The White Sox’s offseason picture got a little clearer on Thursday, and in some ways a little busier too.
Chicago officially saw six players choose free agency after the end of the 2026 campaign: Erick Fedde, Randal Grichuk, Sean Newcomb, Trevor Richards, Tommy Pham, and Jake Rogers. None of those departures came as much of a surprise, but now Chris Getz has a more defined list of openings to address.
That matters because the White Sox are in a different place than they were a year ago. They still have a young, controlled core, and all of their regular position players are expected back in 2027. For a team that followed three straight losing seasons with an unprecedented ALDS run, that gives the front office a strong base to work from.
Still, this isn’t the kind of winter where the South Side can sit back and admire the progress. Expectations are higher now, and there are obvious spots that need attention. Even with the roster foundation in place, a few of the players heading to the market were important pieces of the turnaround.
Sean Newcomb stands out first. He was Will Venable’s most dependable reliever for much of the year before fading a bit late, and he filled just about every bullpen job asked of him. Newcomb finished with a 3.09 ERA over 90.1 innings, and among the White Sox free agents, he may be the one Getz tries hardest to bring back.
Erick Fedde also gives Chicago something to think about. His best major league results in recent years have come with the White Sox, and there seems to be something in their setup that suits him.
This season he posted a 3.83 ERA across 141.0 innings, matching his career high. He wasn’t the kind of starter who was going to work deep into games every time out, but he was a steady spot starter and bulk arm all season long, and it was likely his most consistent big league year.
Randal Grichuk is the position player who could complicate the decision-making a little more. The White Sox grabbed him quickly in May after he was waived by the New York Yankees, and he turned into a major value pickup. With injuries thinning things out, he became a useful veteran and a strong platoon option in left field.
Grichuk hit .299/.328/.598 in 101 games, good for a .926 OPS, with 15 home runs and 44 RBIs. Chicago got far more production from him than it probably expected when it made the move. The question now is whether that is enough to bring him back on another one-year deal.
His age works in the White Sox’s favor. At 35, he likely won’t require a huge commitment, and there’s still value in having a veteran presence around a roster that is leaning young in other spots.
However this winter unfolds, the White Sox have reasons to be more aggressive than they have been in a while. But they also have a young team built with the long game in mind, so a measured approach - with upgrades around the edges, especially in the starting rotation - could make plenty of sense.
In Other News...
White Sox Fans Finally Get Closure On A Polarizing Broadcast Era
The White Sox are moving on from a broadcast voice that drew plenty of reaction over the past three seasons, informing John Scriffen that his contract as the clubs lead play-by-play announcer will not be renewed. His run in the booth was a polarizing one with fans, who at times questioned both his baseball feel and his energy, even as he worked to build a connection with the audience.
Scriffens departure comes after a stretch that had already created tension behind the scenes, and the organization has clearly decided it wants a fresh start in that chair. For a fan base that follows every detail of the teams on-field and off-field identity, the change closes a noisy chapter and leaves one more opening for the White Sox to reset how their game broadcasts sound moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Fans Wont Agree On This Polarizing South Side Exit
John Schriffens run as the White Soxs lead play-by-play voice has come to an end after three seasons, closing a stretch that never really settled the fan base. From the start, his style drew a mixed reaction on the South Side, with some listeners appreciating the energy he brought and others questioning his baseball knowledge and how naturally he fit into the booth.
Schriffen did make clear efforts to connect with fans, but the criticism around his approach lingered throughout his tenure. The White Sox now move on from a broadcaster who was always going to be debated, and the discussion around his exit says as much about the mood around the team as it does about the man behind the microphone. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Face One Huge Question In Pursuit Of Freddy Peralta
Freddy Peraltas name is already floating into the White Sox discussion as the club looks for starting pitching help and considers how aggressively to spend this winter. The right-hander is coming off a turbulent 2026 season that saw him dealt from Milwaukee to the Mets and then to the Rays, a run that left him in free agency with more questions than certainty, even as his track record still makes him one of the more intriguing arms on the market.
Chicago has the need and, at least in theory, the financial room to make a real run at a pitcher of that caliber. The bigger question is whether the White Sox would be willing to go that far, or whether they decide their answers are more likely to come through a different free-agent arm or a trade market that could be just as crowded. [Read more 🡒]