The Chicago White Sox keep combing the waiver wire and picking through the free agent scrap heap to fill out next season’s roster — and there’s no end in sight.
The biggest free agent signing so far has
been starting pitcher Anthony Kay. He had to go to Japan any hope of reviving a big-league career. Left-handed reliever Ryan Rolison was just claimed off waivers. And the team is willing to give infielder Oliver Dunn a shot to see if he can still be something more than organizational depth.
Let’s not forget the organization used the Rule 5 Draft to see if young hurler Jedixson Paez can fill a swingman role or the 100 mph cutter of Alexander Alberto is good enough to get high-leverage outs. Who cares if neither has pitched above High-A? It only costs $100,000 apiece to acquire these promising arms.
Seeing all these minor transactions immediately elicits the typical frustration with owner Jerry Reinsdorf and his frugal ways.
I do not blame any of my fellow White Sox fans for being upset with another offseason of picking up guys that are likely one bad season away from taking non-roster invite deals (or are already there).
The way the organization is going about filling the final spots on the 40-man roster fits a certain narrative: An owner unwilling to invest enough financial resources to accelerate the rebuild’s timeline.
However, making minor acquisitions should be celebrated.
One of the main points of free agency is finding players at the bottom of the free-agent barrel who can still provide valuable contributions or find a way to salvage their careers.
Even the Los Angeles Dodgers try to find players at the bottom of the free-agent spectrum to round out their roster. It was Miguel Rojas (with a $5 million contract) who belted that ninth-inning game-tying home run in Game 7 of the World Series with Shohei Ohtani was on deck.
You do not see the Athletics complaining about how they acquired Brent Rooker. Boston never cared how David Ortiz arrived. Teams, especially a rebuilding one like Chicago, should be looking for players discarded by other organizations to see if there is still something valuable there.
Adding Kay to the rotation also follows a track record of success the White Sox have had in their pitching additions. Erick Fedde’s impressive 2024 first half on the South Side after returning to the majors from Korea was celebrated. It makes sense to go back to that well once more.
You can still be skeptical of the organization’s ability to revive careers. That still does not mean the front office should completely avoid adding players at the bottom of the market. The organization just has to get better at player development or revival.
It sounds like the front office is making an effort with the recent additions of pitching coach Zach Bove and hitting coach Derek Shomon. Both have reputations as outstanding teachers and talent developers.
That said, I would never want to rob you of your anger toward a franchise that continually does not make major acquisitions.
An exciting young core emerged from the 2025 season, but free agents such as Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber could have been added to help accelerate the team’s potential turnaround.
Instead, the owner’s cheapness reportedly does not even allow general manager Chris Getz to eat some of Luis Robert Jr.’s overpriced $20 million salary to complete a deal with the Mets per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
“The Mets inquired about Luis Robert. But for the Mets to surrender prospects, they want money back to offset Robert’s $20M salary and hard-line White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf isn’t seen as likely to give money to Steve Cohen’s team.”
Yes, trading away Robert to the Mets would have been huge for the White Sox rebuild, given that the Amazins are a perfect trade partner with a glut of young infielders they could easily part with. Mark Vientos could provide some desperately needed power to the lineup and be a long-term solution at first base. Luisangel Acuña could provide good bat-to-ball skills and fly on the basepaths.
It sounds like Jerry will not budge on possibly getting a better return because he thinks Mets owner Steve Cohen should easily afford Robert Jr’s bloated salary. The owner is completely ignoring that LRJ is only affordable to him because of the lack of major payroll commitments. Robert’s $20 million is cost-prohibitive on most teams, even including the ultra-wealthy Mets owner.
I am also growing tired of these offseasons where the team is unloading talent rather than adding it.
Potential superstar players such as Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Shane Smith emerged from Chicago’s third-straight 100-loss season. Instead of adding some more power to the lineup or a solid veteran starting pitcher to help them out, the White Sox bring back Tim Elko.
Even when the White Sox try to land a good free agent, they are using a terrible process. The club has been linked to closer Peter Fairbanks. However, adding a closer is the last major addition a rebuilding team should make, no matter how terrible the bullpen was in high-leverage situations in 2025.
While it is a waste of time lamenting the organization making minor additions, feel free to criticize the lack of major upgrades.
