Chicago White Sox News

Free-agent outfielder Jarred Kelenic is signing a non-roster deal with the Chicago White Sox, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The 26-year-old spent the last couple of years with the Atlanta Braves after originally being a first-round pick by the New York Mets back in 2018. Kelenic was once one of the Seattle Mariners' top prospects, but he has never been able to put it all together at the plate and has a career .658 OPS in five big-league seasons. He'll have a better shot to make the big-league roster in Chicago, but Kelenic is coming off his worst season as a pro, slashing .167/.231/.300 with a .531 OPS, two home runs, two RBI, and 23 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances in 24 games for Atlanta. He wasn't much better at Triple-A Gwinnett, hitting .213/.286/.309 in 95 games. At best, Kelenic will probably be hoping for a platoon role with the White Sox in 2026.

The Chicago White Sox and free-agent left-hander Sean Newcomb have agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. Sammon also reported that Newcomb "will at least get the chance to start" for Chicago. Newcomb was a first-round pick by the Angels in 2012 and had his best season with the Braves in 2018. That year, the 32-year-old southpaw posted a 3.90 ERA (3.69 xERA) with 160 strikeouts across 164 innings. Unfortunately, he struggled in 2019, eventually getting demoted to Triple-A and moving into the bullpen when he returned. Since then, he's been going back and forth between starting and relieving without much luck, until last year. In 2025, Newcomb struck out 91 batters in 92 1/3 innings while posting a career-low 2.73 ERA with the Red Sox and Athletics. For 2026, he will join a White Sox rotation that includes Shane Smith, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, and Anthony Kay. Right now, Newcomb can be safely left off your fantasy radar, but he's worth keeping an eye on since he's a lefty who once showed some potential.

The Cincinnati Reds have re-engaged in trade talks for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Robert is under contract for $20 million in 2026 with a club option for 2027. In return, the White Sox are reportedly looking for young talent and prospects who are close to MLB-ready. Over a year ago, the Reds showed interest in Robert, and now it appears they're even more serious about making a deal happen. The 28-year-old is a former Gold Glove Winner and All-Star who hasn't been able to recapture the success he had earlier in his career due to injuries and underperformance. Last year, Robert slashed .223/.297/.364 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs scored, and a career-high 33 stolen bases across 431 plate appearances. Right now, the Reds outfield consists of TJ Friedl, Noelvi Marte, Gavin Lux, and Will Benson. Robert would be a clear defensive upgrade, and hitting in Great American Ball Park would be a huge boost for his fantasy value. At an ADP around 133, you're drafting a potential 30/30 candidate without spending an early pick. If he does get traded, don't be surprised if he starts moving up draft boards pretty quickly.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. is being linked to the San Diego Padres by Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Meanwhile, the White Sox are being linked to right-hander Dustin May, reliever Pete Fairbanks, and hitters Mike Tauchman, Ryan O'Hearn, and Jake Meyers. This offseason could finally be the time that the White Sox trade Robert after picking up his $20 million option for the 2026 season in early November. The 28-year-old Cuban has elite physical skills both on offense and defense, but staying healthy has been an issue. Robert was unable to play more than 98 games in his first three years in the majors, and he's only played over 100 games in two of his six seasons. He has slashed just .223/.288/.372 while dealing with injuries the last two years, but his 38-homer, 20-steal season in 2023 continues to tempt teams. A trade to SD might only be possible if the Friars do the unthinkable and send Fernando Tatis Jr. packing.

Free-agent left-hander Anthony Kay and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract on Wednesday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Kay, a former first-round pick by the New York Mets in 2016 out of the University of Connecticut, will make a return to the U.S. after a two-year stint in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yokohama Bay Stars. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw posted a 2.53 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 249 strikeouts and 94 walks in 291 2/3 frames over the last two years in Japan. He was exceptional this past season, with a 1.74 ERA and a 57.8% ground-ball rate. Kay should have a decent chance to open the 2026 season in Chicago's starting rotation, and he'll be looking to show that he's a different pitcher after recording a 5.59 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 22.4% strikeout rate in his first five MLB seasons. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues will have better starting options to choose from.

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that "now is finally the time, it seems," for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to be traded. Robert had a career year in 2023, hitting .264/.315/.542 with an .857 OPS, career-high 38 home runs, 80 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 145 games played. The White Sox hung onto him and were hoping to trade him at peak value in 2024, but he once again struggled to stay healthy and played in only 100 games. The 28-year-old Cuban has hit a combined 28 homers the last two years, and the combination of his last two down seasons and a hefty salary will limit the return for the Pale Hose on any potential deal. Robert is still in the 90th percentile or better for sprint speed, defensive range, and bat speed, but he's been injured and unlucky the last two years. Passan lists the Giants, Phillies, Mets, and Reds as potential landing spots for Robert if he's finally dealt.

