Chicago White Sox News

Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Braden Montgomery could contend for his MLB debut during the second half of the campaign. The team's top prospect, according to MLB.com, made his professional debut at the start of the 2025 season with Low-A. However, the former 12th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft quickly progressed through the Chicago system and finished the campaign with Double-A Birmingham. Across 121 total contests, Montgomery posted a strong .270/.360/.444 slash line with an .804 OPS. He hit 34 doubles, four triples, and added 12 long balls. The Texas A&M product swiped 14 bags as well. Given his quick progression through the lower levels, managers in deeper 12+ team leagues should continue to monitor Montgomery during the first half, as he could put himself in a great position to debut later in the season.

The Chicago White Sox have signed free agent reliever Seranthony Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. The deal includes a mutual option for 2028. The White Sox recently traded away outfielder Luis Robert Jr., and now, they're allocating that extra money to bolster their bullpen. Dominguez is a 31-year-old right-hander who split the 2025 season between Baltimore and Toronto. He posted a solid 3.23 xFIP with 11.4 K/9, but his walk rate soared to a career-high clip of 5.2 BB/9. There's a lot to like about his repertoire, though. Dominguez's sweeper grades out at 130 Stuff+ by FanGraphs' model, and it generated whiffs at a phenomenal 49.1% clip with a .112 xBA. His splitter is similarly dominant with 118 Stuff+, a 49.5% whiff rate, and a .141 xBA. Dominguez offers an analytically intriguing arm out of the White Sox' bullpen, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that he's expected to be the team's closer. He will be a key piece for the White Sox down the stretch if they end up playing competitive baseball in 2026. If not, he'll be an intriguing name to monitor at the trade deadline with a year and a half left on his contract.

The Chicago White Sox and veteran free-agent first baseman/outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. have agreed to a minor-league contract, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Wade will report to MLB camp as a non-roster invitee. Across seven MLB seasons, Wade owns a .236/.341/.390 slash line with 55 home runs and 185 RBI over 560 games. In 2025, the 32-year-old split time between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels, struggling to a .167 batting average with just one home run in 242 plate appearances. The White Sox have become something of a landing spot for underperforming veteran bats, so it's not impossible that Wade makes the roster out of spring training. Even if he does, however, he would offer minimal fantasy value outside of the deepest AL-only leagues. Chicago already has Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas, who could play first base.

The Chicago White Sox acquired second baseman Luisangel Acuna from the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday evening. Additionally, the White Sox acquired right-handed pitcher Truman Pauley. The 23-year-old second baseman received his first full stint in the big leagues last season, following a brief 14-game stint back in 2024. Through 98 games with the Mets last summer, Acuna posted a .234/.293/.274 slash line with seven doubles and 16 stolen bases. While he generated a low .271 xwOBA, he flashed immense speed upside, sitting in the 99th percentile, suggesting he could increase in that department if given a full-time role. Through 159 games with Triple-A split over the last two campaigns, Acuna has carried a .265/.307/.360 line seven home runs and 48 stolen bases. Managers should expect Acuna to compete for a starting role in the Chicago infield during spring training. If he earns a consistent role, he would have appeal in deeper category formats given his speed production.

The Chicago White Sox have signed free-agent relief pitcher Ryan Borucki to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. This is a low-risk move by the South Siders to add a veteran arm to their bullpen. Last season, Borucki posted a 4.63 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 32/16 K/BB ratio across 39 appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. The 31-year-old has a career 4.28 ERA across eight big league seasons with three different organizations. With a strong performance in camp, Borucki could settle in nicely as a middle reliever in Chicago.

According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect Noah Schultz (knee) is expected to be a "full-go" for spring training. The team's No. 2 overall prospect, according to MLB.com, was dealing with right patellar tendinitis late in the season but appears not to be in line to miss much time. Schultz opened the 2025 campaign with Double-A Birmingham but was able to reach Triple-A Charlotte later in the season. With Double-A, the left-hander posted a 3.34 ERA with a 58:36 K:BB across 56 2/3 innings. During his first taste of Triple-A, Schultz stumbled, posting a hefty 9.61 ERA across a brief 16 1/3-inning stint. Managers should expect Schultz to begin 2026 with Charlotte and contend for a mid-season MLB debut.

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.