta would be a cheap addition

More News:  Chicago White Sox considering top prospect for MLB debut

Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN noted that Peralta is only making $8 million this season, which would be an “attractive” number for a low-payroll team. (Like the White Sox.)

Peralta is making $8 million this season, an awfully attractive figure for low-payroll teams. While he’s off to a slow start this spring with a 5-5 record and ERA of 3.90, he has plenty in the tank for a team wanting to make a postseason run.

“(Peralta) just turned 30, has below-average fastball velocity and is listed at 6 feet tall and 198 pounds,” they wrote. “So, it’s good to know that he doesn’t succeed due to pure velocity, because he’ll need angles and command in his favor even more going forward.”

The offense has been powering the White Sox through this spring. Per evanalytics.com, Chicago’s rotation ranks 29th with a 4.69 ERA, only better than the Colorado Rockies. For the White Sox to become a legit contender, the pitching must be better in the second half of the season.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Why Strategy Matters in Sports

Sports have always been dynamic and progressive. Every year, athletes become more efficient and trained. Teams are constantly developing new methods to improve their performance. A lot depends on the strategy when trying to achieve results. The term “strategy” implies more than just a simple game plan. It involves training, developing players’ skills, analyzing data, and making decisions before and during the game. Opponents are analyzed, statistics are reviewed, and ways to gain an advantage are sought. A correct strategy can help face stronger opponents and play successfully. It can assist players in giving the maximum of themselves. Sometimes good planning plays the same role as natural talent. It is not surprising that interest in sports strategies exists not only among coaches and players but also among fans who follow analytics, statistics, and trends using various resources, including online sportsbook Ontario.

Current Chicago Landscape

The Chicago professional sports scene is currently anchored by a mix of high-stakes transitional periods and cautious optimism.

The Bears are dominating the airwaves despite being in offseason. As training camp and preseason loom, they will always carry immense expectations behind quarterback Caleb Williams following a promising playoff push last season.

The Cubs are locked in a competitive battle for a National League Wild Card spot, while the White Sox have surprisingly bounced back to fight for the lead in a tight AL Central with the Cleveland Guardians.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks continue to construct their future around Connor Bedard, and the Bulls are searching for a fresh identity after missing the postseason. It’s a landscape defined by emerging young stars and a city eager for its next championship contender.

Building a Better Team

Strategy is not only about what happens on the field or court. It also plays a major role when teams build their rosters.

A good example is the Chicago Bulls. Before a new season starts, fans and analysts often ask which positions need help. Right now, many experts believe the Bulls need to strengthen the center position. The team could use a player who protects the basket, grabs rebounds, and adds size in the paint.

This kind of decision is part of a long-term strategy. Teams must identify weaknesses and find players who can solve those problems. A smart move in the offseason can make a big difference once the season begins.

The Growing Role of Artificial Intelligence in Pro Sports

Artificial intelligence is becoming a bigger part of sports every year. Many teams already use AI tools to study games and players.

For These systems can review thousands of plays in a short time. They can find patterns that people might miss. Coaches can use this information to improve tactics and prepare for future games.

AI can also help with player health. It can track workloads, spot signs of fatigue, and reduce the risk of injury. This allows athletes to stay in better condition throughout the season.

For many sports organizations, AI has become a valuable tool.

The Bulls revamped their digital ecosystem using a backend AI tool called Squid AI. Rather than putting a public-facing chatbot on their site, the team uses the AI selectively behind APIs to improve username validation and enable natural language search on their schedule pages.

As part of the fan code of conduct, all patrons attending games at the United Center are strictly prohibited from bringing AI Glasses or any wearable smart devices capable of photographing, recording, or streaming with AI-assisted features.

The NBA is transitioning to using AI-driven automated camera systems to make objective, instantaneous rulings on specific calls, such as out-of-bounds plays. This system is designed to take the burden off human referees and prevent disputes over possession.

Are There Any Risks?

While AI offers many benefits, it also creates some concerns.

One concern is that teams may become too dependent on technology. Sports have always included emotion, instinct, and quick decisions. These human qualities make games exciting. If computers start making too many decisions, some people worry that sports could lose part of their character.

Another issue is fairness. Large clubs often have bigger budgets and better technology. Smaller teams may not have access to the same tools. This could create a wider gap between the top teams and everyone else.

Because of this, sports organizations will need to find the right balance between technology and competition.

What Does the Future Hold?

The future of sports looks exciting. Technology will likely become even more advanced. Teams will collect more data and use better tools to improve performance.

Training programs may become more personal. Athletes could receive advice based on their own strengths, weaknesses, and physical condition. Fans may also enjoy better broadcasts, more statistics, and new ways to follow their favorite teams.

At the same time, some things will never change. Hard work, talent, teamwork, and strong leadership will always matter. Technology can support athletes, but it cannot replace the desire to win.

The Link Between Sports Betting and Strategy

Sports strategy is also connected to sports betting. Many people think betting is only about luck, but successful bettors usually spend a lot of time studying sports.

They look at team form, player performance, injuries, statistics, and coaching decisions. They try to understand which team has the better plan and the better chance of winning.

Of course, sports are unpredictable. No strategy can guarantee a result. Upsets happen every season. That is one reason fans love sports.

Still, good analysis can help people make better decisions. The same strategic thinking that helps teams succeed can also help people understand games more clearly. In the end, sports, technology, and strategy are closely connected, and sports betting is another area where smart planning and careful analysis play an important role.

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The Chicago White Sox may have gotten hammered by the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, but that doesn’t change the fact that they have still been one of the best stories in baseball this season and are smack dab in the middle of the American League playoff picture.

The White Sox are in first place in the AL Central and have gone 32-18 since April 17, representing the best record in the American League during that time.

However, it’s clear that Chicago could still use some help, and it may look to buy some pieces between now and the MLB trade deadline.

No one expected the White Sox to actually be adding players heading into the campaign. Everyone assumed they would be sellers. But they are playing well above expectations, so they could try to swing some deals. But how aggressive will they actually be?

Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer has pitched a wild trade idea for Chicago, naming the South Siders a landing spot for San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers.

Chicago White Sox linked to wild Rafael Devers trade

The White Sox could absolutely stand to add some more lineup depth, and that’s even more relevant with Munetaka Murakami sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

The Giants would surely love to get out from under Devers’ contract, a 10-year, $313.5 million pact he signed with the Boston Red Sox back in 2023. The deal runs through 2033, and San Francisco is not exactly getting the best returns on it after acquiring the 29-year-old via trade last season.

Devers leads the majors with 21 doubles this year, but he is slashing just .235/.293/.413 with nine home runs and 33 RBI over 307 plate appearances in what has been the worst showing of his big-league career. Would Chicago — which owns one of the lowest payrolls in all of baseball — really be willing to absorb Devers’ contract for that production?

To be fair, the lefty slugger smash 35 homers to go along with an .851 OPS in 2025, and he has historically been a terrific hitter, boasting a lifetime .273/.346/.501 slash line. He would also obviously cost very little in terms of prospect capital. In fact, the Giants may be willing to send a prospect or two to the White Sox just to dump his salary.

But is this a move that Chicago would realistically make? It just doesn’t seem very likely unless San Francisco is willing to eat a good portion of Devers’ deal. And even then, it really isn’t all that probable.

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It is June 16, and the Chicago White Sox, to the surprise of just about everyone, are in first place in the American League Central Division. At 38-32, they have the third best record in the American League as a whole. Indeed, very few, if anyone, saw the White Sox being this good, much less a winning team, in 2026.

About a week ago, fans were looking at the upcoming schedule with a bit of trepidation. While Chicago was winning games, they faced an upcoming series of games against the best teams in baseball.

So far, they are 4-1 in this stretch and have a great deal of confidence ahead of their series against the New York Yankees. Unfortunately, not all the news out of Chicago is good.

Chicago White Sox prospect Hagen Smith is being shut down for a couple weeks

On Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that the White Sox top pitching prospect, Hagen Smith, is being shut down for a couple of weeks:

Injury update: Hagen Smith has left shoulder impingement. He will be shut down from throwing for two weeks and then ramp back up for two weeks before returning to game action, per team.

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) June 16, 2026

This is not the best news, not only because of the young pitcher’s physical well-being, but also because he was just on the brink of being called up to the Majors this past weekend.

According to White Sox insider Brian Murphy, “Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Yankees, White Sox manager Will Venable said that the team considered calling up Smith to start Saturday’s game against the Dodgers at Rate Field. However, a rainout of Chicago’s game on Thursday against the Braves allowed the club to reset its rotation, and Sean Burke faced the Dodgers instead.”

Smith is 0-5 with a 4.67 ERA in 14 starts in Triple-A this year.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• Forgotten White Sox prospect tied to 3x All-Star released after 6 seasons
• White Sox reportedly have confusing MLB trade deadline plans
• White Sox hit with dose of reality by MLB analyst

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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A decade ago, the Chicago White Sox made a franchise altering decision when they acquired RHP James Shields from the San Diego Padres in exchange for RHP Erik Johnson and 3B Fernando Tatis Jr. At the time, Tatis Jr was a teenage prospect playing at the Rookie level of the minor leagues, but he’s since gone on to be a three time All-Star and two time platinum glove award winner with the Padres.

In hopes of capitalizing on the same family talent, Chicago sign Wilfred Veras out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2019. Veras is a first cousin to Tatis Jr, and initially showed great promise as a prospect as he put on a huge display of power. Unfortunately, his production fizzled out over time and he now has been released by the White Sox organization after six seasons in the minors.

The White Sox have released OF Wilfred Veras.

— Ian Eskridge (@dailywhitesox) June 14, 2026

Chicago White Sox release once promising outfield prospect Wilfred Veras

After a strong showing at the Rookie level in 2021, where Veras posted a .322/.416/.533 slash line over 46 games, Veras put on a huge display of power in years following. Between Single-A and Double-A competition, Veras belted 20 home runs in 2022 and 17 in 2023. In strictly Double-A in 2024 that number dropped to 16, but then a huge drop off in production followed in 2025 when he slashed a career worst .215/.293/.327 with nine home runs.

Before his release this year, Veras was once again slumping. Through 45 games in Double-A, he owned a .219/.281/350 slash line. Strikeout were also a growing concerning, coming in at 30.8% this year, which was similar to years prior.

While Veras never developed into the impact prospect the White Sox had hoped for, his release serves as another reminder of how difficult projecting young talent can be. The raw power that once made him an intriguing prospect was evident throughout his minor league career, but persistent swing-and-miss issues ultimately prevented him from taking the next step. Now a free agent, Veras will look to revive his career elsewhere.

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The Chicago White Sox have been one of the best teams in baseball for the last month-and-a-half, having gone 27-15 since bottoming out at 11-17 back on April 26. The White Sox are now in first place in the AL Central, and they have shown no signs of slowing down.

Even a hamstring injury to Munetaka Murakami has not hindered Chicago’s progress. In fact, the White Sox have made up ground in the division since Murakami went down late last month.

So, what does this mean for Chicago’s trade deadline plans?

Everyone expected the White Sox to be sellers this season, but things have obviously changed. Not only is Chicago in playoff contention, but it is now firmly in the driver’s seat in the AL Central, especially after Jose Ramirez’s hamate bone fracture in Cleveland.

The White Sox could end up buying between now and Aug. 3, but just how aggressive will they be? Therein lies the problem for general manager Chris Getz.

Chicago White Sox’s MLB trade deadline plans are confusing

Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY recently revealed some nuggets with the deadline in sight, and he dropped some confusing intel on the South Siders.

“They plan to be aggressive at the trade deadline in their search for pitching, but not at the expense of parting with any of their top prospects as they build towards the future,” Nightengale wrote.

Well, just how “aggressive” can you actually be if you are making all of your top prospects off limits?

Chicago’s farm system wasn’t highly-touted entering the season, but things have since changed. Some now view the White Sox’s farm system as one of the better ones in baseball, so it’s not like Getz can’t afford to trade from depth.

Unless Chicago — which owns the best record in the American League since April 17 — doesn’t genuinely believe it can make a run this season, then essentially sitting out the trade deadline because of prospect stashing could prove fatal.

There is no guarantee the White Sox will be in the playoffs year after year, so now that they have a great chance of playing October baseball, they should take advantage of it. That doesn’t mean they should do anything silly, but if they can manage to land some club-controlled talent, they should be willing to part with decent prospect capital.

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The Chicago White Sox have been seeing a great first few months of the season. Players have been surpassing their preseason expectations, and that includes one starting pitcher. He is pitching like one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball thus far. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what he has been doing on the mound to get this type of attention.

Davis Martin is a contender for the 2026 AL Cy Young Award

Sports Illustrated’s Tim Capurso wrote an article highlighting the top contenders in the American League Cy Young race. Chicago fans were thrilled to see Davis Martin getting some recognition for his outstanding start to the year, as he highlighted in the article:

“Martin has been one of the pleasant surprises on one of baseball’s most surprising teams in the second-place White Sox. The 29-year-old, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and dealt with a forearm injury last season, is also an example of a pitching success story in light of health setbacks, a rarity in the age of high velocity.

“Speaking of which, Martin doesn’t throw hard but he doesn’t need to. The Abilene, Tx., native boasts six pitches in his arsenal, three of which are fastballs – a four-seamer, sinker and cutter – that are delivered from the same arm slot and sport similar enough velocities to keep with the deception. Add in a capable curveball and slider and it’s not hard to see why Martin ranks in the 68th percentile or better in chase, whiff and strikeout rates. One of just four pitchers in the AL to rank in the top-10 in both strikeout and groundball rate, Martin in very much in the running for this award.”

Martin has been a star for the White Sox this season, despite not even being the team’s Opening Day starter. In 12 starts, he is 8-2 with a 2.61 ERA and a .236 opposing batting average in 72.1 innings. He also has kept the ball in the park, giving up just three home runs this year. Each season, Martin has shown the ability to improve on the bump and he is continuing that trend in his fourth MLB season.

This is not the first time he is getting some love for his 2026 production. Now as a full-time starting pitcher in the bigs, it is going to be intriguing to see if Davis can continue pitching like a Cy Young Award candidate.

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The Chicago White Sox are one of the hottest teams in the MLB after winning series against the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.

The White Sox enter Monday’s off day tied with the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central.

Chicago stunned the Dodgers (who hold the best record in the MLB at 46-27) with an 8-2 win on Friday night. Los Angeles responded with a 7-1 win on Saturday. The White Sox closed out their series with a 6-4 win in front of a pumped-up crowd of 38,507 at Rate Field.

Following the game, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman told reporters it looked like the White Sox were turning the corner and could be a force to contend with for years to come, via the Chicago Sun-Times.

Third baseman Max Muncy noticed how much of a difference the crowd is making for the White Sox at Rate Field, noting it’s pushing the young core forward.

‘‘That team is feeding off the crowd, and the crowd is feeding off the team,’’ Muncy said. ‘‘That’s definitely what makes baseball fun, is when you start getting these atmospheres. We’ve gotten real numb to it because we play in front of it every single night, but [the Sox deserve] to be feeling it.’’

The White Sox won just 41 games in 2024 and 60 games in 2025. They’re 38-22 in the middle of June.

More News: Chicago White Sox trade for prospects from the Philadelphia Phillies

Chicago White Sox: The bad days are history

More News: White Sox planning ‘aggressive’ trade

Shortstop Colson Montgomery believes seasons like in 2024 and 2025 are behind the White Sox.

‘‘I think you should stop thinking of this as a surprise just because we’re consistently winning [and] we’re consistently in every game,’’ Montgomery said. ‘‘It doesn’t matter what team it is, we’re going to go out there and just try to play our ball. I think those days are kind of over.’’

The White Sox have another big series coming up this week starting on Tuesday. Chicago will travel to play the New York Yankees for a three-game series.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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It is June 15, the Chicago White Sox are in first place in the American League Central Division. They currently have a record of 38-32, making them one of just five teams in the whole American League with a winning record. Chicago also currently has the third-best record in the AL, behind the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees (whom they play this week).

When the White Sox were winning games early, many gave credit to the offense led by Munetaka Murakami. But ever since the Japanese slugger went down with a hamstring strain, Chicago has continued to win.

It has gotten to the point where no one can write them off anymore.

Ken Rosenthal says the Chicago White Sox are still rebuilding

On Monday, MLB on Fox reporter and analyst Ken Rosenthal was on the latest episode of the “Foul Territory” show. During his segment, he spent some time describing just how amazing the White Sox turnaround has been:

The White Sox look increasingly legit after taking two of three from the Dodgers.

“This team fights. They’ve got talent, and they do a lot of good things,” says @Ken_Rosenthal. pic.twitter.com/MbQGSKM7Ju

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 15, 2026

“It’s an amazing thing that has happened here. The turnaround of of this franchise. This week, or the past week, they won two straight from Atlanta before postponement, and then they won two of three for the Los Angeles Dodgers at home. 4-1 home stand.

“They are now 20-4 in their last 24 games at home. They are 8-5 without Munetaka Murakami. Remember, he went down and people thought ‘Eh, their offense might struggle.’ Seventh in the Majors in runs per game. Their offense has continued to be really good and, yeah, they’re going to need some help at the deadline.

“They’re going to need some pitching help if they’re going to stay in this thing. And they are a rebuilding club still, so I don’t expect them to go crazy. But, the White Sox are much more competitive than any of us thought.

“This team fights, they’ve got talent, they hit home runs, they do a lot of good things. Antonacci is an exciting player, Meidroth, all of these guys contributing.”

All of these things are true. The White Sox are, indeed, a young and exciting team with a bright, bright future ahead of them.

That being said, they are still rebuilding. Now, they may be further along in that rebuild than many people initially thought, but they are rebuilding.

The good news, though, is that they are not far off, and rebuilding teams can still add talent and make the playoffs. But in terms of seriously competing for a World Series, they are still a year or two away.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox urged to dump former first-round pick before MLB trade deadline
• One phase of the White Sox roster has out-performed expectations
• White Sox sign veteran pitcher Javy Guerra to a minor league deal

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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By taking two of three from the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox didn’t just win a series this weekend. They are reshaping the city’s baseball hierarchy in Chicago.

The White Sox didn’t just prove they can compete. They proved they’ve arrived. Additionally, they now have a legitimate chance to win the division even though it might be the worst division in the MLB.

For the first time in years, the White Sox look like the franchise with direction, momentum, and a future.

The White Sox set the tone by beating the Dodgers 8-2 on Friday. The Dodgers won 7-1 on Saturday, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking a no-hit bid into the ninth inning. They secured a 6-4 comeback win in the series finale, as they erupted for six runs in the sixth inning.

Keep in mind this is a team missing Munetaka Murakami, who is out 4-6 weeks with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain he sustained on May 29. The Sox are getting contributions from everywhere — the rotation, the bullpen, the lineup. Especially, they are getting help from the kids who are injecting energy into the clubhouse.

Beating the Dodgers, with a roster full of young, ascending players, is even more impressive.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs took two out of three against the San Francisco Giants over the weekend. But no Cubs fan will confuse that with a resurgence.

• Not after losing ten straight games not too long ago.
• Not with an offense that vanishes for days.
• Not with a rotation that’s been gutted by injuries.
• Not with a roster that still feels disjointed.

What the Cubs got was a mild reprieve this weekend. June was supposed to be a month where they finally get back on track with 12 straight games against both the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants. Instead, they are 4-5 against them after Sunday’s loss, with the Rockies coming to Wrigley Field starting on Monday.

The White Sox flipped the baseball landscape this weekend

Right now, the White Sox are a team on the rise with a manager who is pushing the right buttons so far. They beat an elite opponent in front of a large crowd. Also, they are getting production from young players who are playing with energy and identity.

The White Sox have more young talent in their minor league system, including Caleb Bonemer, George Wolkow, Billy Carlson, and a slew of other prospects. If they select UCLA SS Rock Cholowsky, who is the consensus top pick in the upcoming draft, as expected, he could easily become a top-3 prospect in a system that is already deep.

As for the Cubs? They have few MLB‑ready prospects like the White Sox. Their cores are aging and regressing. And both their front office and a highly paid manager are under scrutiny. But it’s hard to believe they can get a strong return.

The White Sox beating the Dodgers was a declaration that Chicago’s baseball landscape has been officially flipped.

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The Chicago White Sox have not been a good team for a while. Or, more accurately, they had not been a good team for a while. Going into the 2026 MLB season, many people, including their own fans, had very low expectations for the team that had lost 100+ games in three consecutive seasons.

As a result, pre-season and early-season power rankings often found the White Sox at or near the bottom of their lists. A sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Weekend did little to help matters.

Since that time, though, Chicago has taken the MLB world by storm and surprise.

The Chicago White Sox earn a 6th spot on latest MLB power rankings

Now 38-32, the White Sox are tied for the American League Central Division lead. After years of finishing in the cellar, they are now one of the best teams in the division, and are coming off of series wins against the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, the two best teams in all Major League Baseball.

