The White Sox don’t have to make their arbitration calls right away, but the path is already pretty clear with a few of their eligible players. With a payroll sitting in the bottom third of MLB and a deep group of Triple-A talent waiting in the wings, Chicago is in a strong spot heading into those negotiations. Of the six arbitration-eligible players, three stand out as keepers.
Miguel Vargas is the easiest place to start. The White Sox should push to buy out his next three arbitration years, because he has become too important to treat as a short-term piece.
Vargas just put together a breakout season, clearing the 30-homer mark, more than doubling his WAR from last year and drawing 101 walks. He matters at the plate, he matters at third base, and he’s been the heartbeat of the team for most of the season.
Even with three infield prospects in the Top 10, including Roch Cholowsky, that shouldn’t change the calculation. Vargas is projected for $5.4 million in 2027 arbitration, and the article argues that tripling that number to lock him in through the rest of the decade would be a sensible move for a club trying to get every possible win out of a young roster. Taking him to arbitration would be a mistake.
Brenton Doyle belongs in the same bucket, even if his value shows up more in the field than at the plate. The August trade deadline pickup is projected at $3.66 million in arbitration, and that looks like a fair price for a player described as the second-best glove in the outfield. His perfect fielding percentage, along with the occasional power in his bat, helps balance out his inconsistency offensively.
Doyle may not profile as a full-time starter, but the White Sox need steady defenders and some veteran stability on a lineup that can be streaky. Pairing him with Tristan Peters late in games gives Chicago another layer of protection, especially with Will Venable’s unusual pitching philosophy in the mix.
Huascar Brazobán is the trickiest of the three, but he still fits the “keep” category. The right-hander hasn’t been overwhelming since arriving in Chicago in August, and his numbers slipped after the move.
Before joining the White Sox, he posted a 2.56 ERA and 1.006 WHIP with the Mets. After the trade, those numbers jumped to a 4.40 ERA and 1.395 WHIP.
The drop-off could be tied to switching leagues, or it could just be the normal volatility that comes with relievers. Either way, the White Sox believe there’s more in there.
He still has the ability to miss bats, and paying an estimated $1.6 million to see whether they can unlock that version of him is worth it. Starting him on the 40-man next spring would also add pressure, especially with several pitchers in Charlotte ready to push for his spot.
Keeping those three at their arbitration estimates would still leave three players on the outside. Catcher Joey Bart is in his final year of team control and is projected for $2.9 million, though the White Sox likely prefer Jake Rogers as the cheaper veteran option.
Reliever Chris Murphy is expected to make just $900,000 in 2027 and is listed as a game-time decision. Jordan Leasure, rehabbing from TJS, is projected at $1 million, but the White Sox probably won’t be eager to hand him seven figures.
In Other News...
White Sox Booth Suddenly Faces Real Uncertainty Beyond This Postseason
The White Sox have a little more than a postseason run to worry about when it comes to the broadcast booth. John Schriffens contract has expired, and there have been no recent renewal talks, leaving the clubs play-by-play chair in an unexpectedly unsettled spot as Chicago tries to keep its attention on October baseball.
Mike McCarthy and CHSN are reportedly exploring potential replacements, which adds another layer of uncertainty to a setup that had seemed stable enough heading into the stretch run. The team has stayed quiet beyond saying its focus remains on the postseason, but the situation suggests the booth could look very different once this run is over. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]