The White Sox are still playing, still surprising, and still pushing deeper into October. But away from the field, there’s a real question hanging over the broadcast booth: John Schriffen’s future with the team may already be in doubt.
According to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, Schriffen’s contract has expired, and there have been no recent talks about a renewal. Glasspiegel also reported that CHSN CEO Mike McCarthy has “put out feelers” on possible replacements for Schriffen, who has handled White Sox play-by-play since the start of 2024.
Schriffen did not comment on the situation, and the team’s public response kept things brief. A White Sox spokesperson said, “We understand that it’s the time of year when these questions come up,” a White Sox spokesperson said. “But we are focused solely on the Postseason”.
The timing is notable because the White Sox have already turned a wild run into a 2-0 series sweep over the Houston Astros and a trip to Cleveland in the ALDS. Their games are now on the national stage, even as the broadcast situation around them appears unsettled.
Schriffen’s stint in the booth has been met with mixed reaction from White Sox fans. Some have criticized his tendency to miss the moment and his lack of early familiarity with the organization. At the same time, he has grown alongside this White Sox core, and the energy he brings has fit better with the way this 2026 team has played.
That comparison matters, too. Schriffen was always going to be measured against Jason Benetti, who left the White Sox in 2023 after disagreements with some members of the organization. Benetti set a high bar, and that made the job a difficult one from the start.
If the White Sox do decide to go in another direction, they’ll need someone who can work smoothly with color analyst Steve Stone, who signed a new multi-year extension in 2024. One name fans have floated is FOX’s Adam Amin, who calls Bulls games and does national baseball broadcasts with former White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski, though there’s no indication of interest from either side. Connor McKnight, who was also a candidate when Schriffen was hired in 2024 and remains on White Sox broadcasts as a reporter, could also re-enter the conversation.
And if the team does move on, it won’t be a simple search. There would be plenty of external candidates to consider, and the White Sox would have a major decision to make. For now, though, the club’s focus remains on the postseason - even if the uncertainty around 2027 is already starting to build.
In Other News...
White Sox Are Betting Game 2 On A Risky Pitching Formula
The White Sox are sticking with the kind of pitching plan that can make a postseason series feel like it is being managed on a knifes edge. For Game 2 of the American League Division Series, left-hander Anthony Kay is set to open ahead of right-hander Sean Burke, a setup that manager Will Venable has already confirmed as part of Chicagos approach.
It is the sort of decision that keeps every inning tied to the next one, especially with other arms such as Grant Taylor and Hagen Smith available if needed in shorter bursts. Burke, who had a strong regular season and is now coming off his first postseason start, said he is prepared to help in whatever role the White Sox need as they try to keep the series moving their way. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Fans Have One Prospect Worth Watching Closely Sunday
The Arizona Fall League has become a familiar late-season stop for evaluators looking to get one more read on some of the games better young talent, and Sundays slate has plenty of names worth tracking across Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Mesa, Salt River and Surprise. For White Sox fans, the most relevant watch point is Caleb Bonemer, who is part of a group that also includes prospects such as Zyhir Hope, Nathan Flewelling, Chase Harlan, Ike Irish, Arjun Nimmala, Dax Kilby, Demetrio Crisantes, Sebastian Walcott, Aidan Miller and Angeibel Gomez.
With games streaming on MLB.com and MLB.TV, the setup offers an easy chance to check in on how these prospects are handling another level of competition, especially on a day when rankings and recent achievements are likely to be a big part of the conversation. The White Sox do not have the deepest AFL footprint in the spotlight, but Bonemer gives their followers one player to keep close tabs on while the rest of the leagues top young names fill out the board around him. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Young Arms Are Forcing A New Rotation Conversation
The White Sox have leaned into a flexible postseason pitching plan, using openers and bulk arms instead of asking one starter to carry the load from beginning to end. Grant Taylor and Hagen Smith have been at the center of that approach, with Taylor turning in a strong four-inning save and Smith getting multiple playoff starts, a sign that the organization is comfortable letting young arms shape the way games are covered in the biggest spots.
For a club still sorting out its long-term rotation picture, that matters beyond October. Taylor looks set to keep working out of the bullpen, while Smith is the one who could keep developing into a starter, giving Chicago two promising pieces with very different paths. The bigger question now is whether this postseason usage was just a short-term solution or the beginning of a broader shift in how the White Sox want to build their pitching staff. [Read more 🡒]