The White Sox are moving on from John Schriffen.
According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, the organization has told Schriffen his run as play-by-play announcer is over, and a national search for his replacement will begin right away. That means Chicago Sports Network will be looking for a new lead voice on the South Side after three seasons with Schriffen behind the microphone.
The decision comes after Schriffen’s three-year contract expired following the 2026 season. The team had the chance to trigger an option year, but chose not to. It closes out a stretch that began with the White Sox at rock bottom and ended with them as a playoff contender.
Brooks Boyer, the White Sox chief revenue and marketing officer, addressed the move in a statement reported by James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times:
"John has been a true professional throughout his three seasons with the White Sox, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and a distinctive style to our broadcasts. As his contract comes to an end, we believe this is the appropriate time to evaluate the direction of our broadcasts and determine what is best for the organization and our fans moving forward.
We are appreciative of John’s contributions and the connection he built with our fanbase. We wish him continued success in his future endeavors."
For CHSN, this is another reset in the booth. It’s the second time in three years the White Sox will be searching for a new play-by-play announcer, after previously parting with Jason Benetti.
Schriffen’s stint was his first MLB play-by-play job, coming after a career calling KBO games. It also featured its share of friction, especially early on, with moments like “all the haters” and the “La Pantera Growl” drawing strong reactions. Even so, his pairing with color analyst Steve Stone and sideline reporters Connor McKnight and Brooke Fletcher was a steady one.
What happens next for Schriffen isn’t clear. He’s also worked UFC this year, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll pursue another baseball opening or stay with that lane.
One thing is clear: Stone will have a new partner in the booth for 2027. And while the external field is still unknown, McKnight should get a serious look after handling play-by-play duties multiple times in 2026.
In Other News...
White Sox Blueprint Sets Up A Debate Over How Aggressive They Should Get
The White Sox are heading into one of those offseason stretches where every roster move feels connected to the next, and the early debate is less about talent than timing. Between arbitration calls, tender decisions and a handful of possible free-agent fits, the front office is staring at a blueprint that could push the club in different directions depending on how aggressively it wants to act.
The conversation also stretches beyond simple depth fixes, with speculative trades and external targets giving the team plenty to weigh if it wants to accelerate the rebuild. There are names attached to the discussion from several corners of the market, and the broader question hanging over it is whether Chicago should stay patient or start making bolder swings before the rest of the winter market settles. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Offseason Blueprint Risks One Big Rebuild Debate
The White Soxs offseason plans are starting to take shape in familiar fashion, with arbitration decisions, looming free agents and a search for outside help all in the mix. The broad idea is straightforward enough: use the winter to patch up a roster that still needs pitching depth and more certainty in the outfield, while weighing whether to add on the free-agent market or get creative with trades.
What makes the conversation more interesting is how aggressive those trade concepts have become, because the organization is still in the part of the rebuild where every premium prospect can feel like a referendum on the timeline. The recommendations circulating around the club do more than sketch out a few possible upgrades, they hint at a front office willing to consider moving notable young talent in order to accelerate the reshaping of the roster, even if the final version of the plan remains very much unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Make Another Abrupt TV Booth Change
The White Sox are heading into another broadcast reset, this time in the TV booth. John Schriffen, who signed a multiyear deal with the club in January 2024 to work alongside analyst Steve Stone, will not be part of the teams plans beyond his current contract. Chicago has declined the 2027 option in his deal, ending what had been expected to be a longer run in the chair.
For a club that has already spent time reshaping how it presents games on television, the decision creates another opening to monitor. The team is now looking at possible replacements for the play-by-play job, a search that will matter not just to the booth itself but to how White Sox games are framed for viewers in the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