As a result, they are now ranked sixth in MLB’s rankings:

“The Chicago White Sox have had one full winning season since 2013, and they have lost 100 games three consecutive seasons, including a nightmare 121-loss campaign in 2024. That’s a lot of pain for their fans, to say the least. But it is all starting to come together.

“After a weekend when Chicago took two out of three from the reigning champion Dodgers and still sit in a virtual tie atop the AL Central, the White Sox shot up three spots to No. 6 in the MLB.com Power Rankings. Sixth! The White Sox! The sun may finally be coming out for this franchise.”

The season is not yet halfway over, and a lot can go wrong between now and the end of the year. However, the White Sox have overcome losing their most-feared slugger and have been able to win games with one of the youngest rosters in the game.

There will be bumps, as is natural in a 162-game season. But it certainly seems that the days of perpetual losing are over.

Finally.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox urged to dump former first-round pick before MLB trade deadline
• One phase of the White Sox roster has out-performed expectations
• White Sox sign veteran pitcher Javy Guerra to a minor league deal

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago White Sox jump inside top-10 of latest MLB power rankings appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are achieving things that no one thought they were capable of during the first half of the 2026 MLB campaign, as they are sitting at 38-32 and in first place in the AL Central.

They just took series from the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and since bottoming out at 11-17 earlier in the season, they have gone 27-15.

This makes the White Sox one of the most intriguing teams to watch heading into the MLB trade deadline. The entire world had them pegged as midsummer sellers going into the campaign, but now, Chicago might just do something crazy and buy.

The White Sox certainly have some holes that need to be patched, such as a thin starting rotation and a lineup that gets shaky once you get past the big boppers. They also have some assets they could move in blockbuster deals, and Noah Phalen of Southside Showdown already thinks they could be shopping shortstop prospect Billy Carlson.

Chicago White Sox urged to trade Billy Carlson

Chicago selected Carlson with the 10th overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, but with the White Sox being absolutely loaded at Carlson’s position, they can afford to send him packing.

“In Carlson, the White Sox have a young, developmental hitter with an elite defensive profile at shortstop. It’s difficult to envision him needing to move away from shortstop defensively, but he’s just 19 years-old and needs to take steps forward at the plate. On top of this, the White Sox have the top pick in the 2026 MLB draft and are likely deciding between shortstops Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson,” Phalen wrote.

Carlson is slashing .257/.386/.340 with no home runs and 11 RBI over 177 plate appearances at Single-A Kannapolis this season. The complete absence of power is definitely concerning, even for a shortstop. So perhaps Chicago should look to move him in a major trade.

“With Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, Sam Antonacci, Caleb Bonemer, Jacob Gonzalez, and Kyle Lodise all at or near the big league level and capable of playing shortstop, it’s an area the organization can afford to deal from to bring in another position of need,” Phalen added.

Trading from a position of strength is always the way to go, so the White Sox shouldn’t be shy about including Carlson in trade offers. That doesn’t necessarily mean they should just give him away, but when it comes to acquiring a star player, the Mission Viejo, Ca. native should be on the table.

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On June 15, who would have thought the Chicago White Sox would be a top offense in the American League?

The Chicago White Sox having a quality offense is a real surprise, as so many of their hitters are young

Even without their best power hitter, first baseman Munetaka Murakami (right hamstring strain), the White Sox are second to the New York Yankees (102) for the most home runs (96) in the American League. The White Sox offense has also scored the fourth-most runs (333), fifth-most RBI (317) and fourth in on-base percentage (.325).

More White Sox News: Chicago White Sox rookie Braden Montgomery makes MLB history in debut

Alongside Murakami, shortstop Colson Montgomery and third baseman Miguel Vargas have helped take the offense to the next level. Montgomery is second on the team in home runs (17) and third in OPS (.801), and Vargas is third in home runs (16) and second in OPS (.860).

Center fielder Tristin Peters, who isn’t talked about nearly as much in Major League Baseball, has also been exceptional. The White Sox acquired Peters from the Tampa Bay Rays back in December for cash considerations. Peters is the White Sox’s best contact hitter, batting .294, and is fourth on the team in hits (52).

“It would be easy to point to outfielder Tristan Peters, who went from battling for a roster spot out of Spring Training to becoming a force offensively and defensively,” wrote MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. “Or how about third baseman Miguel Vargas, who has emerged as an American League MVP candidate. Let’s not overlook the massive home run power of Munetaka Murakami, who has made a number of teams regret they didn’t pursue him more stridently as a free agent from Japan. But the nod goes to the entire team, taking a step from competitiveness after the 2025 All-Star break to a division leader in mid-June of the current campaign.”

Currently tied with the Cleveland Guradians for the lead in the American League Central, the White Sox could capture their first division title since 2021. For the White Sox to separate themselves from the Guardians, general manager Chris Getz will need to be on his game for the trade deadline (Aug. 3).

The White Sox need pitching. So, acquiring a starter and a bullpen arm is a must.

The post Chicago White Sox: One phase of the roster has outperformed appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are in a position that very few people saw them being in before the season started. At 37-32, they are just a half-game out of first place in the American League Central Division. Due to the overall poor showing from the majority of American League team’s, the White Sox currently have an excellent chance to make the postseason in 2026.

Of course, this is shocking because they lost over 100 games in 2023, 2024, and 2025. 2024 saw them go 41-121, the worst single-season record in the history of Major League Baseball.

Now, however, they have turned their fortunes around. With the summer progressing, it is becoming more and more obvious that Chicago will be buyers at the MLB trade deadline as opposed to their usual role as sellers.

With this in mind, it stands to reason that they are scouring the free agent market to have pieces in place for when dominoes start falling.

The Chicago White Sox have signed Javy Guerra

It stands to reason that, should the White Sox try to acquire anyone at the MLB trade deadline, they will be giving up one of the league’s most prized commodities: pitching. On that note, they have signed veteran Javy Guerrra to a minor league contract, per MLB trade rumors.

A 30-year-old right handed pitcher, Guerra has not appeared in the Majors since 2023. In 61 career appearances, he is 3-1 with a 6.43 ERA and 1.78 WHIP.

After splitting the 2023 season with the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, Guerra spent 2024 and 2025 pitching in Japan. While there, he was 1-5 with a 2.44 ERA in 65 games.

Guerra signed with the Atlanta Braves ahead of the 2026 season, but never saw the Majors. In 16 games with their Triple-A club, he was 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA. He was released just this past Thursday.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox planning for an aggressive trade ahead of MLB deadline
• White Sox trade from Philadelphia Phillies prospect
• Why Munetaka Murakami is White Sox biggest breakout player of 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are 37-32, a record very few people, if any, predicted they would have at this point in the season. After all, the White Sox lost more than 100 games in each of the previous three years, and there were not many signs pointing at a sudden turnaround. Instead, fans were gearing up for another slow rebuild season.

However, Chicago has benefited from the unexpected contributions of several young players, most notably Munetaka Murakami. Yet even with the Japanese slugger on the injured list, the White Sox have been able to continue winning games on a consistent basis.

What is more, they have another young star, catcher Kyle Teel, nearing return.

Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel is nearing return

Teel was originally injured while playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He suffered a grade-two hamstring strain, which forced him to start the 2026 on the injured list. Last month, while on a rehab assignment in Triple-A Charlotte, he suffered an LCL sprain in his right knee, which set his return date back even more.

Fortunately, it sounds like he is finally trending in the right direction:

Wh Sox manager Will Venable said that catcher Kyle Teel will likely be sent out to an affiliate and work toward returning off the IL In the next few days.His hamstring has healed, his knee strain is also getting very close to full recovery. Originally hurt in WBC March 9th.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) June 12, 2026

As one can see from the post above, Teel is close to the point where he will able to go out on another rehab assignment. This time, hopefully, he will avoid further injury.

After being called up by the White Sox last year, Teel hit .273/.375/.411 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 78 games played.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox planning for an aggressive trade ahead of MLB deadline
• White Sox trade from Philadelphia Phillies prospect
• Why Munetaka Murakami is White Sox biggest breakout player of 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have been the biggest surprise of the season in the MLB, and they might not be done turning heads before the end of the summer.

The White Sox have proven capable of battling the best teams in the league. Chicago defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-2 on Friday night before losing 7-1 on Saturday. The two teams will play for the series win on Sunday afternoon at Rate Field.

The White Sox will enter that contest with a 37-32 record, .5 games back from the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central. Chicago has a 2.5-game lead over the A’s for the final wild-card spot.

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the White Sox plan to be “aggressive” before the trade deadline, looking to add pitching help for a roster that’s on the precipice of making the postseason. However, Chicago does not plan to go all-in at the deadline, hoping to keep together a young core that has seen 12 players make their MLB debut this spring.

“The most stunning aspect of the Chicago White Sox’s breakout year with an AL-best 31-18 record since April 17 – is that they have already had 12 players make their major-league debut this season,” Nightengale wrote.

“They entered the week with 37 victories and a chance to eclipse their entire win total from 2024 when they set an MLB record for futility with a 41-121 record. They plan to be aggressive at the trade deadline in their search for pitching, but not at the expense of parting with any of their top prospects as they build towards the future.”

More News: Chicago White Sox trade for prospects from the Philadelphia Phillies

Chicago White Sox have lots to do before making a trade

More News:  Chicago White Sox considering top prospect for MLB debut

The White Sox have another key series coming up this week after playing the Dodgers on Sunday. They’ll travel to play the New York Yankees for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday. It’s another measuring-stick series for Chicago before taking on the Cleveland Guardians at home for a three-game series beginning on June 22.

Those two series will tell us a lot about how the White Sox hope to keep the momentum from surprising spring going into the dog days of summer.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago White Sox planning ‘aggressive’ trade: Report appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox have been playing well and have some roster decisions to make. They have some players on the bench who could be on the chopping block when their injured players return. Chicago seemingly got ahead of things as they have traded away one of their players to the opposing league. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what they were able to get back in return.

The Chicago White Sox traded Derek Hill to the Philadelphia Phillies for prospects

ESPN’s Jeff Passan is reporting that a trade between the White Sox and the Phillies took place on Thursday afternoon. The trade sees the White Sox send center fielder Derek Hill and international bonus money to the Phillies. In return, the White Sox receive outfield prospect Dylan Campbell and infield prospect Jose Colmenares. Neither prospect was ranked within the top 30 in Philadelphia’s organization. However, Chicago has been calling up prospects throughout the season. This move was a chance to recoup some prospect capital for their farm system.

Campbell is 23 years old and is currently in Double-A. The 5-foot-8 outfielder is posting a .693 OPS with seven homers, 31 RBI, 27 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. Colmenares is a 24-year-old shortstop in High-A who is hitting well. He is posting a .816 OPS with three home runs, 19 RBI, 22 runs scored, and five stolen bases.

In terms of trading away Hill, the team has a bevy of outfielders who can replace him on the field. Hill has been used as a fourth outfielder, but with Tristan Peters taking over as the everyday center fielder, Hill’s playing time has been zapped from what it was earlier this season for Chicago. There are a few options that the franchise needs to decide upon regarding that bench spot being filled on the 26-man roster.

Depending on what Chicago is looking for, these are potentially two players they can throw into a trade closer to the deadline. Neither Campbell nor Colmenares is a highly-touted prospect, but both have some chances of developing into good major leaguers. It will be intriguing to see what general manager Chris Getz has up his sleeve to better the franchise following this trade.

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The Chicago White Sox have been one of the youngest teams in baseball in the early stages of the season. They have not been afraid of calling up their minor league prospects to help the MLB team out. With the pitching for Chicago being a bit of a question mark, they are internally discussing a debut for one prospect. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and why they may make this move.

The Chicago White Sox may call up Hagen Smith this weekend

White Sox manager Will Venable made it known that the team is still undecided about who will start on Saturday. The team is considering Hagen Smith. Smith is the fourth-ranked prospect in the organization and the 47th-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

Smith has been pitching at a respectable level with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. In 13 starts, he is 0-4 with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP in 47.2 innings. He has been pitching at an elite level, recording 72 strikeouts thus far. The southpaw pitcher has quickly climbed up the organization’s ranks as he was selected fifth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft.

He throws three pitches (fastball, slider, splitter), and his heater and slider are dominating hitters. This would be a massive test as Saturday’s game is against the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of the top offensive teams in the sport. Venable would also note that there is another option that the team uses on Saturday as a bullpen game while keeping Smith in the minors.

With the rainout on Thursday, there is a chance this conversation does not amount to anything. Now, the projected starting trio of Anthony Kay, Sean Burke, and Erick Fedde can line up for this series while using Monday’s off day to re-establish the rotation. It will be intriguing to see if Chicago continues to make more minor leaguers get their MLB debut this early into the season.

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It is June 12, 2026, and the Chicago White Sox are in first place in the American League Central Division. At 36-31, they hold a half-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians, and recently won both games they played against the Atlanta Braves (the third game was postponed due to weather), who have the best record in Major League Baseball.

Astonishingly, the White Sox have been able to continue winning baseball games over the last couple of weeks without Munetaka Murakami. The Japanese slugger is currently on the injured list with a hamstring strain. But while he may be on the shelf, there is an argument to be made that, out of all of their breakout players this season, he is the most important one in Chicago.

Munetaka Murakami is the biggest breakout star on the Chicago White Sox

Indeed, there is no shortage of players who have been pleasant surprises on the White Sox roster this year. Notably, Davis Martin has come out of nowhere to be the ace of Chicago’s pitching staff. Miguel Vargas has finally realized the slugging potential the White Sox saw him in. What is more, several rookie players, aside from Murakami, have made significant impacts on the team so far in 2026.

But Bleacher Report believes the rookie slugger from Japan is their biggest breakout star:

“Munetaka Murakami is currently on the injured list with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, with the prognosis at the time of injury in late May being that he would miss four to six weeks.

“It was an unfortunate speed bump during what had been an excellent rookie season. Across his first 200 MLB at-bats, he has clubbed 20 home runs and posted a .938 OPS, while also driving in 41 runs.

“There were some concerns about how Murakami would handle velocity in the majors. He’s been just fine, making the two-year, $34 million contract he signed this past offseason look like highway robbery for the White Sox. They would be wise to try to extend that deal sooner rather than later.”

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• Top White Sox outfielder from 2026 international class off to a torrid start
• White Sox named top trade destination for elite slugger
• White Sox finally get well-deserved recognition in latest MLB power rankings

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Back in January, the Chicago White Sox handed out more $1.6 and $1.5 million dollars to catcher Fernando Graterol and outfielder Sebastián Romero, the headlining Venezuelan prospects from their 2026 International class. As expected, both are starting their professional careers in the Dominican Summer League (DSL), which kicked off earlier this month on June 2.

Since that season has started, Romero, who signed for slightly less, has been the prospect making all the noise. Through just eight games, the 17 year old left-handed batter has belted five home runs and hit one double. With nine total hits on the young season, this gives him an absurd on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.435.

Sebastian Romero’s power surge offers hope of breaking the Chicago White Sox string of misses on recent International signees

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The Chicago White Sox keep winning against all odds, and they are shockingly in first place in the AL Central as we are inching closer and closer to the halfway point of the season.

Perhaps it’s time to take the White Sox seriously, even with top slugger Munetaka Murakami sidelined with a hamstring injury. They just took two games from the Atlanta Braves before the final matchup of their three-game set was rained out, and since and 11-17 start, Chicago has gone 25-14.

But while the White Sox are a tremendous story and certainly appear to be legitimate playoff contenders, they still have some holes that need to be addressed.

We know that Chicago’s starting rotation is a problem once you get past Davis Martin and Sean Burke, and it could also stand to add some lineup depth. Even with Murakami healthy, the South Siders’ lineup is very top-heavy, so they could use some reinforcements.

On the latter note, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer has dubbed the White Sox a top landing spot for Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers.

Chicago White Sox named top trade destination for Ryan Jeffers

Chicago desperately needs more offense from the catcher position. Starting backstop Edgar Quero owns a .498 OPS on the season, and while backup Drew Romo has hit five home runs over 89 plate appearances, he is batting just .158.

The White Sox have been waiting on Kyle Teel to return from a hamstring issue that has kept him on the shelf since the World Baseball Classic, but he isn’t expected back until sometime next month. So could Chicago try and swing a trade for Jeffers in the meantime?

Rymer has tabbed the Sox among a few ballclubs that represent logical destinations for Jeffers, who is currently on the injured list himself while recovering from a hamate bone fracture. But prior to his IL stint, the 28-year-old had been slashing .295/.408/.541 with seven homers and 26 RBI across 148 trips to the dish.

It has certainly been a career year for Jeffers, although he has always been a very productive offensive catcher, owning a lifetime .755 OPS.

The caveat is that Jeffers is slated to hit free agency after the season, so the White Sox could be paying a substantial price for a rental. And the Twins would almost surely ask for more from Chicago considering the two teams are AL Central rivals.

What would be interesting is if the White Sox acquired Jeffers and put him at DH. That would give them one heck of a lineup with a healthy Teel behind the plate.

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It is June 11, the none other than the Chicago White Sox sit alone atop the American League Central Division. At 36-31, they have a half-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians, who now have last four games in a row. Meanwhile, Chicago has taken the first two games of their series against the Atlanta Braves, who own the best record in Major League Baseball.

For the past several weeks, though, national writers and analysts have been hesitant to give the White Sox their flowers, sure that they would come back down to earth at some point.

But they haven’t.

The Chicago White Sox come in 13th in latest MLB power rankings

Last week, ESPN had Chicago ranked 13th in the power rankings. They are in that same slot again this week, but with an immensely positive description:

“It’s starting to feel like a special season in the South side of Chicago, and the clearest evidence occurred Tuesday night. Braden Montgomery, another promising prospect acquired in the Garrett Crochet trade, hit a walk-off home run in his major league debut, in a win that pushed the White Sox a half-game out of first place in the AL Central.

“Before Montgomery, the White Sox had already received inspiring performances from other young players like Miguel Vargas, Davis Martin, Colson Montgomery, Tristan Peters and, of course, Munetaka Murakami. The future looks bright, but the present does too.”

Before the season started, very few, if anyone, saw the White Sox being as good as they are. After three straight seasons with 100+ losses, fans just wanted to see a semblance of improvement.

Needless to say, they got all of that and more. This year, Chicago should have multiple players named to the All-Star team, and they are mostly all players that are tied to the team for years to come.

The future, indeed, is very bright on the South Side.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox linked to trade for star player from AL Central rival
• White Sox linked to trade with unlikely starting pitcher
• White Sox Braden Montgomery makes history in MLB debut

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox will be one of the most interesting teams to monitor heading into the MLB trade deadline. The White Sox were expected to be cellar dwellers once again this season, but instead, they are now in first place in the AL Central.

Given Chicago’s shocking success, general manager Chris Getz could decide to buy before Aug. 3. The White Sox are a solid team for sure, but they clearly have some holes that need to be filled. They could use another bat or two in their lineup, and their pitching staff could definitely use some assistance.

But will Chicago actually decide to pull the trigger on some moves in the coming weeks?

MLB insider Robert Murray thinks that the White Sox need to be careful and should be taking “the long-term view” when it comes to the trade deadline, which makes sense. They aren’t ready to win a World Series just yet, and while they are undoubtedly a fun ballclub, their success may also partially be due to playing in such a weak division.

That being said, Murray does think Chicago may look to make some patchwork trades to fill some gaps, and he has identified a very intriguing solution: Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha.

Chicago White Sox connected to trade for Michael Wacha

Would the Royals really trade Wacha — or any of their top movable pieces — to an AL Central foe? If they can get the best deal, perhaps, and Murray listed Wacha among numerous starters who could pique the White Sox’s interest.

“Perhaps they can snag a pitcher from the Red Sox or, say, a Reid Detmers from the Angels or a Michael Wacha from the Royals. Maybe an outfielder with one of those teams. Who knows. Surely Getz will explore anything,” Murray wrote.

Wacha has logged a 3.44 ERA through 13 starts this season, allowing 66 hits and while registering 67 strikeouts over 81 innings of work. His ERA has been in the 3s ever since 2022, so he has consistently been a solid pitcher for years running now.

The 34-year-old began his big-league career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 and looked like an emerging superstar, making the All-Star team in his third season. However, injuries derailed the right-hander for an extended period of time, and it was looking like he would never regain his footing.

But Wacha has been able to remain moderately healthy for the past five seasons and has rediscovered his mojo, utilizing terrific command of the strike zone to become a consistent and steady presence in his team’s starting rotation.

Given that the White Sox have no reliable options past Davis Martin and Sean Burke, acquiring Wacha would be great … if Kansas City would be alright with that.

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The Chicago White Sox have been surprising a lot of people throughout the first half of the season. With the 2026 All-Star Game voting going on, people are discussing who deserves a spot on the All-Star team. The White Sox have been clicking and could see a few players be recognized for their outstanding first half of the year. Let’s take a closer look at who one outlet believes will represent the South Side in Philadelphia for the 2026 All-Star Game.

