White Sox Shut Down Kyle Teel Trade Talk, Focus on Pitching and Bats in Offseason Plans
If the Boston Red Sox were hoping to bring Kyle Teel back to Fenway, they’re going to have to look elsewhere. White Sox general manager Chris Getz made it crystal clear: Teel isn’t going anywhere.
Appearing on 670 The Score’s Mully and Haugh Show, Getz took a lighthearted jab at Boston’s reported interest, saying he responded to the inquiry with an emoji. But the message underneath the humor? Teel is off-limits.
“What are we doing here?” Getz said.
“Teams can ask for anyone, sure, go ahead, it’s just a matter of how much attention you’re going to give it on the reply. It’s wild-you trade somebody, and you want them back that quickly.”
It’s easy to see why the White Sox are holding onto Teel so tightly. The 23-year-old catcher brings a rare blend of tools to the position.
Getz summed it up: “Left-handed catcher. He can hit, he’s got zone control, he’s got some pop, he’s athletic as hell, he’s got a good arm, and he can run.
It’s a unique skillset for that position. It’s unique, it’s gold.”
Teel backed up that scouting report with production. In 78 games, he emerged as one of the league’s most productive offensive catchers in the second half. He strung together a 20-game on-base streak-the longest by a White Sox rookie since José Abreu in 2014-and finished the year with an .833 OPS.
His final line: .273/.375/.411 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs, and a 12.5% walk rate. Still only 23, Teel is just scratching the surface of what he could become.
White Sox Offseason Priorities: Depth, Development, and the Draft
While Teel is locked in as part of the long-term core, the White Sox front office is staying busy this winter. Getz offered a glimpse into the team’s offseason blueprint, which centers around two main goals: fortifying the pitching staff and adding complementary offense.
The Sox are also riding a wave of optimism after landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft. Getz shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote, saying team owner Jerry Reinsdorf lit a “victory cigar” before the draft lottery-joking that it was part of the team’s effort to “manifest the first pick.”
But lottery luck aside, the front office isn’t veering off course. The focus remains on building around a young core, with an emphasis on protecting promising arms like Shane Smith, Hagen Smith, and Noah Schultz. That means adding reliable innings-eaters to shield the kids from overuse and provide stability.
Veteran Arms on the Radar: Mikolas and Quintana
Two names that could help fill that role? Miles Mikolas and José Quintana.
Mikolas, a two-time All-Star with the Cardinals, has had a rough go of it lately. He led the league in earned runs allowed in 2023 and followed that up with a 5.35 ERA in 2024. His strikeout rate dipped below 15%, a red flag in today’s game.
But what Mikolas lacks in swing-and-miss stuff, he makes up for in durability. He’s thrown over 200 innings four times and led MLB in starts in 2023. He’s averaged 188 innings per season-a valuable trait for a rotation that could use a dependable back-end presence.
Quintana, meanwhile, is a familiar face on the South Side. He spent the first six years of his career with the White Sox, including an All-Star nod in 2016. Since then, he’s bounced around the league, but he’s still getting outs.
In 2025, Quintana went 11-7 with a 3.96 ERA over 26 starts and made a pair of postseason appearances for the Brewers. He’s not a strikeout artist-his career K-rate sits just under league average-but he generates ground balls and eats innings.
Over a full season, he averages 193 innings with a career ERA of 3.76. Those are the kind of numbers that stabilize a rotation, especially one with young arms still finding their footing.
Bats on a Budget: Hays, Winker, and Kepler as Lineup Boosters
On the offensive side, the Sox could look to the free agent market for short-term help-ideally bats that won’t break the bank but can still provide value.
Austin Hays is one option. He hit .266 with 15 homers last season and was an All-Star in 2023 with the Orioles. He brings a solid glove and some pop, making him a potential fit in a corner outfield spot.
Jesse Winker is another intriguing possibility. He only played 26 games last year due to injury, but he was an All-Star in 2021 and has shown he can be a productive bat when healthy.
In his most recent full season, Winker hit .253 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs, splitting time between the Nationals and Mets. Coming off an injury, he could be a low-risk, high-upside signing looking to rebuild his value.
And then there’s Max Kepler-a name White Sox fans know all too well. The longtime Twins outfielder has been a consistent thorn in Chicago’s side, and even in a down year, he still hit 18 homers in 2025.
His best season came in 2019 when he crushed 36 home runs and drove in 90. In 2023, he posted an .816 OPS with 24 homers.
While his WAR dipped last season with the Phillies, Kepler’s lefty power could play well at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Final Word
The White Sox aren’t looking to make splashy moves just for the headlines. This offseason is about building smart-adding reliable arms to support their young rotation and finding value bats who can lengthen the lineup. And with Kyle Teel locked in behind the plate, they’ve got a cornerstone piece in place.
The Sox may be in a transitional phase, but they’re not standing still. With the No. 1 draft pick in hand, a promising young core, and a front office focused on sustainable growth, the foundation is there. Now it’s about making the right moves to turn potential into progress.