September is about to hand the White Sox a little extra roster room, and they’re going to need it.
When MLB expands rosters from 26 to 28 on September 1, Chicago is expected to use one of those two spots on a 14th arm, with the bullpen having taken a beating over the last several weeks because of starting issues. The other opening should go to a position player, and while one name stands out, the White Sox could also get a little creative with that choice.
The most obvious position-player candidate is catcher Kyle Teel, though his rehab assignment suggests the club may be in no rush. Teel has been working back from a left ankle sprain that sidelined him on July 21, and his latest stint with Charlotte has been encouraging.
On August 30, he went 3-for-4 with a two-run double in the Knights’ 5-2 win over Memphis, finishing with five hits in 14 at-bats (.357) over four games since starting the assignment on August 25. He has also logged multiple games behind the plate during the rehab stint, which is a good sign that early September could be realistic for a return.
Teel said, "The ankle is feeling good… Just so grateful to be out here… and playing baseball."
If the White Sox want a short-term utility option instead of waiting on Teel, Rikuu Nishida is the name to watch. Nishida already got his first major league look this season, appearing in 12 games after making his MLB debut on May 25.
He hit 7-for-29 (.241) with three runs scored and two RBIs, and his 30 plate appearances produced a .241/.241/.241 slash line. Chicago recalled him again on August 25, but he never got into a game before being optioned back to Charlotte two days later.
Edgar Quero is the other position player who could surface in September, but he appears to be a less likely fit for now. With Drew Romo and Jake Rogers handling things in the majors and Teel expected to get most of the catching work, the White Sox may prefer to leave Quero in Charlotte so he can keep developing as an everyday player. They’ve made that call multiple times already this season.
The pitching side is where things get more crowded, and more interesting.
Chicago’s need for fresh arms is obvious, and the club has already leaned on Jose Urquidy and Erick Fedde out of the bullpen to help buy time for injured pitchers such as Davis Martin. That has also reduced the urgency to rush Drew Thorpe, who is working his way back after not making professional starts since the 2024 season.
Thorpe has made three starts for Charlotte, posting a 3.07 ERA over 14 innings with 14 hits allowed, three walks, and 15 strikeouts. The stuff has played, but the White Sox may still choose caution, especially with him returning to big-league action after two seasons away in the middle of a playoff race.
David Sandlin and Jonathan Cannon are among the most straightforward options to reinforce the staff. Cannon was just sent back down earlier this week, while Sandlin has already had a look in Chicago this season.
Sandlin’s big-league numbers have been rough, with a 6.93 ERA in 24.2 innings, but his minor league work has been much stronger: a 2.21 ERA and 3.77 FIP across 63.2 innings in 15 starts. Cannon’s Charlotte numbers are less flattering, and when you compare the two, Sandlin looks like the more likely choice to fill a starter or bullpen role.
Jairo Iriarte is also making a case. After a difficult 2025 season with the Knights, he has bounced back with a 3.03 ERA in 22 outings and more than 33 innings. That kind of turnaround could make him a candidate for a higher-leverage bulk role, the sort of usage the White Sox have already shown with Grant Taylor and Sean Newcomb.
Beyond that, the list narrows to Peyton Pallette and Jaden Woods. Pallette has already been through the Rule 5 cycle with Cleveland, where he opened hot before eventually being designated for assignment and returning to the White Sox system.
He has a 3.62 ERA in 27.1 innings with Chicago, though a 15.1% mark is likely to limit his short-term impact. Woods, acquired in the deal that sent Jacob Gonzalez to Pittsburgh, has been on a much sharper run after a shaky first outing.
Over his last 10 appearances, the 24-year-old left-hander has posted a 1.72 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 15.2 innings while allowing just eight hits.
There is one catch with Pallette and Woods: either one would need to be added to the 40-man roster first, and it is not clear the White Sox are prepared to designate anyone for assignment to make that happen.
However the September roster shuffle plays out, Chicago appears to have a group that can help keep this push moving. The White Sox have felt unusually resilient, and with a little more help down the stretch, they’ll try to keep that momentum rolling into October.
In Other News...
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For a White Sox team still trying to turn momentum into something more meaningful, the stakes attached to this pickup are bigger than a typical late-season depth move. Pham is headed straight onto the roster, and Chicago is clearly hoping his presence can help steady the lineup as the race tightens and every series starts to carry a little more weight. [Read more 🡒]
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For a farm system that has been cycling through uneven results and scattered bright spots, Sandlins outing stood out because it looked nothing like a developmental placeholder. It came in the middle of a week that also included the usual round of minor league updates across the affiliates, but his performance carried the kind of force that gets noticed quickly in an organization looking for pitching help. The bigger question now is how fast that momentum translates into his next opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Add Another Veteran Outfielder As Bigger Roster Questions Loom
The White Sox kept adding to their outfield mix ahead of the deadline, acquiring Jake Cave from the Rays for cash considerations after he spent the season on a minor league deal. Cave had not appeared in a Major League game this year, but because Chicago got him before the Sept. 1 cutoff, he is eligible for the postseason if he sticks with the club.
Jake Cave joins Tommy Pham as another veteran option the White Sox have brought in recently, a clear sign the front office is trying to shore up depth while bigger roster questions still hang over the team. The move does not settle how Chicago wants to sort out its outfield picture, but it does give the club another experienced name to sort through as the calendar turns to September. [Read more 🡒]