The Chicago White Sox have a superstar in Munetaka Murakami

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, a former MLB general manager, wrote an article discussing his All-Star picks thus far. One of the more obvious selections he had was at first base with White Sox’s star Munetaka Murakami. Below is what he wrote about the rookie slugger:

“Murakami was leading the league with 20 homers when he suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. There is a chance he could be back in time for the All-Star Game and he’s a deserving participant if he’s healthy enough to play.”

Murakami had a hot start to his MLB career. He is posting a .938 OPS with 20 homers, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored, and a stolen base during his rookie season. Murakami has not played since May 29 when he suffered a hamstring strain, but there is a chance he returns before the Midsummer Classic. He certainly deserves it as one of the best first basemen in the American League, with Nick Kurtz and Ben Rice.

Miguel Vargas is surprising a lot of people this season

One of the more surprising names to appear on this list comes from the White Sox as well. This would be a surprise if you asked at the beginning of the season, but third baseman Miguel Vargas is currently in the mix for an All-Star spot. Below is Bowden’s explanation as to why:

“Originally on my just-missed list, Vargas gets a deserving nod now that [Aaron] Judge will likely have to miss the Midsummer Classic… Vargas is finally reaching the potential he showed as a prospect in the Dodgers’ chain, hitting for power, taking his walks and making things happen on the bases. He has a 142 OPS+ and ranks in the 97th percentile in chase rate and 88th percentile in Barrel rate.”

This would make White Sox history, as Jimmy Dykes (1933) is the only player for the franchise to start an All-Star Game at third base. It will be an uphill battle, going against Jose Ramirez and Junior Caminero, but he has a shot with how he’s played thus far. Vargas has an .859 OPS with 15 homers, 41 RBI, and nine stolen bases. That’s not considering he only committed three errors defensively as well. Vargas expects to be an All-Star nonetheless for the first time in his career.

Davis Martin is looking like a legitimate ace

Bowden is succinct in his evaluation of the only pitcher that the White Sox have on his list. Right-handed starter Davis Martin is one of the starting pitchers he selected, and he wrote the following about it:

“Martin has been a real bright spot for the surprising White Sox, with a 2.61 ERA over 12 starts.”

Martin has been looking sharp and a major reason is his ability to keep the ball in the park. After allowing 20 in 142.2 innings in 2025, he has only given up three through 72.1 innings. Keeping the ball in the park obviously is a massive strength and keeps him in games longer. Martin could be a starting pitcher in the All-Star Game, but it will be intriguing to see if the American League coaching staff decides he has done enough to be named.

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The Chicago White Sox are shockingly smack dab in the middle of the American League playoff race, and even with Munetaka Murakami on the shelf, they are staying afloat.

However, it’s pretty clear that if the White Sox want to make a serious run during the second half of the season, they’ll need to make some adjustments. And while adding another bat would be nice, Chicago’s pitching staff has been the bigger issue.

The White Sox have very limited depth in their starting rotation. Once you get past Davis Martin and Sean Burke, there really isn’t much there, and it’s not like they have any exciting internal options on deck.

Whether or not Chicago decides to buy at the MLB trade deadline remains to be seen, but if the White Sox are serious about contending here in 2026, there is no question they must add at least one arm to bolster their staff.

On that subject, Noah Phalen of Southside Showdown has pitched a surprising potential trade target that no one would have anticipated: Colorado Rockies right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano.

Chicago White Sox linked to trade for Tomoyuki Sugano

Phalen mentioned several names as possibilities for the White Sox, but he specifically singled out Sugano due to the fact that he has posted respectable numbers in spite of being in the worst pitching confines in all of baseball.

Sugano has logged a 4.08 ERA and 1.288 WHIP this season, allowing 68 hits while registering 39 strikeouts over 68.1 innings of work. Not surprisingly, the 36-year-old has been much better away from Coors Field, where he has posted a 3.62 ERA and 1.179 WHIP.

There are some concerns with his profile, however.

Sugano’s ground-ball rate is only at 37.6 percent this season, which isn’t great for a pitcher who doesn’t strike hitters out. He is also allowing a barrel rate of 15 percent, and only 9.3 percent of the contact he has surrendered has been soft contact.

It should also be noted that Sugano was not exactly impressive during his debut big-league campaign with the Baltimore Orioles in 2025, pitching to the tune of a 4.64 ERA while giving up 33 home runs. And that was only in 157 frames.

If Sugano comes incredibly cheap, perhaps a trade would be worth a shot for the Chicago, but I’m not so sure that he is the target the White Sox should be seeking.

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Chicago White Sox rookie Braden Montgomery had a Major League debut that he will remember forever.

The White Sox’s No.2 prospect (21st-best prospect in Major League Baseball) collected two hits in his five trips to the plate. Montgomery’s first hit came off Atlanta Braves right-hander Grant Holmes.

Montgomery also collected his first home run, a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning (6-5). The 23-year-old clobbered a 0-1 changeup (90 miles per hour) that Braves closer Raisel Iglesias left over the middle of the plate, which he deposited into left field.

According to Elias Sports and Sarah Langs, Montgomery is the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to hit his first home run as a walk-off home run in his MLB debut. The four others include: Carlos Perez (2015) with the Los Angeles Angels, Miguel Cabrera (2003) with the Florida (Miami) Marlins, Josh Bard (2002) with the Cleveland Indians (Guardians) and Billy Parker (1971) with the California (Los Angeles) Angels.

Walk-off home run in MLB debut, MLB history:

6/9/26 Braden Montgomery
5/5/2015 Carlos Perez
6/20/2003 Miguel Cabrera
8/23/2002 Josh Bard
9/9/1971 Billy Parker                   
                     
FIFTH EVER!!!

h/t @EliasSports https://t.co/uIYByqx4TQ

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 10, 2026

Braden Montgomery was in disbelief that he had such a debut with the Chicago White Sox

Mobbed by his teammates at the plate after walking it off, the Des Moines, Iowa native was in disbelief at what he had done, calling the experience “unreal” at his locker.

More White Sox News: White Sox Munetaka Murakami is in line to bring home some valuable hardware

“That was … I still don’t know what to say,” said Montgomery to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, standing in front of his locker after emerging unscathed from the postgame frenzy. “That was unreal.”

Montgomery’s teammate, closer Grant Taylor, echoed his teammate, also calling the experience “unreal.”

“It was unreal,” echoed reliever Grant Taylor, who earned the victory by allowing one unearned run over two innings of relief. “That’s probably the coolest debut of all-time.”

Montgomery had been impressive at both Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, which got him the call-up to the big leagues. Between the two levels, Montgomery batted .313 with a 1.035 OPS in Double-A, while hitting .315 and had an OPS of .912 at Triple-A.

Playing right field in his debut, Montgomery can expect to play there and center field (when Tristin Peters needs a day off) for the foreseeable future. Especially with Austin Hays out for longer than expected, as he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Tuesday.

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The Chicago White Sox have had a black hole in right field due to injuries and inconsistent play. Outfielders Austin Hays (left calf strain) and Everson Pereira (right pectoral strain) have been on the injured list since late April and early May.

With Hays and Pereira not likely to return anytime soon, the White Sox are opting to call up one of their top prospects to replace the void created by them.

The Chicago White Sox are calling up top prospect Braden Montgomery from Triple-A Charlotte

The White Sox open a three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night and will have one new face joining the team, outfielder Braden Montgomery. According to Sox Machine’s James Fegan, the White Sox are calling up their No. 2 prospect and the 21st-best prospect in MLB, Braden Montgomery, to the big leagues after a solid season in the minor leagues.

More White Sox News: White Sox Munetaka Murakami is in line to bring home some valuable hardware

CBS Sports Matt Snyder first reported there were “whispers” that Montgomery would receive a call-up early Tuesday afternoon.

Montgomery, a former first-round draft pick (12th overall) of the Boston Red Sox in 2024, was one of the prospects in the deal that sent left-hander Garret Crochet back to the Red Sox. Since joining the White Sox farm system, the 23-year-old has done nothing but hit, posting a .284 batting average and .858 OPS in his two seasons in the minor leagues.

This season proved to be no different, and the Des Moines, Iowa native has been impressive at both Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. Between the two levels, Montgomery is batting .314 with a .970 OPS and 10 home runs.

The White Sox have deployed Montgomery in right field (16 games, 14 starts) and center field (31 games and starts) this season, but he will likely be playing in right field with the big league club. The emergence of outfielder Tristin Peters (.307 batting average and a .813 OPS) will prevent him from playing in center field.

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The Chicago White Sox haven’t been the team since first baseman Munetaka Murakami was placed on the injured list. After going 18-10 in May, the White Sox are 2-4 to begin June.

Murakami has proven to be the White Sox’s best hitter and one of the best hitters in baseball. Despite being on the injured list, the 26-year-old is third in Major League Baseball in home runs (20) and is fifth in walks (44).

Chicago White Sox Munetaka Murakami is a favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award

Given the star power permeating the American and National Leagues, the Rookie of the Year race will be tight. So many rookies are deserving, but only one can win the award, and Murakami has one of the best chances.

More White Sox News: Chicago White Sox hope Edgar Quero can reverse his poor season

In a poll conducted by MLB.com of 32 experts, Murakami finished in second place to Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle. Murakami received 119 total vote points with 11 first-place votes, while McGonigle received 120 total vote points and 14 first-place votes.

“Murakami has been on the injured list since May 30 with a right hamstring strain and is expected to be out at least until the end of June,” wrote MLB.com’s Jason Foster. “But he did plenty before the injury to become a front-runner for the AL ROY award. The lefty slugger still leads all MLB rookies with 20 homers and a .938 OPS, and led the group with 41 RBIs entering play Monday.”

McGonigle is Murakami’s main competition. But he also has someone like Cleveland Guardians left-hander Parker Messick nipping on his heels. Messick is leading American League rookies in wins (six), innings (75) and strikeouts (78), and was second in ERA (2.40) and WHIP (1.07).

Murakami won’t return until the end of June. But this will still give him a couple of months to add on to his numbers.

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The Chicago White Sox have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball this season, as they are 34-31 and firmly in playoff contention with the trade deadline approaching. This even though the White Sox had been one of the MLB’s worst teams for the preceding three years.

It has been a stark change in Chicago, and it’s thanks much in part to the terrific job the front office has done accumulating impressive young talent.

We already know about Munetaka Murakami, who is looking more and more like the steal of the offseason (although he is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury). But the White Sox have also put some very intriguing young pieces around him, such as shortstop Colson Montgomery and third baseman Miguel Vargas.

Montgomery and Vargas will both be with Chicago for the foreseeable future, but Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wonders if the White Sox should start trying to extend them now, which would certainly be a jarring move from an organization that hasn’t exactly spent significant money in recent years.

Chicago White Sox urged to make big moves with Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas

Miller feels that Chicago should follow the Athletics’ model and start extending their young players now.

“The White Sox should take a page out of the Athletics book and start locking up young core pieces like Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas and perhaps even top prospect Caleb Bonemer,” Miller wrote.

The Athletics signed youngsters Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom to surprising contract extensions and also offered Nick Kurtz a lucrative deal before the start of 2026. Clearly, the A’s are trying to make some headway before moving to Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean Chicago can’t do something similar.

Both Montgomery and Vargas appear to be legitimate long-term pieces for the South Siders.

Montgomery owns an .801 OPS and has already homered 16 times this season — his second big-league campaign — while also playing tremendous defense at short. Meanwhile, Vargas is slashing .242/.370/.489 with 15 home runs. His defense is certainly less stellar than Montgomery’s but at least the White Sox know his bat is solid.

Chicago definitely appears to be building something very positive moving forward, but it’s important that it maintains its momentum. That means spending some dollars, and part of that could be in the form of inking its young, budding stars to long-term contracts. The Sox could then even save money over the long haul by avoiding arbitration.

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The Chicago White Sox are having an unbelievable first few months of the 2026 season. They are in contention for a playoff spot, as they hold the second AL Wild Card spot at this moment. Chicago has a lot of young talent, but could look to add some experience ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. What can the White Sox trade away? Let’s take a closer look at the team’s best trade chip right now.

The Chicago White Sox can trade some prospects for a solid boost to the MLB roster

MLB had each of its team insiders explain the team’s biggest trade chip ahead of the trade deadline. Scott Merkin explained how, for the White Sox, it is their prospect depth.

“The White Sox look to be legitimate American League postseason contenders. Thus, any veterans viewed in February as possible trade chips for an ongoing rebuild will be needed for the push forward to October. But as far as the young core goes, general manager Chris Getz won’t tear apart what they have meticulously built just to jump up for one season. They would move players from their system in return for players who won’t just help in 2026 but also in ’27 and beyond.”

Chicago has a lot of young talent, but it can be aggressive in the trade market. Getz has done a great job in acquiring minor league talent that is getting close to being MLB-ready. Not all of the prospects are going to be staying with the South Side, so some could be used to get players on the trade block this year.

The White Sox could use a starting pitcher with experience, so could they be in the Sandy Alcantara or Tarik Skubal trade sweepstakes? They could also get some more bats with players like Rafael Devers or a trade in the city for Matt Shaw. It will be intriguing to see which prospects they are interested in moving and which players the front office believes would help the roster continue to win games.

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The Chicago White Sox have done a tremendous job of expediting their rebuild, and we are seeing the fruits of their labor this season with the team sitting at 34-31 and firmly in contention in the AL Central race.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that every single White Sox player has turned to gold in 2026.

Take Jordan Hicks, for example, whom Chicago acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox back in February. The White Sox took Hicks off the Red Sox’s hands in what was essentially a salary dump by Boston, hoping that he would rediscover his form from several years ago when he appeared to be developing into a decent pitcher.

That certainly hasn’t happened this season, and now, Chicago is stuck with Hicks. At least for now.

Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently ran down a list of every team’s player that is most likely to be DFA’d here in 2026, and for the White Sox, the answer was easy: it was Hicks.

Chicago White Sox could cut the cord with Jordan Hicks

Chicago sent pitching prospect Gage Ziehl to the Red Sox in exchange for Hicks, David Sandlin and a couple of players to be named later. Boston sent some cash to the South Siders in the deal, too, but not enough to make up for the disaster that Hicks has been.

“Hicks is presently on the IL with a lat strain and the White Sox still owe him another $8M next season. Factor in the $4M per season that Boston retained when it sent him to Chicago and he actually has the third-highest salary on this roster,” Miller wrote.

The White Sox rank 28th in the majors in payroll, so the fact that Hicks is getting paid more than all but two players on the ballclub is ugly.

“But after both the Giants and Red Sox found a way to trade him away in the past calendar year, the White Sox might just throw in the towel on Hicks if he returns from the shelf every bit as erratic as he had been before the injury: 17.2 IP, 17 BB, 3 WP, 1 HBP,” Miller concluded.

Hicks last appeared in a game on May 20 and does not have a concrete timetable for his return, but Chicago would probably be better off not allowing him into a game the rest of the way.

The 29-year-old owns a lifetime 4.46 ERA and pitched to the tune of a 6.95 ERA as recently as last season, when he split the 2025 campaign between San Francisco and Boston. There really isn’t much of anything to like about Hicks’ profile at this point.

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Over the last several years, the Chicago White Sox have not had very many players worthy of being an MLB All-Star. Last season, then-rookie starting pitcher Shane Smith was chosen to represent the White Sox in the Mid-summer Classic, but an argument could be made he was among the worst All-Stars on either team.

Now, Smith is not even on the Major League roster. He was demoted after three awful starts at the beginning of the season, and numerous players in Chicago have emerged as candidates to represent the White Sox at the All-Star Game. For the first time in a while, they may even have multiple players named, and perhaps one or two starters voted in by fans.

Munetaka Murakami named the most fun Chicago White Sox All-Star choice

Early on, it became clear that rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami is everything that the White Sox hoped he would be, and even more. While he does strike out quite a bit, his power and ability to get on base at a high rate is undeniable. Through 57 games played, he is hitting .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs and 41 RBI.

Despite the fact that he is currently on the injured list with a strained hamstring, MLB’s latest power rankings name him as the most “fun” player for fans to vote for when it comes to the All-Star Game:

“There are a lot of factors in the White Sox’s stunning success so far this year, but the obvious symbol and manifestation of them is Munetaka Murakami, who may be injured right now but has been as purely enjoyable to watch as we all hoped he’d be.”

Given Murakami’s international popularity, he still may be voted in as a starter by fans even though he will have missed weeks of games by the time his hamstring has healed.

This being said, the White Sox finally have multiple players that have a case to be All-Stars along with him. Davis Martin is having a stellar season thus far, and Miguel Vargas leads AL third basemen in multiple offensive categories.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox could dump exciting player amid newest development
• White Sox outfield reinforcements are one step closer to the Majors
• White Sox could trade these 2 players before MLB trade deadline

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox fell to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night, losing the first series of what is sure to be an early gauntlet in their schedule. However, the offense has been relatively competitive over the last 10 games, a pleasant surprise after Munetaka Murakami went down with an injury.

At the end of May, Murakami landed on the injured list with a grade-two hamstring strain. The injury was expected to keep him out for 4-6 weeks, meaning that he is now 3-5 weeks away from returning.

But since he got hurt, Chicago has held serve in the American League.

MLB Network reveals how Munetaka Murakami is still affecting the Chicago White Sox

In 57 games played this season, Murakami is hitting .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs and 41 RBI. The power that so many Major League Baseball teams doubted would translate from Japan, indeed, has. Even though he has not played in over a week, Murakami still ranks among the American League and Major League leaders in home runs.

And even though he has been out, the White Sox have not lost any ground in division or AL standings. They are still one of just five AL teams with a record over .500.

Mark DeRosa of MLB Network credits this to how Murakami changed the way Chicago has viewed itself this year.

“.240, 20 bombs, a .940 OPS, but’s bigger than that,” DeRosa said. “This dude changed their thoughts. He showed up this Spring and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, we have a superstar! We have a guy whose balls don’t want to land. So if we do what we’re capable of doing, and we let him get his 40 bombs, we have something!’

“I think that he just expedited their thought process in everything.”

Prior to 2026, the White Sox had lost more than 100 games in each of their previous three seasons. This included a Major League record 121 losses in 2024. No one expected Chicago to make any noise in 2026, much less be one of the best teams in the American League.

But here they are. Even without Murakami, they have been able to hover around .500 as they face stiff competition. If they can continue to do so until he comes back, Chicago will continue to surprise people later in the season as well.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox could dump exciting player amid newest development
• White Sox outfield reinforcements are one step closer to the Majors
• White Sox could trade these 2 players before MLB trade deadline

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox continue to stay afloat in spite of losing Munetaka Murakami for the next month-plus, but there is no question that their offense could use some assistance now that his bat is no longer in the lineup.

The White Sox lacked offensive depth even with Murakami healthy, so now that he is sidelined, things could become dire for Chicago pretty quickly.

On the bright side, outfielder Everson Pereira has begun a rehab assignment down at Triple-A as he makes his way back from a pectoral injury. He has been out since late April, so getting his bat back will definitely be nice.

The issue is that the White Sox will have to make a roster move to accommodate Pereira’s return when he is ready. What exactly will they do in that regard?

Well, it will likely come down to Derek Hill or Rikuu Nishida, and Noah Phalen of Southside Showdown sees one simple solution here.

Chicago White Sox urged to demote Rikuu Nishida

Because Hill is a 30-year-old veteran, Phalen feels that the best move would be for Chicago to demote Nishida back to Triple-A.

“If I had to guess, I think the White Sox value Derek Hill enough as a veteran presence that they’ll keep him around and option Nishida to Triple-A. It’s a move that can always be undone later if it doesn’t work out and it gives them an opportunity to see if Everson Pereira can be an everyday player at the big league level,” Phalen wrote.

Nishida has played in 11 games for the White Sox this season, going 6-for-27 with a couple of RBI. He is a terrific defensive player who also flashed some impressive offense down in the minor leagues, having slashed .323/.449/.384 with a homer and 12 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A this year before being called up to the majors.

The 25-year-old, who has even drawn comparisons to Japanese legend Ichiro Suzuki, stole 40 bases at Double-A last season and swiped 49 bags between Single-A and Double-A in 2024.

There is no question that Nishida is an exciting player oozing with potential, but for now, the most prudent decision for the White Sox would probably be to send the 5-foot-6 speedster back to the minors to further hone his craft.

That would then allow Chicago to get Pereira — who has very impressive offensive potential himself — into the lineup.

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The Chicago White Sox outfield has been one of the club’s biggest weaknesses this season. While Samuel Antonacci and Tristan Peters have both been productive offensively, posting 123 and 115 wRC+ marks, respectively, neither is known for providing significant power.

That’s become an increasingly important issue for a White Sox lineup that has relied heavily on home-run production throughout the year. With Munetaka Murakami sidelined and a daunting stretch of games looming on the schedule, Chicago is in need of additional thump from its outfield group now more than ever.

