The Chicago White Sox are heading into an offseason with plenty of uncertainty, and that goes double for the players about to reach free agency once the World Series is over. With the specter of a lockout hanging over everything, nobody knows exactly how the market will unfold.
Some players might rush to sign before Dec. 1.
Others could wait. For the White Sox, it’s a list worth sorting through now.
One of the more interesting names is Randal Grichuk, who found real life in Chicago after a rough start elsewhere. He opened the year with the New York Yankees and looked lost there, batting .194/.212/.323 in 16 games before they cut him loose on May 1.
The White Sox grabbed him shortly after, and the fit was immediate. Used almost entirely against left-handers, Grichuk put together a big season in 101 games, hitting .299/.328/.598 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs.
Now entering his age-36 season, he stands out as a major offseason decision for Chicago.
Sean Newcomb also earned a place on this free-agent list after becoming one of the club’s key bullpen weapons. He signed for one year and $4.5 million, then gave the White Sox a career-high 60 regular-season appearances and a 3.09 ERA across 90.1 innings.
The first half was especially sharp, with a 2.52 ERA in 35 games, but things cooled after the break. Over his final 25 outings, he posted a 3.93 ERA, and September was rough enough to leave a mark at 8.76.
He did allow only two runs in seven postseason innings, but at age 34, the questions are still there. If Chris Getz can get him at the right price, though, he makes a lot of sense as a return piece.
Erick Fedde’s case is a different one. Acquired in the 2024 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers that brought back All-Star third baseman Miguel Vargas, he returned last offseason on a one-year deal and filled all sorts of roles.
He started some games, worked as a bulk reliever in others, and ended up appearing in 33 games. Fedde logged 141 innings with a 3.83 ERA, 99 strikeouts, and a 3.29 ERA after the break.
The issue was the long ball: he gave up 23 home runs during 2026. With his age-34 season ahead, the White Sox bringing him back feels unlikely.
Behind the plate, Jake Rogers is another player who appears headed for the open market. He bounced around four major league teams during the 2026 season before injuries and poor production forced Chicago to use him as Kyle Teel’s backup late in the year.
In 18 games with the White Sox, Rogers hit just .103/.239/.179 with one homer, though that homer was a walk-off. Even so, a return looks highly unlikely.
Tommy Pham, another player tied to the 2024 Vargas trade, also seems unlikely to stick around. His 2026 season was a tough one from the start, as he went 0-for-14 with the New York Mets.
Philadelphia moved him on Aug. 31 for cash, and he finished with Chicago by going 3-for-17 with a home run. He added a 0-for-3 line with two walks in the postseason.
Now heading into his age-39 season, retirement could be in play, and a White Sox reunion does not look likely.
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King has drawn interest because of the way he pitched across both the regular season and October, giving him the kind of track record that can matter to a team looking for a dependable starter rather than a quick fix. He has also made it known he would like to stay in San Diego, but the market may still pull him into a broader sweep of free agency, which is why Chicago could have to move quickly if it wants to get seriously involved. [Read more 🡒]
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Among the names to watch are Drew Thorpe, Mike Vasil and Hagen Smith, each bringing a different kind of uncertainty to the conversation. Thorpe has remained one of the more intriguing internal options, Vasil is working his way back, and Smith could get a longer look in a starters role, which gives the Sox a few possible paths but not much certainty yet. [Read more 🡒]
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The next question now is how long that relationship lasts after his current contract runs out in 2027. ESPNs Jesse Rogers believes the White Sox and Murakami have a real interest in working toward a multi-year extension, which makes sense given how well the first chapter has gone, but there is no indication anything is close yet. For a team that just found a major middle-of-the-order force, the longer-term planning may be just as important as the breakout season itself. [Read more 🡒]