The White Sox are heading into the 2026 trade deadline in a spot they haven’t occupied in years: buyers. That alone changes the conversation. Instead of dealing away pieces and stacking up future value, Chicago is finally in the market to make the club better right now.
The clearest need sits in the rotation. The bullpen could use help, and there’s room to upgrade the outfield, but the starting staff is the biggest issue. Davis Martin has been solid, and beyond that, the White Sox don’t have much to lean on this season.
That’s why ESPN’s Jeff Passan pointed to Reid Detmers as the “Best match” for Chicago - and even called him the club’s “dream” target. Detmers, a left-handed starter for the Los Angeles Angels, carries a 4.13 ERA, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Passan described him as the kind of pitcher whose stuff would get a team excited.
"Best match: Reid Detmers, LHSP, Los Angeles Angels. Dream matchL Reid Detmers, LHSP, Los Angeles Angels," Passan writes.
"... At the same time, while Detmers is Chicago's best match, he's also a dream because it's unclear if Angels owner Arte Moreno will allow interim general manager John Mozeliak to trade any players with multiple years of club control."
The appeal for Chicago goes beyond just the arm itself. Detmers is under club control through the 2028 season, which would give the White Sox 2.5 years of control if they landed him. That kind of move would let them address the rotation now without locking themselves into a pricey rental.
At 27, Detmers fits the idea of a deadline addition that helps both the present and the future. The problem is whether he’ll even be available. Passan’s point was clear: Detmers makes all the sense in the world for the White Sox, but the Angels’ willingness to move him is the real question.
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The biggest change has been in how Chicago is using him, with tweaks to his arm angle and pitch mix helping unlock the version of Hicks the club hoped it was getting. His fastball is back to missing bats at a high level, sitting around 98 mph, and for a White Sox team that has spent much of the year searching for dependable relief help, that kind of rebound is enough to make people take a second look. [Read more 🡒]
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Among the names drawing the most attention is Grady Emerson, the Fort Worth Christian High School shortstop whose advanced bat, defense and athleticism have made him a favorite in some scouting circles. Emersons senior season only strengthened that case, capped by major honors and a standout resume, but the bigger question for the White Sox is whether they lean into that ceiling or go a different direction when the pick finally comes due. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Fans Wont Agree On This Freddy Peralta Trade Return
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For the White Sox, the discussion is less about whether they would like the pitcher and more about how much of the system theyd be willing to part with. The suggested package reaches into the lower half of Chicagos prospect list, and that is where the debate gets interesting, because deals like this usually hinge on whether a front office sees enough upside to justify giving up multiple young players for a name with plenty of value questions attached. [Read more 🡒]