That said, help may be on the way soon as Everson Pereira is starting an injury rehab assignment tonight, June 5, with Class Triple-A in Charlotte. Pereira had been sidelined since April 29 with a pectoral strain.

Chicago White Sox will soon welcome power-hitting outfielder Everson Pereira back

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The Chicago White Sox have been arguably the best story in baseball this season, as they are sitting at 33-29 and smack dab in the middle of the American League playoff race in spite of being one of the worst teams in the sport for multiple years prior.

Whether or not the White Sox’s incredible run is sustainable remains to be seen, and the fact that Munetaka Murakami is now sidelined for the next month-plus due to a hamstring injury could ultimately upend their postseason push. Right now, however, Chicago has to be respected as a playoff contender.

So, what does that mean for the White Sox’s trade deadline? Will they be buyers? Sellers? Will they do a little bit of both?

Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly isn’t so sure, actually leaning more toward Chicago standing pat with a couple of minor moves here and there. But he did zero in on a pair of players the White Sox could look to move before Aug. 3.

And don’t worry: Murakami isn’t one of them.

Chicago White Sox could move two players before the MLB trade deadline

Kelly feels that Chicago may look to pursue a rental starting pitcher to fill out its needy rotation, but he also thinks the Southsiders could look to cash in on a couple of lower-tier veterans.

“Even if the White Sox fade, general manager Chris Getz probably won’t be inclined to consider offers for some of the budding core pieces of the team, like slugger Munetaka Murakami or RHP Davis Martin. Reliever Sean Newcomb and outfielder Austin Hays are two veteran rentals who could be dealt if the White Sox end up as sellers, but both are rentals unlikely to bring back a noteworthy return,” Kelly wrote.

Chicago signed both Newcomb and Hays in free agency, so it would make sense for the Sox to flip both of them at the deadline.

I actually think a bullpen-needy team might be willing to part with something decent for Newcomb, who pitched to the tune of a 2.50 ERA, 2.85 FIP and 1.028 WHIP this season. He has allowed just one home run and owns a very solid 3.56 K/BB ratio thanks to some much improved control.

Hays has been sidelined since the beginning of May due to a calf strain and barely produced in the 12 games he has played, but he slashed .266/.315/.453 with the Cincinnati Reds last season and is known as a lefty masher, so perhaps a team in need of a platoon bat would be interested in acquiring him, as well.

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The Chicago White Sox salvaged the series finale against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, avoiding the sweep. They are now 33-29 on the season and have won seven of their last ten games. Indeed, the White Sox have been one of the biggest surprises in Major League Baseball this season, competing in a year no one expected them to.

Currently, Chicago has the fourth-best record in the American League, and is one of just five AL teams with a winning record. They are just 2.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central, and would be in the postseason as a Wild Card if the season ended today.

The Chicago White Sox face a gauntlet coming up in June

Recently, ESPN released their weekly MLB power rankings. After being ranked just 18th last week, the White Sox shot up to 13th this time around. However, there is a caution in their explanation:

“Coming off one of the most successful months the White Sox have had in years, things are looking up on the South Side. Chicago’s 18-10 mark gave it the third-best May winning percentage in MLB, as it ranked fifth in run differential. The White Sox dominated at Rate Field, going 13-3 and averaging six runs per contest. As the season bends toward summer, they face a brutal stretch of their schedule in the coming weeks.

“After three games at Minnesota, the White Sox visit the Phillies, return home for back-to-back series against the Braves and Dodgers, then head out for three games at Yankee Stadium. Are the White Sox for real? Chances are we’ll know the answer to that three weeks from now.”

The Phillies are 32-29 on the season and boast some stellar starting pitching. For Chicago, the key to winning will be to keep Philadelphia’s bats quiet. Their 236 runs scored this season are the second-fewest in Major League Baseball.

The Braves and Dodgers are the two best teams in MLB, record wise. How the White Sox play on that six-game home stand will tell a great deal about how much of their early hype is for real.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox top trade deadline target identified by MLB insider
• Overlooked White Sox veteran is catching fire at the right time
• Munetaka Murakami takes home AL Award

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are one of the more interesting teams to monitor heading into the MLB trade deadline. Will they buy? Will they sell? Will they do a little bit of both?

The White Sox are in an even more uncomfortable position now that Munetaka Murakami will be sidelined for the next month-plus due to a hamstring injury, which could absolutely affect their trade deadline strategy. After all, you have to imagine Murakami’s absence could cause Chicago to plummet in the standings.

But if the White Sox manage to stay afloat, they may look to pull the trigger on some players who are under club control for the next several years.

Chicago definitely needs help everywhere, but its primary need seems to be starting pitching, as things get dicey once you get past Davis Martin and Sean Burke. But who will the South Siders target in that department between now and Aug. 3?

ESPN’s Jeff Passan has identified who he feels would be a perfect fit: Los Angeles Angels pitcher Reid Detmers.

Chicago White Sox linked to trade for Reid Detmers

The Angels are already out of contention and will almost certainly be selling, so Detmers could represent a viable option for the White Sox.

“The weakness is starting pitching depth. Is Chicago good enough to chase a free agent to be like [Freddy] Peralta? Probably not. But a starter with multiple years of control, like Detmers — who would be a perfect fit…” Passan wrote.

Detmers is an intriguing trade target, to say the least.

The 26-year-old has logged a 4.63 ERA through 12 starts this season, but his peripherals indicate he has been pitching much better than his ERA suggests. He owns a 2.98 FIP while averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings, and his 3.73 K/BB ratio is also solid. His xERA is 2.92, and he has actually been a 2.0 WAR player thus far in 2026.

The problem for Detmers is that his peripherals have always exceeded his actual production ever since he entered the big leagues in 2021, so you have to wonder if it’s one of those things where it will just never match.

Detmers lays claim to a lifetime 4.75 ERA and 3.96 FIP and was even moved to the bullpen in 2025. But perhaps Chicago can get the most out of the left-hander?

The post Chicago White Sox’s top trade deadline target identified by MLB insider appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox face a daunting challenge this month. Not only will they be without rookie standout Munetaka Murakami, as he recovers from a hamstring strain, but they also must do so while navigating one of their toughest stretches of the season. June’s schedule features series against the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians, giving the White Sox little margin for error as they attempt to stay competitive against some of baseball’s top contenders.

That said, the White Sox will need continued production and home runs from their everyday players if they hope to navigate this difficult stretch successfully. One player who has done his part recently is Andrew Benintendi. The veteran outfielder has been one of the team’s hottest hitters over the past week, providing a much-needed spark in the middle of the lineup at a time when Chicago can least afford offensive struggles.

Chicago White Sox veteran Andrew Benintendi is heating up at the plate

On May 25, Benintendi entered play carrying a .226 batting average. Just seven games later, he has raised that mark to .240, a notable jump this deep into the season. The veteran has recorded hits in five of his last seven games, highlighted by three multi-hit performances. During that stretch, he has also launched three home runs, drawn five walks, and driven in six runs, providing the White Sox with a much-needed offensive boost.

This recent hot streak has helped Benintendi move closer to the player he has been throughout most of his major league career. Across 11 seasons, Benintendi owns a .266 career batting average, and his recent surge has begun to push his numbers back toward those established norms. Just as importantly, his OPS+ has climbed to 98, approaching his career mark of 104 and signaling that he is trending back toward being an above-average offensive contributor.

With Murakami sidelined, the White Sox desperately need veterans like Benintendi to shoulder a larger share of the offensive burden. Maintaining this level of production may become more challenging without Murakami’s presence in the lineup, but Chicago will need Benintendi’s bat to remain hot if it hopes to navigate a difficult month successfully.

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The Chicago White Sox have far exceeded any and all expectations so far this season. After three consecutive years in which they lost 100 or more games, they currently sit at 32-29. And while that record may not seem impressive on the surface, consider this: if Chicago goes 10-91 the rest of the way, they will finish with a better record than they had in 2024.

Not only that, but the White Sox are just one of five teams in the American League that currently has a winning record.

Indeed, things are changing on the south side, and the buzz started early in the off-season when Chicago was able to sign Munetaka Murakami.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has won the AL Rookie of the Month Award

Murakami, the Japanese superstar, was expected to get a massive contract when he decided to come over to play Major League Baseball. However, MLB teams were scared away by his strikeout numbers and did not seriously pursue him.

This allowed the White Sox to ink Murakami to a two-year $34 million contract, and he has been worth every penny.

Thus far in 2026, Murakami is hitting .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs 41 RBI. On Wednesday, it was announced that he won the American League Rookie of the Month for May:

it’s MUNE MANIA for a reason 😤 pic.twitter.com/dAEAR2SE3L

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 3, 2026

Murakami played in 26 games in May, and hit .244/.382/.556 with eight home runs and 18 RBI.

Unfortunately, of course, he also suffered a grade-two hamstring strain at the end of the month. Due to the severity of the strain, he will miss the next 4-6 weeks.

Hopefully he is able to pick up where he left off when he got hurt and possibly win a couple more of these awards before the season is over.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox skyrocket up MLB power rankings, Miguel Vargas award prediction
• Munetaka Murakami named second-best rookie in Major League Baseball
• Tristan Peters’ rookie campaign is making the Brewers look foolish

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have dropped their first two games of their series against the Minnesota Twins. However, this should not overshadow the fact that, overall, they have been one of the best teams in the American League for the vast majority of the season.

At 32-29, they are in second place in the American League Central Division and own the fifth-best record in the American League as a whole. If the season ended today, they would be in the MLB Playoffs with a Wild Card.

Indeed, what is brewing on the south side of Chicago has the potential to be something special in 2026.

The Chicago White Sox earn an A+ for early season performance

Bleacher Report recently released their grades for each team in Major League Baseball through the first 60 games of the 2026 season. After so many predicted that the White Sox would be terrible again this year, it is no surprise that Chicago earned an A+:

“It’s only 60 games, and it’s a real bummer that Munetaka Murakami is likely going to miss all of June with a hamstring injury. But the White Sox could go 10-92 the rest of the way and still finish with a better record than they had two years ago. The longer they hang around in the postseason picture, the more incredible this story becomes. It will be fascinating to see what this team does at the trade deadline.”

It is absolutely insane to think that if Chicago were to go 10-92 the rest of the way, they would still have a better record than they did in 2024, when they went 41-120.

Munetaka Murakami has been a huge part of Chicago’s early success, but they are going to be without him for 4-6 weeks due to a strained hamstring. His 20 home runs are still the most on the team and among the AL leaders.

But the contributions of Miguel Vargas and Davis Martin should not be overlooked. Vargas is already one home run shy of tying his career-high, and Martin came out of nowhere to put himself in early AL Cy Young conversations.

This is a young squad and there will be ups and downs throughout the course of the year. But what they have accomplished so far is nothing less than impressive.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox skyrocket up MLB power rankings, Miguel Vargas award prediction
• Munetaka Murakami named second-best rookie in Major League Baseball
• Tristan Peters’ rookie campaign is making the Brewers look foolish

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox could definitely afford to add some depth to their starting rotation, as things get pretty spooky after you get past Davis Martin and Sean Burke.

The good news for the White Sox is that there is plenty of time between now and the MLB trade deadline for them to pursue interesting options for their staff, although we do have to see if they will decide to be buyers.

In the event that general manager Chris Getz decides to get aggressive, Chicago should have a broad range of starters to choose from, most of which would comprise significant upgrades over what the White Sox already have.

While Freddy Peralta, Sandy Alcantara and Robbie Ray are expected to be among the biggest names available, there is another very compelling arm who could surface on the trade block between now and Aug. 3: Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray.

In fact, Michael DeRosa of Southside Showdown feels that Gray would comprise a perfect solution for the White Sox.

Chicago White Sox linked to trade for Sonny Gray

Gray is currently enjoying an impressive season with the Red Sox, and while he is slated to hit free agency at season’s end, it might be worth trading for him regardless.

“As for Gray, the White Sox would be bringing in a veteran All-Star pitcher who would help boost their rotation. The 36-year-old has been excellent for the Red Sox this season, with a 6-1 record, a 3.06 ERA, and 41 strikeouts in ten appearances. With numbers like these, he would be a nice addition for the front half of the White Sox’s rotation,” DeRosa wrote.

The primary red flag concerning Gray is that his strikeouts are down significantly, as he is averaging just 7.4 punchouts per nine innings. That’s his worst mark since 2016, and his 2.93 K/BB ratio leaves something to be desired considering he led the American League with a 5.29 K/BB last year.

That being said, Gray has done a tremendous job of limiting damage, and his 1.200 WHIP is right in line with his lifetime average.

Chicago probably wouldn’t have to pay an exorbitant price to acquire Gray given his age (36) and impending free agency, but at the same time, there will surely be plenty of other teams involved in the bidding, which will drive up the price.

We’ll see if the White Sox ultimately make a play for Gray in the coming weeks.

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Chicago White Sox are considered winners for the month of May

In an article discussing the biggest winners and losers for the month of May, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers wrote about how he believes the White Sox did. Below is what he wrote about the team:

“The Chicago White Sox were three games under .500 and trailing the first-place Detroit Tigers in the American League Central standings at the end of Apri. After closing out May with a weekend sweep of Detroit, Chicago entered June five games over .500 with the Tigers in last place. The White Sox are rolling into the summer, firmly in playoff position thanks to a trio of sluggers — Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas — and an emerging ace in Davis Martin. In May, Martin went 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA, and those three hitters combined for 22 home runs, accounting for more than half of the team’s MLB-leading total for the month. Chicago even won its first three games after Murakami went down with a hamstring strain. But the best part of this story is that 11 White Sox have made their MLB debuts already — the most for a team before June since the 1946 Brooklyn Dodgers.”

The White Sox finished the month with an 18-10 record and had a 146-114 run differential. Now, the team is stepping up and making some serious noise in the American League Central. Even with the Murakami injury, this lineup still has the ability to score runs and win games. In baseball, you only need a few months of over .500 baseball to be considered a playoff team. It’ll be intriguing to see if Chicago can continue their winning ways.

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There may be no team in Major League Baseball that is a bigger surprise than the Chicago White Sox. After losing 100+ games in each of the past three seasons, Chicago sits at 32-28 through the first 60 games of 2026. They are currently one of just five teams in the American League with a winning record, and boast the tenth-best record in Major League Baseball.

Obviously, the White Sox have gotten contributions from multiple players on their way to early-season success. One of the stars that is starting to draw the attention of the national media is Miguel Vargas, who is finally displaying the power Chicago knew he had in him.

The Chicago White Sox see Miguel Vargas gets a Silver Slugger prediction

On Tuesday, The Athletic released its weekly MLB power rankings. Last week, they had the White Sox slotted at 21. This week, though, Chicago has shot up to number 12. In their rankings, they also predicted that Vargas will be a candidate to win a Silver Slugger upon season’s end:

“If you eliminate Kevin McGonigle from the mix, who’s primarily a shortstop, Vargas is tied for the fWAR lead among AL third baseman (1.9), is third in wRC+ (134), tied for first in homers and first in runs scored.

“After a rough second half in 2024 following his trade from the Dodgers, Vargas has improved in each of the following two seasons, showing the promise that had him among the sport’s top prospects in 2023. That promise should end with a shiny silver bat for his mantle.”

In 59 games played, Vargas is hitting .241/.366/.508 with 15 home runs and 38 RBI. He has also stolen nine bases.

At this point, Vargas is on pace to hit 40 home runs in 2026, which would easily be his career-high. Prior to this season, the most home runs he hit in any given season was 16, which he did last year.

With Munetaka Murakami out for a month with a hamstring strain, the White Sox will need Vargas’ power bat to continue to produce. If it does and Chicago keeps winning, it may even be possible that the White Sox third baseman gets some AL MVP votes.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox named trade destination for aggravated young pitcher
• White Sox hope Edgar Quero can reverse his poor season
• White Sox biggest problem heading into June 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are 32-28 through the first 60 games of the 2026 MLB season. To say that no one expected them to be this good this year would be an understatement. Currently, they are one of just five American League teams with a winning record, and sport the fourth-best record in the AL. What is more, they have the tenth-best record in all Major League Baseball.

In order to get to this point, the White Sox have relied on the efforts of multiple rookie players, but none as noteworthy as Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, who was surprisingly signed by Chicago during the off-season.

Chicago White Sox star Munetaka Murakami named 2nd-best rookie in baseball

When Bleacher Report published their list of the top-25 rookies in Major League Baseball, it was no surprise to see Murakami ranked second:

“After rumors of a potential $200 million payday entering the offseason, Munetaka Murakami ended up settling for a two-year, $34 million deal from the Chicago White Sox when concerns about his ability to handle elite velocity and manage his strikeout rate took center stage.

“With a 32.5 percent strikeout rate, those concerns were not unfounded, but an excellent 17.9 percent walk rate and elite power production have essentially made him the modern day version of Adam Dunn.

“A hamstring strain sidelined him last week, but with 20 home runs through 246 plate appearances, he has been as big a reason as any for the White Sox surprising start to the year.”

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox named trade destination for aggravated young pitcher
• White Sox hope Edgar Quero can reverse his poor season
• White Sox biggest problem heading into June 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are getting some pretty significant contributions from multiple rookie players so far this season. Of course, everyone expected Chicago to field a plethora of rookies and young talent, but very few, if any, predicted that they would be 32-28 through the first 60 games of the season.

Munetaka Murakami, of course, has received the most attention due to the 20 home runs he hit before going on the injured list with a hamstring strain. If Chicago is going to remain in the mix while Murakami is out, the rest of their young core is going to have to step up.

So far, Tristan Peters has proven that he belongs in the Majors and can be a key contributor to the lineup.

Chicago White Sox rookie Tristan Peters was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers

So far this season, Peters is hitting .295/.356/.418 with two home runs, 14 RBI, and four stolen bases. Recently, Bleacher Report named him the 12th-best rookie in all Major League Baseball:

“The White Sox acquired Peters from the Rays in exchange for cash considerations in December, and he has emerged as the replacement for Luis Robert Jr. in center field. With a 113 OPS+ in the batter’s box and strong defensive metrics (5 DRS, 5 OAA), he has provided well-rounded value as one of the most out-of-nowhere contributors of the year. He might be the 2026 version of what Isaac Collins was for the Brewers last year.”

And for fans who have a particular dislike for the Milwaukee Brewers, the emergence of Peters is especially sweet. He was originally drafted by Milwaukee in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB amateur draft. A year later, they traded him to the San Francisco Giants for reliever Trevor Rosenthal.

The thing is, though, Rosenthal never pitched for Milwaukee. He was already rehabbing from a hamstring injury at the time of the trade, and then after it went down suffered a lat strain that ended his season. When the 2022 season ended, he became a free agent and left the Brewers organization.

Needless to say, for a Milwaukee team that often ends up on the right side of trades, this one was a really bad miss. Peters currently has a higher batting average and OPS than any outfielder on the Brewers’ Major League roster.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox named trade destination for aggravated young pitcher
• White Sox hope Edgar Quero can reverse his poor season
• White Sox biggest problem heading into June 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are playing much better in 2026 than anyone thought they would. After losing 100+ games in 2023, 2024, and 2025, fans and analysts simply hoped that Chicago would show some signs of improvement this year. What they are seeing is better than they could have possibly imagined.

At 32-28, the White Sox are one of just five American League teams with a winning record. What is more, they have the fourth-best record in the AL and the tenth-best record in all Major League Baseball.

The explanation for this surprising success is that Chicago’s young core of players are performing at or beyond the level the organization envisioned they could. This is especially true for rookie outfield Sam Antonacci.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Sam Antonacci named a top-25 rookie in MLB

Obviously, Munetaka Murakami is the highest-profile White Sox rookie. His power bat and international draw have made him one of the most noticeable players in the Majors this season. Unfortunately, he will be out for about a month with a hamstring strain.

But Antonacci himself has been having a stellar season as well. Recently, Bleacher Report named him the 25th-best rookie in all Major League Baseball:

“Antonacci hit .378/.505/.541 over 93 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League last year, then suited up for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He has not recorded an extra-base hit since May 14, but his contact skills, speed and defensive versatility have allowed him to make an impact for the upstart White Sox.”

So far this season, Antonacci is hitting .280/.370/.371 with a home run, 13 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Additionally, he leads the Majors with 11 HBP’s (hit by a pitch). While he does not have the power of Murakami, Antonacci makes consistent contact at the top of the order, giving Chicago’s run producers a chance to drive him in early and often.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox named trade destination for aggravated young pitcher
• White Sox hope Edgar Quero can reverse his poor season
• White Sox biggest problem heading into June 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are 32-28 on the season following their 9-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Monday night. Still, they are in second place in the American League Central Division and performing far better than anyone predicted they would in 2026.

With this surprising level of success this season, narratives surrounding the White Sox are starting to change. In years past, Chicago has been far out of contention come the MLB trade deadline. As a result, they have often traded away their few good players for prospects or expiring contracts.