As expected, the Chicago White Sox picked up the $20 million option for the 2026 season on outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The White Sox also have another $20 million club option on Robert for the 2027 campaign. The 28-year-old Cuban outfielder has been a name thrown around in trade rumors for over a year, but the Pale Hose have held onto him even though he continues to miss valuable time due to injuries. He played in 110 games in 2025 and hit just .223/.297/.364 with a .661 OPS, 14 home runs, 53 RBI, and 52 runs scored, but he also stole a career-high 33 bases in 431 plate appearances. Robert also showed his upside in the second half by hitting just under .300. Fantasy managers are wondering if Robert can ever replicate his 38-homer, 80-RBI, 20-steal season from 2023. Robert has the skills to do so, but his health is a big question mark.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Tim Elko (knee) had successful surgery on Tuesday to fix a torn ACL in his right knee, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Elko is expected to be out for eight months, according to the team. The 26-year-old missed three weeks this summer with what was being called a right-knee sprain. He struggled at the plate in his debut season in the majors in 2025, going 9-for-67 (.194) with four home runs, eight RBI, five walks, and 30 strikeouts in 72 plate appearances over 23 games played, but his knee injury certainly played a part. Elko will now miss the first half of the 2025 season and can be ignored in redraft leagues next spring. Before getting the call to the big leagues, he hit .292/.357/.552 with a .910 OPS, 26 home runs, and 70 RBI in 96 games for Triple-A Charlotte.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor announced his retirement on Sunday. The 34-year-old went 1-for-3 with a walk in his last game, an 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals. He finished the season with a .200/.259/.366 line, nine home runs, 35 RBI, 33 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 325 trips to the plate. Taylor entered the pros as the Nats' sixth-round pick in 2009 and debuted with the club in 2014. He played in Washington through 2020 and was part of the only World Series-winning team in franchise history in 2019. Between his stints with the Nationals and White Sox, he spent time with the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, and Pittsburgh Pirates. A longtime defensive stalwart and a Gold Glove winner with the Royals in 2021, Taylor played in 1,216 regular-season games in the majors and hit .232/.287/.379 with 109 home runs, 387 RBI, 427 runs scored, and 128 stolen bases over 3,801 plate appearances

The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Mike Tauchman (knee) on the 10-day injured list with a torn meniscus in his right knee on Wednesday. Tauchman will undergo surgery on Sept. 30 to repair the issue, and he's expected to recover within five weeks. In what could end up as his lone season as a member of the White Sox, Tauchman hit a useful .263/.356/.400 with nine homers, 40 RBI, and 44 steals over 93 games and 385 plate appearances. Chicago will have the option of keeping Tauchman in 2026, his last year of arbitration eligibility, but the team could move on in lieu of paying him upward of $2 million.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi (Achilles) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive to Sept. 21. The veteran outfielder will miss the final week of the regular season due to Achilles tendinitis. This is an issue that forced Benintendi to miss time earlier in the season. The White Sox aren't in postseason contention anyway, so Benintendi missing a few games isn't a big deal. It'll give the White Sox a chance to play some younger players. Benintendi finished the season with a .240/.307/.431 slash line with 20 home runs, 63 RBI, and one stolen base in 116 games. It wasn't a terrible year for Benintendi, but the White Sox expected more out of him when they signed him to a five-year deal in 2023.

The Chicago White Sox announced on Friday that they placed left-hander Martin Perez (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a left-shoulder strain and recalled left-hander Cam Booser from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. With less than two weeks in the 2025 season, the move effectively ends Perez's season. The 34-year-old veteran also dealt with left-elbow issues this year, limiting him to only 56 innings at the big-league level for Chicago. The 14-year veteran was effective when he was available, though, sporting a 3.54 ERA (4.25 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 44 strikeouts and 22 walks in 11 appearances (10 starts). Although Perez wasn't terrible at all in his limited action in 2025, the veteran soft-tossing southpaw isn't going to have a robust free-agent market this winter and will likely have to settle for a minor-league deal if he wants to continue pitching in 2026.

Chicago White Sox left-hander Martin Perez (shoulder) exited a 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday with shoulder soreness and will undergo an MRI on Thursday. The 34-year-old fell to 1-6 after giving up three earned runs on five hits while posting three strikeouts against three walks over 3 2/3 innings. Despite Wednesday's struggles, Perez has recorded a solid 3.54 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB over 11 appearances (10 starts) and 56 innings this year. Perez missed four months of the season with a flexor strain, though, and his latest injury may prevent him from pitching again in 2025.

