Andrew Vaughn failed to continue Chicago’s superstar legacy at first base. Now, the White Sox must figure out what to do at first this offseason.
The options are not very appealing, as general manager Chris
Getz has made it clear that he is not interested in signing any free agents to long-term deals.
So that means there’s no shot at signing veterans Pete Alonso or Josh Naylor. And you can easily rule out Chicago in the sweepstakes for Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami.
That leaves Getz deciding between sticking with the status quo or making a modest upgrade.
Status quo
The general manager can choose to save the limited financial resources he will have to spend in free agency by entering 2026 with a platoon of Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa and Curtis Mead.
The problem with running it back with that trio is the overall lack of power — and Sosa’s atrocious defense.
Sosa hit just seven home runs last season while manning first. He routinely failed to make the most fundamental fielding plays, like receiving throws or having his foot on the bag. Vargas can field the position well, with four defensive runs saved in 2025. However, he hit just six home runs during his time at first base. And Mead did not hit a single home run after being acquired in a midseason trade with Tampa.
The organization can rationalize this platoon working. It would take an offseason of Sosa training extensively to improve his defense, and Vargas likely bulking up. Sosa has shown he can get better at the plate, but he has given no indication he can improve defensively; he just lacks the instincts to be a decent fielder.
Vargas’ glove is much better than Mead’s at both first and third. Also, if Mead does not show the ability to grow his play to being a raised-floor player like Vargas did last season, he won’t be on the roster for very long.
If you are hoping the team will consider moving catchers Kyle Teel or Edgar Quero to first, I do not see the organization entertaining that at this point in their careers.
Modest upgrades
It would be ideal for the White Sox to splurge in free agency, especially with Naylor on the market. He is 28, and the White Sox Killer has always hit well at Rate Field. The organization currently does not have a long-term option at first base, and Naylor would slide in nicely as the team’s first baseman for the next four seasons.
Of course, Naylor is going to be outside of the team’s price range. Spotrac projects he will get a four-year, $60 million deal.
Ryan O’Hearn might be even expensive for the White Sox. He could address the team’s need to upgrade both right field and first base while providing the lineup with another left-handed bat. He does not hit for a ton of power, however. Spotrac projects him getting a two-year, $22 million deal.
I am not seeing the front office spending that much to address first base. If they do, I doubt it is a multi-year deal.
At best, the White Sox are looking at Rhys Hoskins or Josh Bell as the free agents the White Sox target. There are whispers that the club is interested in Hoskins.
Hoskins had four seasons of hitting 29 or more home runs when he was with Philadelphia. He did crush 26 for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. However, he missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury, and injuries limited him to just 90 games last season.
Hoskins is projected to cost just $7 million on the free agent market, per Spotrac. The value in signing him would be seeing if he can have a bounce-back first half and trade him at the deadline.
Bell would also provide a power boost at first base, with a career .443 slugging percentage. However, the most home runs he has hit over the past four seasons is 22. His trade value is no more than a player to be named later, as that is what he fetched the Miami Marlins in a 2024 trade deadline deal with Arizona.
The biggest issue facing the Pale Hose is not having a long-term option in the organization. Caden Connor is tearing up the Arizona Fall League, but he might be better suited to playing the outfield, and he might just be no better than a utility player. Tim Elko failed to impress in his brief time with the club this past season, and is also going to miss a significant amount of time after needing surgery to repair a torn ACL.
That is why targeting Naylor would upgrade the team’s talent and address first base through the rest of the decade. Instead, the White Sox again will take a band-aid approach, with a high potential for things not to work out in the club’s favor.