Now, though, as summer begins, it appears as if the White Sox will be buyers.

The Chicago White Sox could add a big name at the MLB trade deadline

Early in the season, many wondered if Chicago might trade slugger Munetaka Murakami at the MLB trade deadline if they were out of contention. The fact of the matter, though, is that Murakami is too valuable to the White Sox. Even though he is going to be out for about a month with a strained hamstring, Chicago has plenty of talent to remain competitive.

To take the next step, though, they made need to add a big name, whether it be a bat or pitcher, at the MLB trade deadline. Per Bleacher Report:

“Their Opening Day 26-man payroll was $86M, but their average Opening Day payroll between 2022 and 2023 was $187M. And unless you want to count the $2M buyouts they’ll owe Seranthony Dominguez and Anthony Kay for their mutual options in 2028, they presently do not have a single contract figure on the books beyond next season.

“It’s why I’ve suggested several times in the past two months that if Mike Trout is getting traded anywhere, the White Sox might make the most sense.

“Or if they have an opportunity to add an established-but-pricy starting pitcher to a rotation presently devoid of household names, the dollar cost shouldn’t be the problem.”

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox named trade destination for aggravated young pitcher
• White Sox hope Edgar Quero can reverse his poor season
• White Sox biggest problem heading into June 2026

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox could definitely stand to bolster their starting rotation, as it certainly hasn’t been great beyond Davis Martin and Sean Burke. The question is, will the White Sox actually make a move to buy by the trade deadline?

Considering Chicago is sitting at 32-28 and firmly in contention in the AL Central, the White Sox might decide to add some more pieces before Aug. 3, even with slugger Munetaka Murakami sidelined for the next month-plus.

It would also largely benefit the South Siders to acquire some good, young players under team control for the foreseeable future. That way, not only can Chicago make more of a push this season, but it will have more ammunition for the years to come, as well.

Of course, it’s not always easy to land strong cost-controlled talent, so the White Sox will have a difficult road ahead of them in that regard.

However, Noah Phalen of Southside Showdown has identified a very compelling potential target for the squad: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski.

Chicago White Sox linked to trade for Carmen Mlodzinski

It has certainly been an interesting ride for Mlodzinski, who has bounced back and forth between the starting rotation and the bullpen in Pittsburgh.

But after Mlodzinski made nine starts this season, he was asked by the Pirates to head back to the bullpen following the return of Jared Jones. Mlodzinski refused, resulting in Pittsburgh placing him on the restricted list. He was then activated from the list on Monday.

Trade rumors are sure to ensue, and Phalen was out ahead of it.

“Should his next steps involve requesting a trade out of Pittsburgh, I think the White Sox should be interesting. Mlodzinski is a 27 year-old with a first-round track record. He features a six-pitch mix, but his curveball and sweeper are his primary strengths,” Phalen wrote.

Mlodzinski has pitched to the tune of a 3.76 ERA this season, allowing 58 hits while registering 46 strikeouts over 55 innings of work. The 1.418 WHIP is certainly concerning, but the 27-year-old has managed to limit the damage.

Since entering the big leagues in 2023, Mlodzinski owns a 3.37 ERA and 3.44 FIP, so he has been impressive in spite of his lack of overpowering stuff.

We’ll see if the White Sox try and make a move for the right-hander if he becomes available.

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The Chicago White Sox have received production from players up and down the lineup, with three: first baseman Munetaka Murakami, shortstop Colson Montgomery and third baseman Miguel Vargas doing well. Murakami leads the team in home runs (20), OPS (.938) and RBI (41), while Montgomery (third in OPS, .827) and Vargas (second in OPS, .834) aren’t too far behind.

Sadly, for the White Sox, not all players on the roster are experiencing the level of success the trio listed above are, with catcher Edgar Quero wishing he were in their shoes. Quero has had a season from hell, batting .196 with a .593 OPS, two home runs and striking out 33 times in 112 at-bats.

The White Sox’s starting catcher to begin the season, Quero, has seen his playing time decrease in favor of Drew Romo, who also is struggling offensively, but has mashed five home runs. Limited to the backup role, Quero is running out of time to show why he should remain on the roster, as Kyle Teel will likely be back from his injury (right hamstring strain) either this month or in July.

The Chicago White Sox hope that Edgar Quero starts to figure things out as the calendar turns to June

Over a third of the way through the Major League Baseball season, June is a time when hitters and teams show you whether they can turn things around or not. According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, once Teel is eligible to return, the White Sox will need to choose between Romo and Quero, with Quero likely drawing the short straw due to his performance.

More White Sox News: Chicago White Sox call up No. 24 prospect to replace Munetaka Murakami

“Starting catcher Kyle Teel has not played an inning for the 2026 White Sox after suffering a right hamstring strain during the World Baseball Classic and then dealing with a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee while rehabbing for Triple-A Charlotte,” wrote Merkin. “The onus quickly moved back upon switch-hitter Edgar Quero, who entered Sunday’s contest against Detroit with a .539 OPS, two home runs and 15 RBIs. Veteran backstop Drew Romo also is in play, but the White Sox need offense from Quero akin to the solid numbers he produced as a rookie in 2025.”

Quero’s dropoff is confusing and concerning, as he performed well enough in his rookie season to win the starting job for this year. The 23-year-old batted .268 with a .689 OPS, 17 doubles, five home runs, and 36 RBI. Maybe a reset at Triple-A Charlotte wouldn’t hurt to try and get Quero back on track.

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The Chicago White Sox are 32-27 on June 1, 2026. In 2024, they did not get their 32nd win until September 4. Last season, they did not win #32 until July 11. Needless to say, the rebuild is going well, and early indications in 2026 would say that they are slightly ahead of schedule.

That being said, Chicago has been far from perfect this season. Their pitching staff has had its roller coasters, though Davis Martin has been a really pleasant surprise. Additionally, slugger Munetaka Murakami is going to be out for about a month with a grade-two hamstring strain.

But all of these issues aside, there is one glaring weakness that is a concern as the season progresses.

Hopefully Rikuu Nishida can help the Chicago White Sox outfield

Bleacher Report recently released a list of every MLB team’s biggest weakness heading into June. For the White Sox, they spotlighted out dismal the outfield has been:

“Let’s assume temporarily that Munetaka Murakami comes back from his hamstring injury in short order and immediately resumes his 60 home run pace, that Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas continue to thrive on the left half of the infield and that Davis Martin remains in the mix for AL Cy Young.

“Even in that world, is Chicago’s outfield good enough to legitimately vie for October baseball?

“They just called up Rikuu Nishida a few days ago, hoping that what was a .410 on-base percentage in 306 minor league games translates to the majors and at least gives them something to work with. Because aside from Tristan Peters, that third of this lineup has been a mess.”

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• Versatile White Sox pitcher has earned a bigger late-inning role
• Jarred Kelenic elects free agency after White Sox demotion
• White Sox get pitcher lost in Rule 5 draft returned to them

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago White Sox biggest problem heading into June 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Heading into the 2026 MLB season, Chicago White Sox fans wanted to see one thing: improvement. After three consecutive seasons in which the White Sox lost 100+ games, fans just wanted to see steps taken in the right direction. No one, not even the most faithful of fans (looking at you, Pope Leo), expected them to actually play consistent winning baseball.

And yet, here Chicago is on June 1, 32-27, owners of a five-game winning streak, and one game out of first place in the American League Central Division. If the season were to end today, they would be in the MLB Playoffs with a Wild Card.

The Chicago White Sox grab a top-10 spot in latest MLB power rankings

At the beginning of the year, the White Sox were consistently ranked last or close-to-last in various power rankings. Over the last several weeks, they have started to creep higher and higher up on these lists.

On Monday, Bleacher Report had them ranked 10th after having them ranked 17th last season:

“There is no shortage of evidence to show how vastly improved this White Sox team has been, but the most telling might be that they have yet to record a losing streak longer than three games. The Munetaka Murakami injury is a blow, but former first-round pick Jacob Gonzalez was hitting .317/.419/.668 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI through 52 games at Triple-A, and now he gets a chance to make his mark.”

How consistently the White Sox are able to win without Munetaka Murakami will go a long way in determining how successful the next month of the season will be for them. The Japanese slugger, who leads the American League with 20 home runs and 43 runs scored, is out four-to-six weeks with a grade two hamstring strain.

Jacob Gonzalez was called up to take Murakami’s spot on the roster. With nothing left to prove at Triple-A, hopefully his batting eye and power translate to the Majors sooner rather than later.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• Versatile White Sox pitcher has earned a bigger late-inning role
• Jarred Kelenic elects free agency after White Sox demotion
• White Sox get pitcher lost in Rule 5 draft returned to them

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have received several unexpected contributions from their bullpen this season. Bryan Hudson has been one of the club’s most effective relievers with a 1.26 ERA in 29 games, Sean Newcomb owns a 2.62 ERA, and rookie Grant Taylor has impressed with a 2.12 mark. Additionally, since being called up at the end of April, Tyler Davis has posted a 3.12 ERA across 15 appearances.

Collectively, that group has arguably outperformed both of the team’s notable offseason bullpen additions: Jordan Hicks, who arrived via trade, and Seranthony Domínguez, who leads the club with 11 saves but has not been as dominant as several of his fellow relievers. However, based on both his results and underlying metrics, Taylor stands out from the pack.

The White Sox initially deployed him in a versatile role by asking him to handle a variety of situations, evidenced by four of his first seven appearances being as an opener, but his performance has increasingly made the case that he deserves a larger share of the team’s high-leverage innings late in games.

Grant Taylor’s electric repertoire is built for high-leverage situations, making him a strong candidate for late-inning duties

At the start of the season, the White Sox announced that Taylor would not be used as a starter in 2026. Instead, manager Will Venable has deployed him in a variety of roles, and the right-hander has thrived regardless of the assignment. Whether he’s opening a game, covering a single inning, or working multiple frames, Taylor has consistently overpowered opposing hitters.

Armed with an electric three-pitch mix that consistently generates swings and misses, Taylor has the kind of arsenal that fits perfectly in the back end of a bullpen and could ultimately profile as a future closer. His 98 mph fastball is producing whiffs at a 29% rate and plays up even further thanks to his elite extension, which gives hitters less time to react. Meanwhile, his secondary pitches, a curveball and slider, have combined to generate a 30% whiff rate, and he has allowed just one extra-base hit on each offering all season, underscoring just how difficult he has been to square up.

All that said, Taylor has primarily been used in the sixth and seventh innings this season, with most of his opportunities coming in medium-leverage situations. He has already recorded four holds and one save, but with a 2.12 ERA and 44 strikeouts across 29.2 innings, a shift into higher-leverage spots feels increasingly inevitable.

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The Chicago White Sox have been playing well throughout the season, but there have been some players who have struggled. The front office has not been afraid to be aggressive in having roster transactions. Through injuries and inconsistent play, the 26-man roster has shifted throughout the season. Let’s take a closer look at the most recent roster decision and what it means for the White Sox going forward.

Jarred Kelenic leaves the Chicago White Sox after being designated for assignment

The White Sox will no longer have outfielder Jarred Kelenic in the organization after he elected free agency. He was designated for assignment on Monday, but did not have any options. As a result, he was eligible to become a free agent and not accept the DFA. He would clear waivers and will now be available for any team to pick up for the league minimum.

Kelenic has struggled at the plate this season, which has been a story throughout his career. In 19 games, he had a .226/.305/.321 slash line with one homer, four RBI, and three runs scored. The former sixth-overall pick has struggled to hit at the major league level throughout his career.  Kelenic signed as a non-roster invitee late in the offseason to a one-year deal. However, things did not work out enough for him to remain on the roster.

With the call-ups of Tristan Peters, Sam Antonacci, and Rikuu Nishida, there were not many outfield spots on the Chicago roster to go around. They have Randal Grichuk and Derek Hill also on their bench, so they have the outfield depth that many teams do not have at this point. Kelenic and/or his representatives must feel he would get a chance on a team’s MLB roster. It will be intriguing to see if Kelenic is signed and if he is back in the big leagues this year.

The post Jarred Kelenic elects free agency after Chicago White Sox demotion appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are 31-27 on the season thus far, which is far better than virtually anyone expected them to do before the season began. While their pitching staff has been inconsistent as a whole, their offense has been quite good for the vast majority of the year to date.

Prior to the start of the 2026 season, one of Chicago’s best pitching prospects, Peyton Pallette, was selected away from them by the Cleveland Guardians in the Rule 5 draft. As per the rules, Pallette had to make Cleveland’s Opening Day roster and remain on their Major League team for the entire season.

Well, he is now back with Chicago.

The Chicago White Sox have accepted Peyton Pallette back from the Cleveland Guardians

On Sunday, it was reported that the Guardians offered Pallette back to the White Sox. Once the offer was made, Chicago had 24 hours to decide whether or not they would accept him or work out a trade with Cleveland.

It did not take long for the White Sox to welcome him back:

Cleveland has returned RHP Peyton Pallette to the White Sox. Pallette has been assigned to Class AAA Charlotte.

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 31, 2026

In 16 relief appearances this year with the Guardians, Pallette is 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA.

As noted in the post above, Pallette has been assigned to Triple-A Charlotte. In 36 appearances in Charlotte last year, he was 1-2 with a 4.36 ERA. Prior to that, he made 16 appearances at Double-A Birmingham where he was 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA.

In three minor league seasons with the White Sox organization, Pallette is 6-15 with a 4.20 ERA. He was originally drafted by Chicago in the second round of the 2022 amateur draft.

While he is being assigned to Triple-A, it would not be a surprise to see Pallette back in the Majors, this time with Chicago, later in the year.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox named “perfect fit” for slugger amid Munetaka Murakami news
• Munetaka Murakami breaks silence after suffering injury
• Munetaka Murakami will be out longer than originally estimated

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago White Sox get pitcher lost in Rule 5 draft sent back to them appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are four games over .500 thanks to their current four-game winning streak. They are just two games out of first place in the American League Central Division, and would be in the postseason as a Wild Card if the season ended today.

On Sunday, they are going for the sweep against their division rival Detroit Tigers, after winning Friday in walk-off fashion and Saturday in a dominating 7-1 victory.

Unfortunately, they will be without relief pitcher Tyler Gilbert for the series finale.

The Chicago White Sox have placed Tyler Gilbert on the emergency family leave list

Gilbert has not pitched much for the White Sox at the Major League level this season. In two appearances, he has a 20.25 ERA. However, he was recalled from Triple-A just a couple of days ago when Jordan Leasure was placed on the 15-day injured list.

On Sunday morning, Gilbert was placed on the family emergency leave list:

White Sox roster move:
• LHP Tyler Gilbert placed on the Family Medical Emergency List⁰• LHP Chris Murphy recalled from Triple-A Charlotte#whitesox

— Brooke Fletcher (@BrookeFletcher) May 31, 2026

It is not yet known how long Gilbert will be away from the team, nor what the nature of the emergency is.

Left-handed pitcher Chris Murphy has been recalled from Triple-A to take Gilbert’s spot on the roster. In six appearances at the Major League level with the White Sox this season, Murphy is 1-0 with a 10.50 ERA. Down in Triple-A, he has appeared in 12 games (one start) and is 2-2 with a 3.68 ERA.

Murphy has a knack for racking up strikeouts, but also allows nearly as many walks. Control will be important for him going forward as he tries to stick on the Major League roster this time around.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox named “perfect fit” for slugger amid Munetaka Murakami news
• Munetaka Murakami breaks silence after suffering injury
• Munetaka Murakami will be out longer than originally estimated

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have lost their top slugger for at least a month, as first baseman Munetaka Murakami will now be sidelined for four-to-six weeks due to a hamstring injury.

Not that it’s ever good to lose your best hitter, but the timing couldn’t be worse for the White Sox, who are making a serious push in the AL Central and don’t have a whole lot of lineup depth to make up for the injury.

Outside of Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas, Chicago doesn’t really have any threatening bats, so Murakami’s absence could result in the White Sox tumbling down the standings (although they did win their first game without him on Saturday).

You also have to wonder what this does to Chicago’s trade deadline plans. Will the White Sox be buyers? Or will they sell?

Well, Christopher Kline of FanSided seems to believe the South Siders will be on the hunt, naming them a top destination for Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.

Chicago White Sox linked to Jarren Duran once again

Chicago has become a popular choice as a landing spot for Duran, who will almost surely be on the trade block between now and Aug. 3.

Kline was the latest to pitch the White Sox as a possible destination.

“Chicago could use some pop in the outfield. Rikuu Nishida is extremely fun and immensely likable, but he’s just not enough of a threat at the plate. Nor is Luisangel Acuña, despite all of Chris Getz’s offseason proselytizing. Meanwhile, the Andrew Benintendi era has reached its logical endpoint, at least insofar as needing to play him every day,” Kline wrote.

While Duran would certainly help the White Sox this season, he carries the added benefit of being under team control through 2028, so Chicago could have him for the next two-plus years if it decides to make a move for him now.

The 29-year-old has been struggling in 2026, owning a .217/.279/.396 slash line, but he has homered nine times with 32 RBI and has been coming on as of late.

Plus, Duran is just two years removed from finishing eighth in AL MVP voting and making an All-Star appearance after posting an .834 and a plus-23 DRS.

The post White Sox named ‘perfect fit’ for All-Star slugger amid Munetaka Murakami news appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox have seen a lot of young players immediately produce when they have made the big leagues. This 2026 team has a significant amount of young players stepping up, and that is helping the team be successful. One of their young stars set a franchise record in their most recent game. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what they did to make the history books for Chicago.

Colson Montgomery sets a Chicago White Sox franchise record with his 35th homer

The White Sox have had a lot of young stars get called up over the years, but a franchise record was set. Shortstop Colson Montgomery hit a home run on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers, and that set a franchise record. That was his 35th career homer in 128 games, which breaks Jose Abreu’s 133 games it took to get to that total. Montgomery has been an incredible hitter in his young career. He has an .829 OPS with 35 homers, 90 RBI, and 70 runs scored while being one of the likely American League All-Stars on the White Sox right now. He is now tied with the following players for 88th in White Sox franchise history with 35 home runs:

• Alejandro De Aza
• Chris Singleton
• Nellie Fox
• Oscar Gamble
• Ken Henderson

The lineup as a whole has been producing a lot of power this season. They have hit at least three home runs in 11 games this year, the second-most in MLB behind the New York Yankees. With Munetaka Murakami on the injured list, this is a chance for players like Montgomery to get more attention. He has been one of the best hitters in baseball, but has not been getting as much national attention. With the number of talented shortstops in baseball, the White Sox have one they can pencil into their lineup every day.

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The Chicago White Sox have enjoyed more success so far this year than probably anyone thought they would. After three straight 100+ loss seasons, most everyone believed that Chicago would, once again, be one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball.

But they are currently 30-27 and in second place in the American League Central Division. What is more, they are one of just four teams in the entire American League with a record over .500. If the season ended today, they would be in the postseason with a Wild Card spot.

One of their best players thus far has been Japanese rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami, who has proven all his doubters wrong since coming over to join the White Sox. Unfortunately, he is going to be out for a while.

Chicago White Sox star Munetaka Murakami addresses media after hamstring injury

Through the first 57 games of the 2026 season, Murakami is hitting .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs (which leads the American League) and 41 RBI. He also leads the American League with 43 runs scored.

Unfortunately, he suffered a grade-two hamstring strain on Friday night, and will be out for the next four-to-six weeks. The White Sox placed him on the 10-day injured list on Saturday morning, and called up Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A to take his spot on the Major League roster.

Also on Saturday morning, Murakami addressed the media for the first time since the news of his injury broke:

“There’s a lot of ways to contribute to the team…I’ll keep doing that so they can keep grinding as a team.”

Munetaka Murakami spoke this morning after suffering a hamstring strain on Friday night: pic.twitter.com/6PQivIAxUj

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) May 30, 2026

“It’s disappointing, at this stage, to be injured. But there a lot of different ways to contribute to the team, like carrying on, and other things. So I’ll keep doing that so they can keep grinding as a team.”

When asked how his hamstring felt this morning, he answered simply, “It hurts. It hurts.”

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox trade deadline plans just took a jarring turn
• White Sox expected to call up number-24 prospect to replace Munetaka Murakami
• White Sox Munetaka Murakami leaves Tigers game with worrisome injury

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have been enjoying a more successful start to a season than they have had in quite some time. After three consecutive 100+ loss seasons, they are currently 30-27 and in second place in the American League Central Division. They are also just one of four American League teams currently with a record over .500.

Over the course of the first third of the season, the White Sox have been fortunate to benefit from the power bat of rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami. This off-season, they signed the Japanese slugger to a two-year $34 million contract, and he has been as good as anyone could have hoped.

Unfortunately, they will be without him for a while.