Injured White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hamstring) is "probably running out of time" to return from a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain this season, manager Will Venable admitted on Wednesday. Robert has already missed two weeks since going on the IL on Aug. 27, and he hasn't recovered quickly enough for the team to believe he'll make it back by the end of September. The oft-injured 28-year-old has played in 110 games - the second-highest total of his career - and hit a lackluster .223/.297/.364 with 14 homers, 53 RBI, 52 runs, and a personal-best 33 steals over 431 plate appearances this season. The White Sox will have to decide in the offseason whether to pick up Robert's $20 million option for 2026 or buy him out for $2 million. General manager Chris Getz said earlier this summer that the team is "committed to Luis," so it appears likely that the former All-Star will stay put.

The Chicago White Sox announced on Wednesday that they reinstated infielder Miguel Vargas (hand) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Bryan Ramos to Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. Vargas is back at third base and will hit sixth in his return on Wednesday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Griffin Jax. The 25-year-old has been out for two weeks with a left-hand sprain, but now that he's back, he should be a lineup regular for the Pale Hose the rest of the way in 2025. In his first full year in the Windy City, Vargas has slashed .234/.315/.404 at the plate with a .719 OPS, a career-high 14 home runs, 52 RBI, 69 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 121 games played. The Cuban infielder was hitting better in August before his hand injury, batting .281 (16-for-57) with a homer, five doubles, and eight RBI in 16 games.

The Chicago White Sox announced on Wednesday that they are recalling right-hander Sean Burke from Triple-A Charlotte and designating right-hander Dan Altavilla in a corresponding move. Burke will make the start for Wednesday's contest against the Tampa Bay Rays. After being sent down to the farm last month, the 25-year-old will return to Chicago's starting rotation and could stay there for a couple turns through the end of the season. The former third-rounder went 4-10 with a 4.28 ERA (4.88 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP while striking out 110 and walking 54 in 117 2/3 frames over 24 outings (20 starts). Burke wasn't exactly great after being sent to Charlotte, allowing 11 runs in 12 2/3 innings for the Knights. Fantasy managers should consider him a pretty low-upside streaming option in deeper leagues in his return on Wednesday.

Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Braden Montgomery (foot) was placed on Double-A Birmingham's 7-day injured list on Monday. Chicago's top-ranked prospect was hit by a pitch in the second inning of Saturday's contest, resulting in a small fracture in his right foot. The injury will end what was otherwise a good season for the 2024 first-rounder, who began at Single-A and earned two promotions to get to Birmingham. In all, the 22-year-old slashed .270/.360/.444 with 12 home runs and 14 steals in 121 games played. The switch-hitter is still expected to participate in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). If he continues to progress, he should see Triple-A next year and could even see a late season debut in the majors. With solid hit and run tools along with some plus power, he's the type of prospect dynasty managers should be stashing away.

Chicago White Sox left-hander Noah Schultz (knee) was placed on the minor-league injured list with knee discomfort on Thursday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. Schultz is the No. 38-ranked prospect according to the MLB top-100 list and the White Sox's second-ranked prospect. It appears the White Sox are placing him on the IL due to precautionary reasons; however, fantasy managers who own Schultz in dynasty leagues may want to keep a close eye on this as the days go on to make sure it's nothing serious. Shultz was projected to make his MLB debut at some point towards the end of 2025; however, now it appears that may be delayed to the start of 2026, depending on the severity of the injury. Schultz was a first-round pick for the White Sox back in 2022, and during the 2025 season, he has made 17 starts, with 12 of them coming in Double-A, and his most recent five starts in Triple-A. He owns a 4.68 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP on the season across both levels.

The Chicago White Sox announced on Thursday that they recalled right-hander Jonathan Cannon and left-hander Tyler Gilbert from Triple-A Charlotte and placed left-hander Bryan Hudson (back) on the 15-day injured list with a lower-back strain in a corresponding move. Right-hander Bryse Wilson was also designated for assignment. Cannon is expected to serve in a bulk-relief role for Thursday's contest against the division-rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field behind left-handed opener Fraser Ellard. Although Cannon has more streaming appeal than Ellard in this one, fantasy managers should still have better options than Cannon despite the small slate of games on Thursday. The 25-year-old has gone 4-9 at the big-league level in 2025 with a 5.34 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 76:35 K:BB in 96 innings over 19 outings (17 starts) in his second MLB season.

Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth (ankle) is out of Tuesday's starting lineup against the division-rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field after suffering a sprained right ankle in Monday's contest. Lenyn Sosa will draw the start at the keystone and will bat out of the three-hole against Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson. For now, Meidroth should be viewed as day-to-day by fantasy managers in deeper leagues, but he shouldn't be ruled out for a trip to the injured list if he can't get back on the field soon. Sosa has been one of the team's more productive bats this year, as he enters Tuesday's game with a career-best 18 home runs, 61 RBI and a .266/.295/.432 slash line in 120 games played for the Pale Hose. In his first 99 MLB games this year, Meidroth has gone 92-for-363 (.253) with only four homers, 21 RBI and 13 steals in 409 trips to the plate.