Chris Getz spent his end-of-season press conference trying to make one thing clear: he isn’t interested in tearing down the White Sox’s long-term plan just because the finish stung.
That message came through loudest when he addressed the trade deadline, where Chicago added outfielder Brenton Doyle, reliever Huascar Brazobán, catcher Joey Bart, and starter Luis Castillo. The moves didn’t all land, and the Castillo deal drew the most attention because the White Sox badly needed starting pitching and Castillo was the only starter they brought in.
That made the postseason collapse an easy target for criticism. Getz, though, said he stands by the process.
"I don't have any regrets because, truthfully, I was looking to do more," Getz said. "And I didn't want to mortgage the future.
I didn't want to give up our top-end talent for rentals. I didn't want to do that this particular trade deadline."
He also touched on one of the offseason’s bigger success stories, first baseman Munetaka Murakami. Getz took a chance on the Japanese phenom when it seemed like few others were making a move, and Murakami delivered a strong first MLB season despite a rough stretch late in the year.
In 127 games, he hit .207/.347/.478 with 35 home runs, while striking out 196 times. His status beyond his current two-year deal remains unresolved, and the conversations are being kept private, but Getz sounded optimistic about keeping him around.
"Mune means a lot to us," Getz said. "We certainly want him to come back and be here a long time."
Getz also used the podium to point back to the larger picture: a young team that pulled off a turnaround few would have expected after three straight 100-loss seasons, even if the ending left a sour taste. He said the work ahead is still about strengthening the organization from the ground up.
"As the general manager, as the leader of this organization, what our next steps are, I will say I want to continue to focus on fueling the foundation of this organization," Getz said. "I've talked about that from the beginning. That's not going to stop."
For Getz, that means the same thing it has from the start: keep building, keep feeding the system, and keep the minors at the center of the plan.
In Other News...
White Sox Face A Big Taylor And Smith Decision Ahead
Grant Taylor and Hagen Smith both gave the White Sox a glimpse of how impactful they can be in relief during the 2024 season and postseason, and general manager Chris Getz already sees starting potential in both arms. For now, though, Chicago is treating them as pitchers with starter upside rather than locking them into a specific lane, which leaves the club with some appealing flexibility as it keeps building out its long-term staff.
Getz has not settled on what Taylor or Smith will be in 2027, and the broader picture is still just as fluid. The White Sox plan to look outside the organization for more starting pitching, while the shape of that future rotation and the payroll plans around it remain unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Still Have One Huge Murakami Question After Breakout Rookie Year
Munetaka Murakami gave the White Sox plenty to feel good about in his rookie season, powering 35 home runs and posting an .825 OPS while quickly becoming a major part of the club's offensive mix. Now the bigger question around the first baseman is not what he can do on the field, but how long he will be around to do it, with the team and Murakami locked in extension discussions.
The talks got underway in late summer and have remained quiet since then, with the White Sox offering no official update on where things stand. For a player who already looks like a foundational piece after one strong season, the uncertainty adds another layer to an offseason that could shape the team's core for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Murakami Just Made The White Sox Long Term Decision Harder
Munetaka Murakamis first season with the White Sox gave the club plenty to think about, even before the calendar turned toward the offseason. The rookie finished with 35 home runs and 77 RBIs, and even with a .207/.347/.478 slash line and time lost to a hamstring strain, he made his presence felt after signing a two-year deal and shifting from third base to first base during the season.
Now Murakamis debut has picked up a little more recognition, adding another layer to Chicagos long-term evaluation. The White Sox already knew they had an intriguing bat and a defensive conversion project on their hands, and the latest attention only sharpens the question of how quickly they want to move on a possible extension for a player whose first year offered both upside and uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]