Chicago White Sox star Munetaka Murakami will be out 4-6 weeks

During Chicago’s exciting 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, Murakami had to be removed from the game due to a hamstring injury. Afterwards, it was reported that they believed he would miss a couple of weeks.

Further testing, though, has revealed that the hamstring strain is worse than initially thought. It is a grade-two strain, which means the White Sox slugger will miss the next four-to-six weeks of the season:

White Sox say Murakami’s hamstring will take 4-6 weeks to heal.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) May 30, 2026

Obviously, this is a huge blow to Chicago. Through 57 games played, Murakami is hitting .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs, and 41 RBI. His 20 home runs currently lead the American League, as do the 43 runs he has scored already this season.

With their star slugger out, it appears that Miguel Vargas will move from third base to first base. Additionally, the White Sox called up Jacob Gonzalez to take Murakami’s spot on the roster. He his hitting .317/.419/.668 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI in Triple-A this year.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox trade deadline plans just took a jarring turn
• White Sox expected to call up number-24 prospect to replace Munetaka Murakami
• White Sox Munetaka Murakami leaves Tigers game with worrisome injury

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox won in dramatic fashion on Friday night. After falling behind 2-0 early to the Detroit Tigers, they were able to finally tie the game in the ninth inning, which sent the game into extra innings. After falling behind 3-2 in the tenth, Miguel Vargas hit a walk-off two-run home run to give Chicago the 4-3 victory.

Unfortunately for the White Sox, the win came at a staggering cost. Munetaka Murakami, their most feared hitter, suffered a hamstring injury and had to be removed from the game.

The Chicago White Sox place Munetaka Murakami on the 10-day IL, call up Jacob Gonzalez

Murakami strained his hamstring while trying to beat out a grounder. He was removed from the game, and it was reported that he likely would be out for a couple of weeks.

On Saturday morning, that news became official:

pic.twitter.com/rPpiz0wYWq

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 30, 2026

Murakami is currently hitting .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs and 41 RBI. His 20 home runs lead the American League, as do the 43 runs he has scored so far this season.

To replace Murakami on the Major League roster, Chicago has called up Jacob Gonzalez. A first round pick in the 2023 amateur draft, Gonzalez plays both shortstop and second base.

In 52 games played at Triple-A this year, Gonzalez is hitting .317/.419/.668 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI. Clearly, he is has proven everything there is to prove down in the minors, and is ready for his shot in the Majors.

To make room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster, the White Sox moved injured pitcher Jordan Leasure to the 60-day injured list.

In their first lineup without Murakami this season, Chicago has decided that Miguel Vargas will start at first base.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox trade deadline plans just took a jarring turn
• White Sox expected to call up number-24 prospect to replace Munetaka Murakami
• White Sox Munetaka Murakami leaves Tigers game with worrisome injury

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are a season-high three games over .500 and are making quite the push in the AL Central, a division currently led by the Cleveland Guardians.

No one is going to confuse the Guardians for juggernauts, so the White Sox absolutely have a chance of winning the crown. You would then think that Chicago would be a buyer ahead of the MLB trade deadline, right?

Well, things did appear to be heading in that direction, as it seemed pretty clear the White Sox were well ahead of schedule. It would be discouraging to see Chicago start selling off pieces in the midst of a playoff hunt.

However, things may have taken a drastic turn on Friday night, as first baseman Munetaka Murakami left the game with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks as a result.

This could completely alter the course of the White Sox’s trade deadline plans.

Munetaka Murakami just changed the Chicago White Sox’s trade deadline

Murakami is Chicago’s top source of offense of offense by a country mile. He leads the American League with 20 home runs and owns a .938 OPS on the season, putting together one of the more impressive rookie campaigns in recent memory.

Yes, the White Sox have other notable young sluggers like Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas, but Murakami is undoubtedly the cream of the crop and makes everyone else’s jobs easier.

Now that the 26-year-old is expected to be sidelined for a extended period of time, it could definitely upend Chicago’s playoff hopes. If he is only out for two weeks, it might not be a huge deal, but hamstrings typically take longer than that to fully heal. And even in the best-case scenario, can the White Sox stay afloat without their best hitter?

Chicago had been rumored to be potentially be in the running for names like Jarren Duran and even Mike Trout, but Murakami’s injury may have totally changed things for the South Siders.

Should the White Sox go into a bit of a tailspin sans Murakami, it could ultimately lead to them selling by Aug. 3 to try and load up with more young pieces to bolster their chances for 2027 and beyond.

Hopefully, Chicago is able to withstand this massive blow, but it seems hard to imagine the Sox will be perfectly fine without Murakami.

The post Chicago White Sox’s trade deadline plans just took a jarring turn appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Usually, when there is bad news, good news follows it. In the case of the Chicago White Sox, that happened on Friday night, as they lost first baseman/designated hitter Munetaka Murakami to injury (right hamstring strain), but beat the Detroit Tigers on a walk-off home run in the 10th inning by Miguel Vargas.

Focusing on the bad news, the White Sox will likely be without Murakami for a couple of weeks, as the 26-year-old will meet with the media on Saturday to discuss the grade of his hamstring strain. With Murakami set to miss a decent chunk, the White Sox are calling up infielder Jacob Gonzalez, who is the No. 24 prospect, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

More White Sox News: Chicago White Sox have a top 10 farm system

Gonzalez, who has been one of the best hitters at Triple-A Charlotte — slashing .308/.414/.646 with 18 homers in 51 games — is getting an early birthday gift from the White Sox with the call to the big leagues — Gonzalez turns 24 on Saturday, May 30. The White Sox drafted Gonzalez in the first round (15th overall) in the 2023 MLB Draft from the University of Mississippi.

The Chicago White Sox are calling up infielder Jacob Gonzalez, sources tell ESPN. With Munetaka Murakami facing a multi-week absence due to a hamstring injury, the White Sox summon one of the hottest hitters in the minor leagues, batting .308/.414/.646 with 18 homers in 51 games.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 30, 2026

Jacob Gonzalez should see a decent amount of playing time with the Chicago White Sox while Munetaka Murakami is out

With Murakami landing on the injured list, the White Sox are rather thin with options on players to play at first base. Vargas, who has been Venable’s starting third baseman (47 games, 44 starts), will likely get the bulk of the starting reps at first base. Vargas moved over from third to first in the 4-3 win over the Tigers in 10 innings after infielder/outfielder Luisangel Acuna pinch-ran for Murakami.

Even though Vargas will take down the bulk of the time at first base, Gonzalez too could spend time at the corner, as he has played six games (five starts) at first base while in Charlotte. In 43.0 innings, Gonzalez has four assists, one error and made three double plays.

Other than first base, the California native has played second base (five games, five starts), third base (one games) and has primarily played shortstop (35 games, 34 starts). With Colson Montgomery locked in at shortstop and Vargas possibly moving over to first base, Venable may use Gonzalez at third.

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Chicago White Sox fans held their collective breath on Friday night as first baseman/designated hitter Munetaka Murakami left Friday night’s game versus the Detroit Tigers with an injury. While legging out the fielder’s choice, Murakami came up, grabbing his right hamstring.

Manager Will Venable would pinch-run for Murakami, substituting infielder/outfielder Luisangel Acuna. During the White Sox broadcast, Venable said that “the hamstring grabbed on him a little bit.” Murakami went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before leaving the game versus the Detroit Tigers.

More White Sox News: Rikuu Nishida is already providing the spark for the White Sox

According to a team announcement on X, the 26-year-old will undergo further evaluation to see how much time he will miss. Hamstring injuries have plagued the White Sox this season, with outfielder Austin Hays (left calf strain) and catcher Kyle Teel also dealing with the same injury.

Teel is currently rehabbing his knee and should resume running on Saturday.

The Chicago White Sox will need Colson Montgomery to step up while Munetaka Murakami is out

Since signing his two-year ($34 million) contract in the offseason, Murakami has been the White Sox best hitter and has helped the offense take a step forward. Through 57 games, the Kumamoto, Japan native has an OPS of .938 (seventh in Major League Baseball) and mashed a mashed 20 home runs, which is tied with Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.

Murakami’s performance at the plate this season has helped someone like shortstop Colson Montgomery not feel like he has to carry the offense. With the weight off his shoulders, Montgomery has done well, posting the third-best OPS on the team (.789) and is seven home runs behind his teammate for the team lead in home runs (13).

With Murakami down for sometime, Venable and the White Sox will need Montgomery to step up and carry the lineup until the favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year returns.

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The Chicago White Sox have a couple of injury updates as they begin a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers this weekend, starting with Game 1 on Friday night.

The White Sox enter the series after taking three games from the Minnesota Twins in a four-game series this week. Chicago is 29-27, three games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central and taking a 1.5-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays for the final Wild-Card spot.

The White Sox have been able to get a hot start without catcher Kyle Teel, who recently suffered a setback while dealing with knee/hamstring issues. Per Bruce Levine, Teel is set to begin running on Saturday.

“Kyle Teel is back with the team rehabbing his knee. He told me he will start running on Saturday,” Levine posted on X.

The White Sox had to place right-handed relief pitcher Jordan Leasure on the injured list for a forearm flexor strain. Chicago selected left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert from Triple A.

More News: White Sox linked to monstrous three-team trade involving All-Star slugger

The Chicago White Sox have injury updates

More News: Munetaka Murakami continues to impress as he makes MLB history

Leasure has a 6.27 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 18 games pitched this season. Gilbert has a 20.25 ERA and two strikeouts from his two outings this season. He gave up a total of six runs in losses to the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays.

Teel is expected to miss another two to five weeks.

White Sox manager Will Venable was thankful the setback wasn’t worse.

“We’re happy that it wasn’t a tear or anything,” Venable said, via MLB.com. “Hopefully, it’s just a matter of weeks and not months that he’s back healthy and running around and playing.”

“I talked to him today. He’s optimistic and in good spirits. But yeah, it’s just disappointing.”

The White Sox have struggled at the catcher position with Teel out. Edgar Quero is batting .176 with one home run, and Drew Romo is batting .182 with two home runs.

The offense has been exciting for the White Sox early in the season. For Chicago to continue a postseason push, the team needs Teel’s bat to return sooner rather than later.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The 2026 White Sox are finally showing signs of life after losing 102 games last season and 121 games, the most losses in an MLB season in 2024. The addition of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami has given a much-needed jolt to an organization with his power.

Now, another Japanese player has given a spark for the White Sox. Outfielder Rikuu Nishida was called up on May 25 from AAA Charlotte. His call-up didn’t come with fanfare, like highly touted Sam Antonacci and Noah Schultz.

But Nishida went 1-for-3 with a single, and even threw out Orlando Arcia at home plate from right field in his debut.

Rikuu Nishida had his arm tested early in his debut …

And he threw a perfect strike 🎯 pic.twitter.com/mXLtABXEIJ

— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2026

The next night, Nishida threw out Kody Clemens at home in the top of the 10th.

Rikuu Nishida keeps the game tied! pic.twitter.com/BExKag1wfj

— MLB (@MLB) May 27, 2026

He has immediately won over the White Sox fans. And they will love him even more when they learn the unusual path he took to get here.

Nishida’s story doesn’t resemble the typical rise of many Japanese major‑leaguers, who have played in Nippon Professional Baseball(NPB) before coming to America. He attended Tohoku High School, a renowned high school in Sendai, Japan, that has appeared many times in the national high school summer tournament, known as Koshien. It is also the same high school that produced stars like ex-Cub Yu Darvish and former Seattle Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki.

After graduating high school, Nishida came to America and attended Mt. Hood Community College, a JUCO located in Gresham, Oregon. After two years there, Nishida earned a shot at the University of Oregon, where he won over the Ducks’ fans. At 5’6” and 150, he wasn’t the biggest player on the field. But his bat‑to‑ball skills, disruptive speed, and relentless competitiveness made him impossible to ignore.

The White Sox took him in the 11th round in the 2023 draft. A pick that barely registered at the time, but now looks like one of the organization’s savvier recent decisions.

The question now is what Nishida’s long-term role is with the White Sox. Maybe he is just holding the spot until someone else is ready. Instead, two games into his major league career, he is already making massive clutch plays that have won over the fans.

Paul Janish, the White Sox director of player development, lauded his personality as the best in the organization. He may never be a star and probably be a valuable utility man. Heck, he might be sent back down to Charlotte in a week or two. But he plays with a hustle and energy that could impact a game and become a popular guy in the clubhouse by keeping things loose.

He could be what this franchise needs as it continues to rebuild its culture from the ground up.

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There may not be any team in Major League Baseball more surprising this season than the Chicago White Sox. After losing 100+ games for three consecutive seasons, no one thought Chicago would be much of a factor in 2026. Rather, fans just hoped for some steps in the right direction while also expecting the team to finish below .500.

Of course, with 106 games remaining, this could still happen. As it stands right now, though, the White Sox are 29-27 and in second place in the American League Central Division. If the season were to end today, Chicago would be in the MLB postseason as a Wild Card.

Chicago White Sox GM Chris Getz has high praise for Miguel Vargas

Of course, Munetaka Murakami has been the subject of the majority of White Sox headlines this year, and deservedly so. After all, he is proving every other MLB team that passed on him wrong by leading the AL in home runs, runs, and RBI (and, well, strikeouts).

But Miguel Vargas has emerged as a legitimate contributor in the lineup as well. In ESPN’s most recent MLB power rankings, Chicago was ranked 18th, but the outlet also reported some praise for Vargas from GM Chris Getz:

“General manager Chris Getz texted that Vargas had been one of his early trade targets when he stepped into his role. ‘Miguel’s makeup, aptitude and instincts for the game has unlocked All-Star ability,’ Getz said.”

In 55 games played, Vargas is hitting .231/.364/.467 with 12 home runs, 31 RBI, and nine stolen bases. He was, of course, originally acquired by the White Sox in 2024 in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tommy Edman.

Edman, by the way, has not played yet in 2026 due to recovering from ankle surgery.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox DH solution seems obvious, but is also tricky
• White Sox get called out for $75 million disaster
• White Sox top 100 prospect suffers major injury

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are still making noise in the AL Central, sitting at 29-27 and just three games behind the Cleveland Guardians — two in the loss column — for first place.

In fact, the White Sox are one of only four teams in the American League who are over .500 over two months into the season. Who had that on their bingo card?

As a result of Chicago’s stunning turnaround in 2026, general manager Chris Getz might actually look to buy at the MLB trade deadline instead of outright selling, and some names are already surfacing as potential options for the South Siders.

While the White Sox have a few big boppers in their lineup, spearheaded by Munetaka Murakami, they could still use some offensive assistance. That’s especially true in their outfield, which has mostly been an abject disaster at the plate this season.

So, who could Chicago pursue? One name that has been linked to Will Venable’s club multiple times is Boston Red Sox star Jarren Duran, and Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller pitched a wild scenario involving the former MVP candidate in a recent piece.

Chicago White Sox could land Jarren Duran

Miller has proposed a deal in which the White Sox, Red Sox and Houston Astros would all be involved. Chicago would receive Duran, Boston would land third baseman Isaac Paredes and Houston would reap some prospects.

Duran is not having the best year, owning a .213/.279/.386 slash line, but he has homered eight times with 28 RBI and continues to play stellar outfield defense, owning a plus-3 DRS and plus-3 OAA. His .259 BABIP also indicates that he has been getting a bit unlucky at the dish.

The 29-year-old is two seasons removed from finishing eighth in AL MVP voting after slashing .285/.342/.492 with 21 homers and 75 RBI. He also led all of baseball in both doubles (48) and triples (14) in 2024, adding 34 stolen bases while flashing a tremendous plus-23 DRS.

Duran didn’t quite match that production in 2025, but he was still really solid, managing a .774 OPS and a 3.9 WAR.

The former seventh-round would definitely comprise an upgrade over what the White Sox currently have in their outfield, so if they do have the chance to make a move for Duran, they should at least consider it.

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The Chicago White Sox were, surprisingly, the ones who ended up signing Munetaka Murakami after he decided to come over to Major League Baseball from Japan. When news first came that he was going to join the Majors, many expected that he would get a multi-year deal worth well over $100 million.

However, there were concerns among MLB general managers that his power would not translate in the league and his already high strikeout totals in Japan would only get worse.

56 games into the 2026 season, and it appears that Murakami is well on his way to proving them all wrong. Meanwhile, the White Sox are reaping the benefit.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami named a winner of the 2026 season (so far)

In one aspect, the other general managers were right: Murakami has struck out a lot. However, they were wrong about everything else. Currently, the White Sox first baseman leads the American League in home runs, and Chicago is two games over .500 and in second place in their division.

Bleacher Report named Murakami as one of their five top-winners of the 2026 season thus far:

“Expected to sign a deal in excess of $100 million at the outset of last offseason, Munetaka Murakami had to settle for two-year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox amid concerns about how he would translate to the majors.

“Well, he’s doing just fine, thanks for asking.

“Murakami leads the American League with 19 home runs and has a .917 OPS. He has struck out 77 times, the most times in the junior circuit. But you can live with a three-true-outcomes hitter if he’s going to hit 45 home runs per season.

“It feels like general manager Chris Getz and the White Sox would be wise to approach the 26-year-old slugger sooner rather than later about extending his contract. The price to retain Murakami is only going to go up as he gets closer to his second trip to free agency after the 2027 season.”

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox DH solution seems obvious, but is also tricky
• White Sox get called out for $75 million disaster
• White Sox top 100 prospect suffers major injury

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have been doing well at promoting prospects this season. They have one of the better farm systems in MLB, and continue to have talent through their minor league system. There was a new ranking update for the prospects and the White Sox should be excited. Let’s take a look at the list and where some Chicago players wound up.

Braden Montgomery is the 30th-ranked prospect

The Athletic’s Keith Law wrote a midseason top 50 prospect rankings list. It is important to note he  omits players currently in MLB. The White Sox have a pair of players on this list, including outfielder Braden Montgomery. He stays sitting at 30th place, the same spot from the preseason rankings. Below is what Law had to say about the White Sox outfielder prospect:

“Montgomery had some contact issues iun Double A to finish last year, returned there to start 2026, and mashed, hitting .313/.429/.606 for a month before the White Sox finally spared Southern League pitchers and moved him up to Triple A. He probably should stay in Triple A for a while, as the same contact issues have popped up and he still has some fine-tuning to do at the plate. He has at least 70 power, and his exit velocities have been very strong, with a peak EV of 114 in Triple A, and if he gets the ball in the air more, he’s going to hit 25-30 homers. Right now, it’s a lot of whiff, and a lot of balls hit on the ground, as he gets that lead elbow up and his swing flattens out. If he gets the ball in the air more, and can bring that 36 percent whiff rate down, there’s a ton of impact potential with the bat, along with plus defense in right field.”

Montgomery has been hiting at a respectable level in Triple-A Charlotte. He has a .233/.317/.384 slash line with two homers, seven RBI, 15 runs scored, and one stolen base in 19 games. There are certainy improvements needed before he is called up to the bigs, but he can certainly do so. The 2024 first-round pick has a lot of quality tools and has the ability to dominate the game.

The Chicago White Sox also have the 33rd-ranked prospect right now

The White Sox continue to find stars in their minor league system. Just a few spots below Montgomery is Caleb Bonemer at 33rd place. Bonemer jumped 11 spots, beginning the year at 44th place in the preseason rankings. Below is a snippet of what Law wrote about Bonemer thus far.

“Bonemer has already hit 15 homers this year, more than he did in all of 2025 (when he hit 12), although it has come at a cost of 31 percent strikeout rate that’s backed up by a 34 percent whiff rate – that is, he swings and misses often enough to raise concerns about his ability to keep making contact against better pitching. His ball-strike recognition is very strong, but he’s whiffing on pitches in the zone more often this year than any big-leaguer except Munetaka Murakami. The power/patience combo should make Bonemer at least a regular, probably at third base, but he has the potential to be much more than that.”

Bonemer has been hitting at an incredible level this season for High-A Winston-Salem. He has a .995 OPS with 15 homers, 37 RBI, 41 runs scored, and six steals thus far. We are still seemingly a few years away from seeing Bonemer in the big leagues though. If he is able to improve with his contact, he can be an everyday starter on the left side of the infield.

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The Chicago White Sox have certainly received great production from the meat of their batting order, as Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery have all been tremendous sources of power this season.

If only the White Sox had some depth in the rest of their lineup.

While the aforementioned trio has combined for 44 home runs, only one other Chicago player (backup catcher Drew Romo) has five, and with the White Sox firmly in contention in the AL Central, they may want to find some answers before the trade deadline.

One area in particular that seems awfully grim for Chicago is the designated hitter slot, as Andrew Benintendi is slashing just .228/.273/.361 this season.

But do the White Sox even need to make a trade for a DH? Or does their solution lie somewhere within their roster?

Everson Pereira could answer big Chicago White Sox problem

One potential remedy for Chicago’s woes at designated hitter is Everson Pereira, who is currently out with a pectoral strain that has kept him sidelined since last month.

