As Spring Training looms on the horizon, the Chicago White Sox are wrapping up one of their busiest offseasons in recent memory. After a 2025 campaign that showed real signs of progress, GM Chris Getz and his front office have been aggressive in reshaping the roster-adding upside, flexibility, and a few calculated risks along the way. While there’s still time for another move or two before Opening Day, let’s break down the White Sox’s offseason moves so far, ranked from most impactful to most questionable.
1. Signing 1B Munetaka Murakami (2 years, $34 million)
This one turned heads across the league-and for good reason. The White Sox landed one of the most intriguing bats on the international market in Munetaka Murakami, a Japanese slugger with serious pop and superstar potential. His signing wasn’t just a surprise-it was a strategic coup.
For a team that’s lacked consistent middle-of-the-order power, Murakami offers a potential cornerstone. He brings a resume loaded with accolades from NPB, and while there’s always an adjustment period for hitters coming over from Japan, Murakami’s compact swing and plate discipline suggest he can make the leap. The short-term nature of the deal-just two years-limits the risk for the Sox and gives Murakami a chance to prove himself before hitting the market again.
Just as importantly, this move signals a shift in Chicago’s international strategy. The White Sox have historically been quiet players in the Japanese free agent market.
That changes now. Murakami isn't just a bat-they're buying into a brand, a presence, and a potential fanbase boost.
This deal checks every box.
2. Signing LHP Anthony Kay (2 years, $12 million)
This one might not grab headlines, but it’s a smart, savvy move. The White Sox are hoping lightning strikes twice after their success with Erick Fedde in 2024. Fedde parlayed a strong first half into a trade-deadline deal that netted Miguel Vargas-now a key part of the team’s young core.
Anthony Kay fits a similar mold: a pitcher who rebuilt his value overseas and now returns stateside with a refined arsenal and a chip on his shoulder. He’ll slot into the rotation immediately, giving the Sox much-needed innings and a potential trade chip if things go well. It’s a low-risk, high-reward play that fits perfectly with where this team is in its rebuild.
3. Signing RHP Seranthony Dominguez (2 years, $20 million)
If the White Sox want to start winning more of those tight games that slipped away in 2025-when they led the league in one-run losses-they had to upgrade the bullpen. Enter Seranthony Dominguez.
When he’s locked in, Dominguez has electric stuff: upper-90s heat, a wipeout slider, and the kind of late-inning presence that can stabilize a young relief corps. He’ll likely pair with rising arms like Grant Taylor and Jordan Leasure to form a more reliable back end. And should the White Sox fall out of contention, Dominguez’s contract is reasonable enough to attract deadline buyers looking for bullpen help.
This is a move that helps right now and potentially down the road. It’s the kind of signing that shows the front office is serious about tightening up the margins.
4. Trading RHP Gage Ziehl for RHP Jordan Hicks and RHP David Sandlin
This trade was a bit under the radar, but it reflects a creative use of payroll space and prospect capital. The White Sox sent pitching prospect Gage Ziehl to Boston and brought back two arms with upside in Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin.
Hicks is the headliner here. Known for his triple-digit fastball, he’s flirted with both starting and relieving roles in the past.
The White Sox seem poised to use him out of the bullpen, where his stuff plays up and his control issues are less exposed. If he clicks, he could be a dominant late-inning weapon.
Sandlin, meanwhile, is a developmental project with real potential. He’s got swing-and-miss stuff and could debut as early as this season.
For a team looking to build a sustainable pitching pipeline, this is the kind of upside play that makes sense. Giving up Ziehl-a solid but not elite prospect-feels like a worthwhile gamble.
5. Signing OF Austin Hays (1 year, $6 million)
After trading away Luis Robert Jr. earlier in the offseason, the White Sox needed a veteran outfielder to help stabilize things-and they found one in Austin Hays.
Hays isn’t a game-changer, but he’s a steady presence who can play both corner spots and offer some pop at the plate. He’s coming off a solid offensive season in Cincinnati and should slot into the everyday lineup, providing leadership and consistency for a young team still finding its identity.
This is a classic bridge signing. Hays won’t move the needle dramatically in terms of wins and losses, but he makes the team better in the short term and gives the White Sox a professional at-bat every night. Sometimes, that’s exactly what a rebuilding team needs.
6. Signing LHP Sean Newcomb (1 year, $4.5 million)
This one’s a bit of a wild card. Sean Newcomb has bounced between the rotation and bullpen throughout his career, and the White Sox are apparently giving him a shot to start in Spring Training.
That’s where the risk comes in. Newcomb’s best work has come in relief, where his stuff plays up and his command issues are less damaging.
If he ends up in the bullpen, this deal makes sense as left-handed depth. But if he’s penciled into the rotation out of necessity rather than performance, things could get dicey.
Still, the financial commitment is minimal, and Newcomb’s experience gives the team flexibility. This is a wait-and-see move that could look better-or worse-depending on how camp shakes out.
7. Trading OF Luis Robert Jr. for IF Luisangel Acuña and RHP Truman Pauley
This was the big one-and the most polarizing move of the offseason.
Trading Luis Robert Jr., a dynamic center fielder with elite tools and a team-friendly contract, is a bold decision for any franchise. The White Sox opted to cash in now, sending him out for a package headlined by Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley.
Acuña, while talented, isn’t a can’t-miss prospect. He brings speed, defensive versatility, and some offensive upside, but there’s still a lot of projection involved. Pauley is a promising arm, but also unproven at the big-league level.
The issue here isn’t just the return-it’s the timing. With Robert under control and the team not pressed financially, there was a case to be made for holding onto him, hoping for a hot start, and letting his value soar. Instead, the White Sox moved early, betting on their ability to develop the pieces they got back.
This trade will be judged over years, not months. But for now, it’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who saw Robert as a centerpiece of the rebuild.
Final Thoughts
The White Sox didn’t sit idle this winter. They spent wisely, took some calculated risks, and made a few moves that could pay off big if things break right.
Murakami is the headline act, Kay and Dominguez bring stability, and the Hicks/Sandlin trade has intriguing upside. But the Robert trade casts a long shadow over the offseason-and whether this team truly took a step forward may hinge on how that decision plays out in the long run.
For now, there’s reason for cautious optimism. The pieces are in place for a more competitive 2026, and Spring Training will offer the first real look at how it’s all coming together.