The White Sox have made a low-risk move with some upside, acquiring outfielder Tristan Peters from the Rays in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later. It’s a small transaction on the surface, but one that fits the profile of a team in the midst of a rebuild: take a flyer on a controllable, versatile player and see if there’s something more to unlock.
Peters, 26, has bounced around quite a bit since being drafted in the seventh round by the Brewers back in 2021. He’s already been traded three times - first to the Giants in a deal for reliever Trevor Rosenthal, then to the Rays in exchange for infielder Brett Wisely, and now to Chicago. That kind of movement is often a sign that teams see something intriguing, even if the results haven’t fully clicked yet.
He got his first taste of the big leagues this past August with Tampa Bay, though it was a brief and rocky debut. Peters went hitless in 12 at-bats over four games, striking out seven times.
But that’s a tiny sample size, and he spent the bulk of the year at Triple-A Durham, where he quietly put together a solid season. Across 555 plate appearances, he slashed .266/.355/.429 with 15 home runs - a clear step forward from his 2024 numbers at the same level (.238/.344/.402 with 12 homers).
What Peters lacks in raw power - his exit velocities have been below average - he makes up for with a good feel for the strike zone and decent contact skills. He’s not going to light up Statcast, but he knows how to work a count and get on base. Add in the fact that he can play all three outfield spots and still has a couple of minor league options remaining, and you’ve got a player who offers some roster flexibility without requiring a 26-man spot right away.
For the White Sox, who had room on the 40-man roster and didn’t need to make a corresponding move, this is a no-brainer. They’re in talent-acquisition mode, and Peters fits the mold of a player who could stick around if he makes the most of his next opportunity.
Looking ahead to 2026, Chicago’s outfield picture is still very much in flux - and that’s putting it kindly. Andrew Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr. are the projected starters in left and center, respectively, assuming Robert isn’t dealt before the trade deadline.
In right field, the favorite heading into Spring Training is likely Everson Pereira, another former Rays outfielder who came over in an earlier offseason deal. He’s out of options, so he’ll need to make the team or be exposed to waivers.
Behind that trio, the depth thins out quickly. Derek Hill brings speed and some defensive value as a bench piece, and utilityman Brooks Baldwin could see time in either corner. But overall, this is one of the thinnest outfield groups in the majors - a unit that could look even leaner if the Sox ultimately decide to move Robert in a blockbuster deal.
That makes the Peters acquisition all the more logical. He’s not expected to be a game-changer, but he doesn’t need to be. He’s a depth piece with some upside, and on a team like the White Sox - where opportunity is abundant and expectations are tempered - that’s exactly the kind of player who could carve out a role.