There is no exact timetable for Pereira’s return, which is concerning. But the outfielder did start throwing earlier this week, which is certainly a good sign of progress. But should Pereira even return to an outfield role once he is back? Or should the White Sox make him their DH?

Pereira has never been known for his glove. During his time in the New York Yankees’ minor-league system, the biggest concern for Pereira was whether or not he would have a position on the big-league level because of his poor defense. His bat, however, has never been in question.

The 25-year-old owns a lifetime .859 OPS in the minors, flashing both power and strong patience at the plate. He hasn’t shown much in limited major-league action just yet, but he did homer three times for the White Sox while posting a .763 OPS over 71 plate appearances before getting injured.

It seems obvious that Benintendi — who is in the penultimate year of a five-year, $75 million contract — is not the solution for Chicago at DH. Pereira does seem like a pretty clear answer, but he needs to get healthy.

There is no question that once Pereira is ready to go, the White Sox should give him some run as a DH to see if that’s where he is best suited.

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The Chicago White Sox have been clicking throughout the first few months of the season. They have been stepping up, and one of the players who is surprising people is rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami. He continues to dominate MLB pitching, and now he holds a piece of MLB history. Let’s take a closer look at what he did that no other person in MLB history has done.

Munetaka Murakami makes MLB history with his 20th home run

The White Sox have been swinging the bats well, but the leader of the offense has been Murakami. He has been one of the best statistical hitters in the sport, leading the American League in home runs. Murakami hit his 20th home run of the year on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins. That home run put Murakami in the history books. He became the first rookie in MLB history to reach 20 home runs before the month of June.

Murakami has been one of the best rookies that we have seen. He has a .240/.375/.561 slash line with 20 homers, 40 RBI, and 42 runs scored through 55 games. Of course, the MLB season started with a few games in March so he had a bit of an advantage in terms of games played and at-bats, but that does not downplay its significance. In addition to the MLB record, he also now has a three-game home run streak.

With Murakami being on pace for more than 60 home runs and 120 RBI, he has a chance to be in the AL Most Valuable Player conversation. This power was known as he set the Nippon Professional Baseball single-season home run record (56) as well. It will be intriguing to see if he can continue slugging as well as he has been and if pitchers continue to pitch to him.

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The Chicago White Sox have been clicking in the first few months of the regular season. They have a lot of young talent, and players are having career years right now. One of their starting pitchers is looking like a bona fide ace and is now stepping into conversations as the best pitcher in the league. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what it means for him.

Davis Martin has been in the AL Cy Young conversation this season

MLB’s Jared Greenspan wrote an article highlighting the top pitchers in the sport right now. The White Sox got some love as they have a representative on the list in righty Davis Martin. Below is the reasoning that Greenspan gave:

“The White Sox have emerged as one of baseball’s best stories, and Martin is central to that effort. He is a great story within a great story. Although he entered the season with a 4.32 ERA in 256 career innings, the right-hander has quickly become an ace, relying on a diverse pitch mix to keep hitters off balance — Martin throws six different pitches at least 10% of the time. He is tied for the MLB lead with seven wins and touts a 2.04 ERA through 10 starts. According to FanGraphs, only three qualified pitchers have been more valuable than Martin (2.3 WAR).”

Martin has been stepping up in a big way for the White Sox, and this isn’t the only publication to notice. Through 10 starts, he is 7-1 with a 2.04 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 61.2 innings. The 29-year-old has also been pitching in the strike zone, posting a 12:66 walk-to-strikeout ratio. The full top 5 for the AL Cy Young Award is listed below:

1. Cam Schlittler
2. Dylan Cease
3. Joel Soriano
4. Davis Martin
5. Gavin Williams

Martin is providing a winnable game every time he is on the mound. Nine of his 10 starts this year have allowed three runs or fewer, and all 10 have gone at least five innings. If he can continue to pitch as he has and mix his pitches, it will be difficult to hit. Being third in the American League in ERA and keeping the ball in the park, he is exactly who manager Will Venable wants to give the ball every fifth day.

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The Chicago White Sox have been one of baseball’s biggest surprises thus far in 2026, as they are sitting at 27-27 and firmly in contention in the AL Central race when just about everyone expected them to finish in the cellar again.

I’m not even sure the White Sox themselves anticipated they would be performing like this two months into the season. Nevertheless, here we are, and while Chicago has slid a bit recently, going 5-6 over its last 11 games, it looks like the White Sox are here to stay.

Of course, Chicago may still need to make some roster adjustments in order to ensure its best possible chance of a playoff push.

The White Sox have between now and the MLB trade deadline to make some moves, but whether or not they choose to buy or sell (or a little bit of both) remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: they could certainly use some help with their lineup depth, and one of the biggest culprits of Chicago’s shaky offense is Andrew Benintendi.

In fact, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer dubbed Benintendi as the club’s least valuable player this year.

Andrew Benintendi is hurting the Chicago White Sox

The White Sox signed Benintendi to a five-year, $75 million contract back in December 2022. At the time, it looked like a solid deal. After all, the outfielder was coming off of an All-Star campaign the season prior in which he slashed .304/.373/.399 over 521 plate appearances between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees.

Needless to say, Benintendi has not lived up to expectations in Chicago, and Rymer has taken him to task for it.

“Good defense used to be one of the things the White Sox were supposed to get out of Benintendi’s $75 million deal. Now he’s a DH, and one with only a 78 OPS+ to show for 170 plate appearances. And nobody likes a DH who can’t hit,” Rymer wrote.

Benintendi is slashing .228/.273/.361 with three home runs and 23 RBI across 173 trips to the dish in 2026. He began transitioning to a designated hitter role last season, and now, he is essentially a full-time DH … one who owns just a .693 OPS over the course of his first three-plus seasons in the Windy City.

Perhaps the White Sox should consider sliding Everson Pereira into the DH slot once he returns from injury, but the problem is that Benintendi is making $17.1 million this year and is set to collect another $15.1 million in 2027.

Chicago would obviously love to jettison Benintendi, but good luck trading that contract.

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The Chicago White Sox have been seeing a lot of prospects getting called up for their major league debuts this season. With the team looking to be a serious threat in the American League, they are winning with a younger team. One player has been making a name for themselves, but suffered an injury and will be on the shelf for some time. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what it means for him going forward.

Billy Carlson suffers injury and will miss 4-6 weeks

The Chicago White Sox have one of the better prospects in MLB, but one of them is going to be on the shelf for a bit. Chicago announced that shortstop Billy Carlson has suffered a non-displaced fracture of the tip of his left thumb. It will be placed in a splint and has an expected timeframe of 4-6 weeks to heal. The injury took place on May 23 while scoring.

Carlson is considered the fifth-ranked prospect in the White Sox’s system. The 19-year-old has been hitting well at Single-A Kannapolis. He has posted a .257/.386/.340 slash line with 11 RBI, 25 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 39 games. He has been improving in his first season in Minor League Baseball and continues to be a force. However, he is still a few years away from getting to the big leagues.

Chicago has been doing well, and he is considered to be the 53rd-ranked prospect in the sport. As he continues to rehab from this injury, it appears there will not be any surgery required to get back on the field. He has been proving himself on the diamond as the 2025 first-round selection continues to improve. He has been an excellent fielder, and the bat is trailing slightly behind, but Carlson should have no issue adapting his game.

If Carlson takes the six-week timeframe, that would have him return in mid-July. It will be intriguing to see how Carlson looks going forward and throughout his recovery.

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The Chicago White Sox have been playing incredibly well in the first few months of the regular season. They hold a spot in the postseason if the season were to end today. Chicago has a lot of young talent, but there are some weaknesses as well. They could be in a position where people are questioning whether they are contenders or pretenders. What does one outlet believe the franchise to be right now?

Sports Illustrated considers the Chicago White Sox to be pretenders

Tim Capurso of Sports Illustrated wrote an article highlighting a few surprise teams. He rated teams as either pretenders or contenders, and the White Sox were one of the teams discussed. Capurso listed Chicago as a pretender and gave the following reason as to why:

“The White Sox are far from a perfect team. The bullpen has holes and the starting rotation, aside from staff ace Davis Martin, isn’t particularly deep. But when you can slug the ball the way the White Sox have been, and enjoy the benefit of playing in one of baseball’s worst divisions in a weak AL, you have a real shot at the postseason. It’s almost impossible to write them off given the state of the AL. That said, I believe the White Sox will have a difficult time catching the Guardians in the AL Central, and they may have more competition from the likes of the Blue Jays, Twins, Rangers, Mariners and A’s for a wild card spot.”

The White Sox enter Tuesday’s game sitting 3.5 games behind the Guardians for the AL Central lead. They are also holding the second AL Wild Card spot with a 27-26 record. They have not been afraid of calling prospects up, but they need to see some bullpen help. Chicago could be aggressive ahead of the trade deadline if they are able to stay in this position. It will be intriguing to see if they are going to be able to be a contender or a pretender as the season goes along.

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Munetaka Murakami’s power production, the trademark skill that made him a star in Japan, has translated seamlessly to Major League Baseball through the first third of the 2026 season. The Chicago White Sox slugger has already launched 18 home runs, with his most recent long ball coming on Memorial Day against the Minnesota Twins.

That 18th home run on the young season moved Murakami to within one swing of tying the MLB record for most home runs by a rookie before June 1. According to ESPN Insights, both Pete Alonso in 2019 and Mark McGwire in 1987 launched 19 home runs before June arrived during their rookie campaigns.

With six games still remaining on the schedule this month, there is a very real chance Murakami could soon hold the record outright.

Munetaka Murakami has a strong chance to claim sole possession of MLB’s rookie home run record before June 1

Before June arrives, the White Sox still have six games remaining on the schedule: three  more against the Twins followed by a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers. With Murakami averaging a home run every 10.38 at-bats this season, the numbers suggest he should have enough opportunities to not only tie the rookie record, but potentially surpass it and enter June with 20 home runs already to his name.

No matter how the final week of May plays out, Murakami has already established himself as one of the most impactful rookies in baseball and one of the best power hitters in the league. The transition from Japan to MLB can often come with an adjustment period, but Murakami has skipped that phase entirely, immediately becoming the centerpiece of the Chicago White Sox lineup.

Now, with history within reach and several games still left before June 1, there is a legitimate chance his remarkable rookie campaign adds another historic accomplishment in the coming days.

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Before the 2026 MLB season began, Chicago White Sox fans believed [hoped] that Munetaka Murakami would be their biggest offensive star. And through their first 53 games, he is. The Japanese rookie is hitting .235/.374/.540 with 18 home runs and 37 RBI.

Clearly, the concerns regarding whether his power would translate to the Majors were wrong, as Murakami leads the American League in home runs. His strikeout totals have too, as he has struck out 76 times already this season.

But Murakami is not the only offensive star in Chicago right now. Miguel Vargas is making some noise himself.

Chicago White Sox star Miguel Vargas finds himself in AL MVP chatter

Last season, Vargas played in 138 games (a career-high) and hit .234/.316/.401 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI. These, of course, were not bad numbers, per say, but they hardly made him stand out.

This year, though, the White Sox third baseman has raised him game to another level. Currently, he is hitting .239/.369/.489 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI. Additionally, after stealing just six bases in 2025, he already has eight in 2026.

ESPN recently revealed their top-10 rankings for who should be considered for AL MVP, and Vargas was slotted in seventh.

This is truly an intriguing place for Vargas to be. One could easily argue that Murakami is more valuable to the team than him, and that should not be taken as a slight.

That being said, Vargas has a higher batting average, a similar on-base percentage, and plays better defense than the Japanese star. He has the potential to be a better overall player for a long time.

What needs to happen, though, in order for Vargas to truly become an MVP contender is that he needs to hit more. Very few MVP’s have finished a season with a batting average lower than .260, though Shohei Ohtani did it recently.

Of course, Ohtani also hit 46 home runs and drove in 100 runs that year. If Vargas is to raise up those MVP rankings, his production needs to increase.

More Chicago White Sox news from Chit City Sports

• White Sox unthinkable trade deadline temptation revealed
• White Sox calling up another top-20 prospect
• White Sox fall significantly in latest power rankings

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox entered the 2026 MLB season with a little bit of buzz. Munetaka Murakami signing with the team on a short two-year contract gave fans hope that there would be some offensive fireworks. And there have been. Murakami leads the American League with 18 home runs.

To be honest, there were not many questions surrounding Chicago’s offense. Murakami, along with Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas, guaranteed power. Sure, there are players that have not lived up to their potential at the plate, but that was to be expected with a team so young in rebuilding.

What was a question, though, was how well the starting rotation would perform behind Opening Day starter Shane Smith. As it turns out, the real question should have been how to build the rotation behind Davis Martin.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Davis Martin gets early Cy Young love

Smith, of course, had a horrid start to the season and was sent down to Triple-A. Shortly after, he was put on the injured list. In four starts down in Charlotte, he has a 5.27 ERA.

Meanwhile, Martin emerged as the true ace of the White Sox staff. Through 10 starts, he is 7-1 with a 2.04 ERA.

In their first poll of who may win MLB postseason awards, ESPN revealed that Martin is currently favored to finish second, and could make a run to win it in 2026:

“Every question you might have about whether the surprising White Sox are real, you can ask at the player level about Davis Martin. Nothing Martin, 29, had done to this point of his career portended what he has done over the first two months this season.

“His AL-leading seven wins match his 2025 season total. He has more than halved his ERA (2.04, down from 4.10). And he has sliced his walks while upping his strikeout rate to the tune of three whiffs per nine innings.”

As mentioned above, Martin has never had a run like this ever before in his career. The big question facing everyone in the fan base (and the organization) is if this is now who he really is or if this is just a flash in the pan.

If he can maintain this stellar level of pitching, Martin will firmly be in the talks for Cy Young at the end of the year, especially if Chicago remains in the postseason picture.

More Chicago White Sox news from Chit City Sports

• White Sox unthinkable trade deadline temptation revealed
• White Sox calling up another top-20 prospect
• White Sox fall significantly in latest power rankings

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have been one of baseball’s most pleasant surprises this season, as they are right in the thick of the AL Central race with June approaching.

The White Sox have slowed down a bit recently, having gone just 5-5 over their last 10 games, but there is little reason to believe that they don’t have staying power in a divisional race that doesn’t feature any true juggernauts.

It begs the question: what will Chicago do at the MLB trade deadline?

The White Sox were expected by everyone (including themselves, surely) to be sellers by Aug. 3, but the fact that they are clearly ahead of schedule and are legitimately in contention may have changed things for general manager Chris Getz.

So will Chicago still sell off some pieces? Will it go into buy mode? Or will it do a little bit of both?

Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly knows what the White Sox will probably want to do over the next couple of months.

Chicago White Sox would probably like to sell

Chicago absolutely has some players that other teams would want, and that includes first baseman Munetaka Murakami.

“But what if a power-needy team tried to overwhelm them to get Munetaka Murakami, who is only signed through 2027? How about if a club in need of starting pitching made a push for Davis Martin, and put a lot on the table because the late bloomer can’t become a free agent until after 2030?” Kelly wrote.

While Kelly feels that the White Sox should stand pat, he can’t help but ignore the elephant in the room.

“The feeling here is Getz’s best move would be to stand pat at the deadline, assuming the White Sox aren’t buyers. There will be some temptation to sell, however,” Kelly added.

Chicago signed Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal out of Japan over the winter, so the 26-year-old slugger will be hitting free agency after 2027 unless the White Sox are able to lock him up on a long-term contract.

Martin, meanwhile, has finally come into his own with a 2.04 ERA and 2.29 FIP through 10 starts this season, but considering that he is already 29 years old, Chicago may feel it would be best to sell high on the right-hander, who is under club control through 2030.

Somehow, the White Sox have managed to become one of the most interesting teams in the league this year, and they will also be one of the most intriguing squads to monitor on the trade front.

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The Chicago White Sox seemingly are ready to pull the trigger on calling up prospects this season. When you have the talent that is ready for the big leagues, it makes sense to do that. The front office is being aggressive as they continue to win games and are reportedly calling up another top-20 prospect in their system. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what it means for Chicago right now.

The Chicago White Sox are calling up David Sandlin

The shuttle to Chicago is going to continue to roll as Elijah Evans of Just Baseball and Future Sox is reporting that the team is promoting right-hander David Sandlin to the big-league squad. The 25-year-old is already on the 40-man roster, but he will need to get a spot on the 26-man roster in order to make the team.

Chicago acquired Sandlin in the trade, where they added Jordan Hicks to the team this offseason from the Boston Red Sox. Sandlin has pitched at a dominant level out of the bullpen this year as he is 0-0 with a 0.55 ERA in 16.1 innings (six games) and is pitching to a .194 opposing batting average. Sandlin has an excellent sense of control with an 11:26 walk-to-strikeout ratio this season.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander has a three-pitch mix (fastball, slider, cutter) and has reached triple-digits on the heater. He has been able to throw strikes consistently, but has had some injury concerns over the last few years. However, he is still an incredible talent who should be able to step up in the big leagues for the White Sox. There has been no official corresponding move to add him to the roster,

James Fegan of Sox Machine noted that Sandlin is likely going to be used as a starting pitcher. However, it’s not clear as to how he lands in the rotation. This is potentially a spot start as Chicago has 13 games without an off day. The White Sox have not been shy about calling up players this season. It will be intriguing to see how they use Sandlin.

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The Chicago White Sox are 26-26 on the season through their first 52 games. To say that very few foresaw that they would be where they currently are is an understatement. After three straight 100+ loss seasons, fans only wanted to see some kind of improvement. What they are seeing, though, is a team that is competing for a spot in the postseason.

Chicago’s record is currently good enough for second place in the American League Central Division. It is also good enough for them to be firmly in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.

However, the White Sox have also hit a bit of a skid, one that has seen them drop in the power rankings.

The Chicago White Sox fall five spots in the power rankings

Unfortunately, the White Sox have dropped each of their past two series. While they have avoided getting swept, they still lost two out of three each time.

After being ranked 12th by Bleacher Report in last week’s power rankings, they now sit at #17:

“The White Sox were trending up with three straight series wins heading into last week, but their struggles on the road continued with a pair of series losses to drop them to 12-16 away from Rate Field. Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery have combined for 42 home runs, which is more than the Rays (41), Red Sox (38) and Brewers (34) entire rosters have hit.”

Clearly, the White Sox have a problem playing on the road, as evident by their 12-16 record in away games. Davis Martin has been a stud, but the rest of Chicago’s starting rotation has, by in large, been underwhelming.

Fortunately, they have three exciting power hitters in Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas. If they can keep slugging, Chicago will continue to be relevant.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox expected to call up utility man for MLB debut
• Davis Martin cracks list of top-10 MLB pitchers
• White Sox-Red Sox trade was highway robbery

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are 26-26 after dropping their last two games against the San Francisco Giants. They have now lost two series in a row and are about to start a three-game set against their division rival Minnesota Twins. While it is still early, the White Sox probably did not expect to be in a position to compete this season. Right now, they are within reach of the American League Central and a Wild Card spot.

As such, Chicago is doing everything it can to win games now. This approach has led them to promote their 11th-ranked prospect, Rikuu Nishida, ahead of the Twins series.

The Chicago White Sox promote Rikuu Nishida, DFA Jarred Kelenic

There were rumblings that Nishida would be called up yesterday since he was spotted in the White Sox clubhouse. On Monday morning, it was announced that he had officially been called up by the club.

The White Sox have selected the contract of INF/OF Rikuu Nishida from Triple-A Charlotte and designated OF Jarred Kelenic for assignment ahead of today’s series opener vs. Minnesota. #whitesox

— Brooke Fletcher (@BrookeFletcher) May 25, 2026

Jarred Kelenic, who is hitting .226/.305/.321 with a home run and four RBI, was designated for assignment to make room for Nishida on the roster.

A native of Japan, Nishida played college baseball at Oregon where he hit .312/.394/.443 in his only season. Chicago selected him in the 11th round of the 2023 draft.

In 44 games split between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Nishida is hitting .323/.449/.384 with a home run, 12 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. He has appeared in 35 games at second base this season, but has also split time at all three outfield spots.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox expected to call up utility man for MLB debut
• Davis Martin cracks list of top-10 MLB pitchers
• White Sox-Red Sox trade was highway robbery

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are looking to continue adding young talent to their MLB roster. The team currently holds the second American League Wild Card spot and are hoping to continue winning games. Having the farm system have players who can come up and help the big league team is critical. They are reportedly calling up an intriguing prospect who is not considered to be one of the top in the minors. Let’s take a look at who it is and what this means for the White Sox going forward.

The Chicago White Sox reportedly are calling up Rikuu Nishida

Ian Eskridge of Future Sox is reporting that the White Sox are calling up utilityman Rikuu Nishida. He has played games at all three outfield spots, but has been known as a second baseman. Nishida is an undersized utilityman as the 25-year-old is listed at 5-foot-6. However, he has been hitting well as he has a .833 OPS with one homer, 12 RBI, 43 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases through 44 games between Double-A and Triple-A.

There have not been any roster decisions made to open up a roster spot for Chicago’s 26-man roster. This will be the MLB debut for Nishida; the corresponding move could give insight as to where they will likely play him going forward. It is a bit headscratching though, as Nishida is not considered to be a top-3o prospect in the organization. However, it is his chance to prove he can continue hitting and being a threat on the basepaths.

The 11th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has a chance to be a significant player on the team. He will be the fifth-ever Japanese born player to play for the franchise. It will be intriguing to see how manager Will Venable decides he is going to be utilizing the undersized star.

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Prior to the 2026 MLB season, the Chicago White Sox named Shane Smith as their Opening Day starter, and they did so very early in Spring Training. At the time, it made sense. After all, Smith was an All-Star last year and, most everyone thought, the best pitcher on staff.

But how wrong they were! Smith was demoted to Triple-A before too long due to poor performance and then ended up on the injured list.

So far this season, Davis Martin has been the clear ace of Chicago’s staff. What is more, he is putting up numbers that rival the best pitchers in the game. Now that the season is one-third of the way done, it is also clear that he is no fluke.

Chicago White Sox RHP Davis Martin named the 10th-best starting pitcher in MLB

Every week, MLB.com releases its top-ten list of starting pitchers in baseball. The names on the list are recognizable to even casual fans, and this week saw Martin ranked 10th for his first appearance in the rankings:

“The biggest surprise in baseball may reside on the south side of Chicago, with the feel-good White Sox entering play on Wednesday in possession of a Wild Card spot. A big reason why? That would be Martin, a 29-year-old righty who entered the year with a pedestrian 4.32 ERA in 51 career big league appearances. This year has been a remarkably different story.

“He is 6-1 with a 1.61 ERA and a 268 ERA+ — which is to say, essentially, that he has pitched at a rate 168% better than league average. It is sustainable? Maybe not to that extent, but Martin does a lot of things right. He pounds the strike zone, confuses hitters with a three-fastball mix and also wields a plus changeup.”

Chicago would not be where they are right now without Martin, who has been a stabilizing force on what has been an otherwise shaking starting rotation.

If they can find a piece or two to add behind him, the White Sox could make even more noise.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox reason for Munetaka Murakami blunder revealed
• White Sox reconstruct lineup in aftermath of Miguel Vargas x-rays
• Recent White Sox ranking reveals how badly team misses Kyle Teel

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have made multiple trades with the Boston Red Sox in recent memory, the most notable of all being the Garrett Crochet trade in December 2024. But the White Sox and Red Sox didn’t stop doing business there.

The two ballclubs connected on another deal this past winter, with Chicago landing pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin from Boston. The White Sox only had to send 23-year-old right-hander Gage Ziehl to the Red Sox in return.

While the White Sox did have to absorb the remainder of Hicks’ contract (which was the reason Boston made the deal to begin with), they were also able to snatch Sandlin in the deal, and based on the early returns, it’s looking more and more like Chicago may have committed highway robbery.

The White Sox have been having some issues with their rotation depth this season, and Noah Phalen of Southside Showdown actually feels that Sandlin could be the next man up for Chicago based on how well he is pitching down in the minor leagues.

Wouldn’t that be a tough blow for the Red Sox?

Chicago White Sox may have a gem in David Sandlin

Sandlin began the 2026 campaign at Single-A Winston Salem before quickly being promoted to Triple-A Charlotte after just two starts.

Through six starts overall this season, Sandlin has logged a 2.20 ERA while allowing just 12 hits and racking up 26 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work. The 11 walks are definitely concerning, but he owns a much more respectable lifetime 3.2 BB/9 in the minors, so his command issues are probably just a slight mirage.

Sandlin is hitting triple digits on his fastball and finally seems to be putting it together with the White Sox, whereas Ziehl currently has a 6.28 ERA in Double-A for Boston. Ziehl’s control is great, but he doesn’t have the best stuff and just can’t seem to find a groove.

Meanwhile, Sandlin appears to be utilizing his terrific raw talent, which has resulted in the 25-year-old averaging 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings throughout his minor-league career.

Yes, the right-hander is definitely a little bit older, but that doesn’t mean he can’t ultimately establish himself as a critical part of Chicago’s starting rotation.

If Sandlin keeps pitching at this rate, he’ll be up with the White Sox’s big-league team before you know it.

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The Chicago White Sox have been one of the most surprising teams in Major League Baseball this season. At 26-24, they are in second place in the American League Central Division and are currently in possession of a Wild Card spot.

Of course, there is a long way to go and the White Sox must continue to overcome the challenges that they have been facing all season long. Among these are some pitching woes, which range from poor performance to injury.

On Saturday, Chicago announced another pitcher is going on the injured list and is being replaced by another with an ERA over 6.00 this season.

The Chicago White Sox put Jordan Hicks on IL, call up Jordan Leasure

On Saturday morning, the White Sox announced that they were putting right-handed reliever Jordan Hicks on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain. In a corresponding move, Chicago has recalled another right-handed pitcher, Jordan Leasure, from Triple-A:

Prior to today’s game at San Francisco, the Chicago White Sox placed right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 21) with a right lat strain and recalled right-hander Jordan Leasure from Class AAA Charlotte.

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 23, 2026

Hicks has appeared in 20 games this season and has a 5.60 ERA to go with his 0-1 record. While this is less than ideal, it has been better than Leasure, who has appeared in 16 Major League contests for the White Sox in 2026 and is 2-1 with a 6.06 ERA.

In four games down at Triple-A, Leasure has a 2.08 ERA.

Chicago will be relying heavily on their bullpen on Saturday, as left-handed reliever Bryan Hudson is being used as an opener.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox urged to make vital decision after disastrous trade
• White Sox have a top-ten farm system
• White Sox get blunt Andrew Benintendi warning in latest power rankings

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox have been playing some of their best baseball in years and are smack dab in the middle of the AL Central race, but there is no question that the White Sox could still use some upgrades on their roster.

Whether or not Chicago will actually buy between now and the MLB trade deadline remains to be seen. The White Sox are certainly ahead of schedule, as I don’t even think anyone within the organization itself expected the team to be this good, this fast.

But if Chicago does decide to get aggressive before Aug. 3, the outfield would be a nice area to address.

Outside of Sam Antonacci, who is slashing .288/.390/.404 thus far this season, the White Sox have gotten very limited production from their outfield, and they could certainly use a big bat out there to help fortify the lineup.

On that note, Andrew Apostolakis of Southside Showdown has identified a very intriguing potential trade target for Chicago: Boston Red Sox standout Jarren Duran.

Chicago White Sox linked to trade for Jarren Duran

Duran has not performed his best over the first couple of months of the 2026 campaign, but Apostolakis is willing to overlook his struggles due to how good he has been in the past.

“Yes, Duran has struggled offensively this season and is currently hitting just .195, but this is still a player viewed around the league as a legitimate 6 WAR caliber talent. He is due for a bounce back, and people are quickly forgetting just how impactful he can be when he is at his best,” Apostolakis wrote.

That’s definitely true.

Just two years ago, Duran was an AL MVP candidate, finishing eighth in voting after slashing .285/.342/.492 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI. He led all of baseball with 48 doubles and 14 triples while also stealing 34 bases that season. He also played tremendous defense, recording plus-23 defensive runs saved. That all resulted in the 29-year-old posting a 6.8 WAR.

Duran wasn’t quite as effective in 2025, managing a .774 OPS and 3.9 WAR, but he was still very good, finishing with 41 doubles and 13 triples.

The former seventh-round pick is under team control through 2028, as well, so it’s not like the White Sox would be at risk of immediately losing him.

The Red Sox are falling out of contention, and Duran’s name has been floated as a trade candidate for quite some time now. Taking that into consideration, it wouldn’t be surprising if Boston moved him, and in that case, Chicago should jump at the chance to acquire him.

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The 9-4 final score between the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants on Friday, May 22 makes it appear as though Chicago cruised to a comfortable victory, but the game itself told a much different story. The White Sox did all of their damage in a single inning, the fourth, while being held hitless the rest of the game.

During their nine-run fourth inning, the White Sox collected five hits, including two infield singles, while also benefiting from three hit-by-pitches and a walk. Chicago did not hit a home run during the outburst, but clutch doubles from Andrew Benintendi and Munetaka Murakami proved to be pivotal, with Benintendi driving in two runs and Murakami clearing the bases with a three-run double.

That remarkable frame also produced a few historic accomplishments worth highlighting.

All the historic feats the Chicago White Sox achieved during their nine-run fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants

Around the internet, baseball historians and statisticians including Sarah Langs, Elias Sports Bureau, and Bob Nightengale highlighted just how unusual the White Sox’ nine-run inning truly was. Among the notable findings from the historic fourth inning were:

• It marked the first time in White Sox franchise history that the club scored nine or more runs in a game despite recording five or fewer hits.
• It was just the fifth time in franchise history that Chicago scored at least nine runs in a game with every run coming in a single inning. The last occurrence came back in 2007.
• The White Sox also became the only team in MLB history to score nine or more runs in a nine-inning game while having all of both their hits and runs occur in the same inning. Notably, the Toronto Blue Jays accomplished something similar in 2021 during a seven-inning doubleheader game, scoring 11 runs while collecting all 11 of their hits in one inning.

In the end, this was far from a conventional offensive showcase, but it is another victory for Chicago, who now improve to 26-24 on the season.

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Over the last week or so, the Chicago White Sox have seen the Cleveland Guardians put some space between themselves and the rest of the American League Central Division. Fortunately, though, the White Sox have been playing relatively well themselves and are only 3.5 games out of first place.

What is more, at 26-24, Chicago is still holding onto a Wild Card spot in the American League postseason picture. While there are plenty of games left to play, the White Sox have, thus far, exceeded the expectations that many had for them before the season started.

On Friday night, they made some franchise and MLB history.

The Chicago White Sox nine-run fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants

On Friday night, the White Sox defeated the San Francisco Giants by the score of 9-4. Breakout ace Davis Martin went 5.2 innings, but did not have his usual sharp stuff. He gave up four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven. Martin now is now 7-1 with a 2.04 ERA on the season.

Fortunately, the White Sox offense put up nine runs on only five hits, taking advantage of five walks issued by Giants pitchers.

It was the first time in franchise history that they scored nine runs while recording five or fewer hits:

This is the first time in Chicago White Sox history that they scored 9 or more runs despite producing 5 or fewer hits in franchise history.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 23, 2026

All of Chicago’s runs and hits came in the fourth inning, making them also the first team in Major League history to score nine or more runs in a nine-inning game in which all of their runs and hits came in one inning:

The White Sox are the only MLB team in the modern era to score 9+ runs in a 9+ inning game with all of their runs and hits coming in the same inning (4th).

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 23, 2026

All of Chicago’s runs came in the fourth inning, a frame that was highlighted by Munetaka Murakami’s bases loaded double that drove in three runs.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox urged to make vital decision after disastrous trade
• White Sox have a top-ten farm system
• White Sox get blunt Andrew Benintendi warning in latest power rankings

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Earlier this month, the Chicago White Sox acquired veteran pitcher Trevor Richards in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, hoping he would help stabilize their bullpen.

Well, the opposite has happened, as Richards has already allowed eight runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings of work, surrendering three home runs. That’s good for a 15.43 ERA, and if the White Sox want to continue making a push in the AL Central, they probably can’t afford to put him on the mound.

Richards has been respectable in the past, but he barely pitched in 2025, and he posted a 4.55 ERA in 55 appearances and two starts between the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins in 2024. In fact, the 33-year-old hasn’t registered an ERA in the 3s since 2021.

It’s probably already time for Chicago to admit the Richards trade was a miss and to move on to other options, and that is exactly what Noah Phalen of Southside Showdown feels the White Sox should do.

Phalen also recommended that Chicago swap out Richards for a minor-league youngster.

Chicago White Sox urged to promote Ben Peoples

If the White Sox decide to cut ties with Richards, they can just promote another reliever from within their system, and Phalen feels it should be Ben Peoples.

“Right-hander Ben Peoples, who the White Sox acquired in a trade with the Rays last season, has a 0.79 ERA in 17 appearances in Charlotte, striking out 30 in 22.2 innings,” Phalen wrote. “Though the team would love another veteran presence, Peoples is a 25 year-old right-hander having an excellent season and there’s no reason to not give him a shot at the big league level. Moving on from Richards would be the simplest move.”

Peoples was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the 22nd round of the 2019 MLB Draft and was a starter in the Rays’ organization through 2024 before transitioning to a relief role last season. That was when Chicago landed Peoples in a trade, and the results have been impressive.

The White Sox have one of the worst bullpens in baseball, laying claim to a 4.63 ERA this season. If Chicago truly wants to contend for a playoff spot, it will need to make some moves here, and that could include dumping Richards in favor of Peoples.

As Phalen said, it seems like a very simple procedure for the White Sox, and it’s something they should do as soon as possible.

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The Chicago White Sox have had one of the better farm systems over the past few seasons. The prospects who have risen through the White Sox minor league system are showcasing their talents at the major league level this season.

With former prospects like shortstop Colson Montgomery (.223 batting average and a .814 OPS) and right-hander Grant Taylor (1.78 ERA in 19 games, four starts) doing well, others in the organization will slowly follow in their footsteps.

Still having a plethora of prospects waiting to make their debut, like outfielder Braden Montgomery, the White Sox farm system took a massive leap in Bleacher Report’s rankings.

The Chicago White Sox have a top 10 farm system nearly a quarter of the way through the 2026 season

According to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, the White Sox, a little over a quarter of the way through the season, have the sixth-best farm system in Major League Baseball. Before the season, the White Sox ranked 18th.

Reuter ranked each prospect on a “Tier system” from one to four, with Tier 1 being the best. For the White Sox, they currently have two Tier 1-level prospects, shortstop Caleb Bonemer and left-hander Noah Schultz. The lone prospect representing Tier 2 is Montgomery, who was promoted to Triple-A on May 5.

Left-hander Hagen Smith and shortstop Billy Carlson are in Tier 3, with two players, infielder/outfielder Sam Antonacci and right-hander Tanner McDougal, rounding things out in Tier 4. McDougal will miss the rest of the season due to Tommy John surgery.

According to Reuter, second baseman/third baseman Colby Shelton, who was not ranked, was his “prospect snapshot.”

“Few prospects are off to a better start this season than Shelton, who is hitting .310/.425/.599 with 15 doubles, eight home runs and 34 RBI in 39 games between High-A and Double-A,” wrote Reuter. “He was a sixth-round pick out of the University of Florida last year, and he was not even ranked among the top 30 prospects in the White Sox system when the season started, according to Baseball America.”

Schultz and Antonacci are already contributing at the big league level. Montgomery is likely the next White Sox prospect to make their debut. At 20, and playing at High-A, Bonemer is still a long way from making the big league roster. However, he is currently swinging a hot bat in Winston-Salem. In 40 game, Bonemer is hitting .255 with a 1.003 OPS and 14 home runs.

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The Chicago White Sox have taken many (if not most) in the baseball world by surprise this season. Through the first 49 games of the year, Chicago is 25-24 and in second place in the American League Central Division. Of course, their performance thus far in 2026 has been a shock because of how bad the White Sox have been over the past several years.

Coming into the season, they had lost 100 or more games in each of the past three years. This included an all-time worst record of 41-121 in 2024.

The 2026 White Sox, though, are the product of much retooling and rebuilding. Prospects long promised have finally reached the Majors, and while there are still growing pains, for the first time in a while, there is real hope.

However, there is also dead wood.

The Chicago White Sox need to make a difficult Andrew Benintendi decision

ESPN released their weekly MLB power rankings on Thursday, and the White Sox jumped from 23rd to 14th. However, their ranking also came with a warning that their continuing to put Andrew Benintendi in the lineup could doom what has been a promising season:

“The longer the White Sox hang in the playoff race, the more they might have an Andrew Benintendi problem. The 31-year-old has looked old beyond his years, with 14th percentile bat speed, per Statcast, and a spike in strikeout rate. The defense and baserunning metrics that once provided a solid floor for his value have also cratered, and at some point, his role as a fifth outfielder/DH against righties becomes an obvious upgrade opportunity for general manager Chris Getz.

“The complication: Benintendi still has another season and a half to go on the five-year, $75 million contract he signed before the 2023 season. Can the White Sox accept that this is a sunk cost when the time comes? The answer might have real ramifications on the AL playoff race when it comes to the overachieving White Sox.”

In seven Major League seasons before signing with Chicago, Benintendi hit .279/.351/.431 and averaged 15 home runs, 83 RBI, and 15 stolen bases per 162 games.

The year before the White Sox inked him to the deal, he hit .304/.373/.399 with five home runs and 51 RBI.

Since signing with the Chicago, though, Benintendi is hitting just .244/.307/.390. While he has a pair of 20-home run seasons, he is not hitting or producing enough for the team.

This year, he is slashing .239/.288/.380 with three home runs and 21 RBI. Benintendi has also struck out 45 times in 45 games, and has walked just 11 times.

Needless to say, Chicago needs more out of him or they must find a way to replace in their lineup, even if that means eating the rest of his contract.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox reason for Munetaka Murakami blunder revealed
• White Sox reconstruct lineup in aftermath of Miguel Vargas x-rays
• Recent White Sox ranking reveals how badly team misses Kyle Teel

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami has already established himself as one of the MLB’s most dangerous hitters two months into his big-league career.

Murakami is slashing .244/.382/.552 with 17 home runs and 33 RBI over 212 plate appearances this season, and while he has struck out 69 times, he has mitigated that with his prodigious power and terrific walk rate.

It’s still early, and pitchers still need some time to learn the Japanese slugger, but it’s looking more and more like the rest of the league missed on Murakami. And that may include the White Sox themselves, as they only signed the 26-year-old to a two-year, $34 million contract.

Chicago could always try and sign Murakami to an extension, but that will certainly prove easier said than done with how much interest he is almost surely to draw once he hits the free-agent market two winters from now (barring a major collapse at the plate, of course).

So, what was the reason for the White Sox’s short-term deal? Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller thinks he knows the answer.

Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami flub is easily explainable

In a piece where Miller listed one offseason regret for each major-league team, not signing Murakami to a longer-team pact was his choice for Chicago.

Miller certainly isn’t the first person to pose such a question for the South Siders, but his justification was entirely understandable, if not incredibly likely.

“Chicago would’ve had to pay a larger posting fee for a longer commitment to a slugger whose swing maybe wasn’t going to translate to Major League Baseball, while Murakami maybe didn’t want to ink a long-term deal with a franchise that had suffered 324 losses over the past three seasons,” Miller wrote.

Let’s be real here: the White Sox were far from the only ballclub that had reservations about Murakami. In fact, they obviously had less doubt than the other 29 teams considering they were the ones that actually signed him, so it’s hard to fault Chicago too much here.

Do the Sox now wish they took more advantage of the opportunity? Probably. Inking Murakami to something like a four-year deal would have been preferable given his current level of production, but again, the jury is still out on the lefty masher.

If Murakami continues to destroy baseballs, then yes; this will end up being a pretty big gaffe by the White Sox.

The post White Sox’s reason for Munetaka Murakami blunder revealed appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox had a scary moment on Tuesday night amid a comeback 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Miguel Vargas was hit in the wrist by a 95.1 MPH fastball. The third baseman needed X-rays after the contest to determine the severity of the injury.

Per Brooke Fletcher of CHSN, White Sox manager Will Venable revealed that Vargas’ X-rays came back negative.

Chicago does not intend to start him against the Mariners on Wednesday to close out the series, though he could come off the bench to pinch-hit on Wednesday if the offense needs a spark. The White Sox were planning on giving Vargas a rest day eventually, so Game 3 of the current series will work for that duty.

However, Vargas is dealing with bruising on his right palm.

“Just talked with Miguel,” Fletcher posted on X. “There’s some bruising on that right palm. Thought it was worse in the moment but he said he woke up and felt great. He’s thankful everything came back negative.”

Vargas, 26, has been a key piece of the suddenly-hot offense for Chicago. He’s batting .237 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs this season.

The White Sox will shake some things up on defense on Wednesday.

Chicago White Sox change the lineup

With Vargas out of the starting lineup, the White Sox plan to turn to Colson Montgomery to start at third base. Center fielder Luisangel Acuna will get the start at shortstop.

Acuna is batting .172 with three RBIs this season, he will head to the bottom of the batting order on Wednesday.

The White Sox enter Wednesday with a chance to win the series over the Mariners. Chicago is two games back from the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central. The White Sox have a two-game lead over the Texas Rangers for the final wild-card spot and a three-game lead on Seattle.

The White Sox have a chance to put some distance on the Mariners with a win in Game 3 on Wednesday before starting a three-game series on the road against the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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