The Federal Railroad Administration has finished its environmental review of Amtrak’s new maintenance facility at Union Pacific’s Canal Street Yard near Rate Field, deeming the impact minimal and opening a 30‑day comment period that ends Dec. 7. Amtrak will hold two public forums, including an in‑person open house at IIT’s Hermann Hall on Dec. 2. The 58‑page report outlines an eight‑phase construction schedule, starting with site demolition in Jan. 2027 and ending with commissioning in April 2028, and notes how the work could affect White Sox fans during the 2027‑28 seasons and the timeline for Justin Ishbia’s The Railyards project.
The November 9 post on Bleed Cubbie Blue dives into a whirlwind of baseball milestones, kicking off with the 1976 unconditional release of future Hall of Famer Billy Williams by the Oakland A’s—ending his 18‑year career that featured 426 homers and a .290 average, mostly with the Cubs. It then flashes back to historic Cubs moments like Frank Chance’s 1912 sale to the Reds, the 1935 birth of Cardinals legend Bob Gibson, and Luke Appling’s 1950 White Sox release. The roundup also highlights Hall of Fame honors (Gibson, Whitey Herzog), major awards from Roger Maris to Aaron Judge, and recent Rookie‑of‑the‑Year winners. Birthdays for current Cubs players round out the tribute.
Weekend look at big performances by a Twins hitter, a White Sox pitcher, and more.
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Reliever Zack Kelly, a dependable middle‑arm for the Boston Red Sox over six seasons, is now a free agent after being designated for assignment on Nov. 6, 2026. Kelly finished his Boston tenure with an 8‑8 record, 4.04 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 127 strikeouts in 131⅓ innings, highlighted by a 49‑game, 3.97 ERA run in 2024 and a clutch 3.31 ERA before a July elbow injury sidelined him. He posted a heartfelt farewell on X, thanking fans and teammates. With his minor‑league options exhausted, Kelly could attract rebuild teams like the Marlins or White Sox, or even return to Boston on a minor‑league deal.
Seattle’s Lookout Landing revives its weekly photo caption contest with a fresh snap from May 20, 2026, showing Mariners owner John Stanton and White Sox outfielder Jarred Kelenic chatting before a T‑Mobile Park game. The post invites fans to submit captions, essays, drawings, or even math equations, promising unlimited entries and a chance to earn community “rec” votes. Last week’s winners are listed, and the deadline remains flexible. New readers are encouraged to sign up for a better experience and to join the discussion on the SB Nation app.
Luis Robert Jr.'s 2023 breakout season—38 HR, 20 SB, .264/.315/.542 line and 5.0 fWAR—made his remaining $27.5 M contract look like a bargain. But injuries and a steep decline (‑15% wRC+, .223/.300/.660 in 2024‑25) left him worth just 1.3 fWAR, prompting the White Sox to trade him to the Mets and later the Orioles, who bought out his $20 M 2026 option. In 230 plate appearances for New York and Baltimore, Robert posted .221/.300/.407 with 11 HR, a career‑best 10.4% walk rate but still below league average. MLB Trade Rumors rank him No. 43 free agent, projecting a one‑year, $14 M deal, with the Padres, Reds and Royals as possible suitors. The piece questions how long teams will pay for his upside given a $20.6 M per WAR cost versus healthier five‑tool peers like Byron Buxton.
Texas will play five night games in the Cactus League, and individual tickets at Surprise Stadium go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 17.
In a witty recount of the White Sox’s AL Wild Card win over the Astros, the author shares the lengths fans go to protect a lucky streak—sitting motionless, wearing the same jersey, and repeating snack rituals. The piece blends personal anecdotes (Erick Fedde, Kyle Teel, Andrew Benintendi’s key hits) with research on sports superstitions, citing studies from 2018, 2021 and 2006 that link rituals to fans’ emotional control and athletes’ heightened rituals in high‑stakes games. By highlighting similar habits across baseball, football, hockey and basketball, the article illustrates why superstition persists despite lacking causal power.
Today in White Sox History highlights November 8 with the 1920 league‑realignment saga, when the Sox briefly left the American League for a proposed unified National League before the leagues stayed separate, shaping modern baseball. It also marks the birth of longtime coach Joe Nossek (1940), noted for his sign‑stealing expertise after playing for the Twins, A’s and Cardinals. The post recalls 1977 slugger Richie Zisk’s 30‑home‑run season before his $2.3 million move to Texas, and notes the 1999 South Carolina resolution to honor Shoeless Joe Jackson, now Hall‑eligible again. Finally, it commemorates Jerry Manuel’s 2000 Manager of the Year award after leading a low‑budget White Sox to a 95‑win season.
Purple Row launches its inaugural awards series, inviting fans to vote for the 2026 Best Defensive Play. Staff nominees include Jordan Beck’s April 11 home‑run robbery against San Diego, Cole Carrigg’s double play on June 17 in Chicago, and Ezequiel Tovar’s April 30 tag of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Toronto, among others. Readers can submit their own picks in the comments, then vote in a poll on The Feed, with the winner announced Saturday. The post also teases upcoming Rockies coverage and rankings throughout the week.
Chris Getz’s gamble on short‑term arms paid off just enough to get Chicago into the 2026 AL Central playoffs. Two low‑cost contracts—Anthony Kay (2 yr, $12 M) and Erick Fedde (1 yr, $1.5 M)—proved serviceable, combining for 299 innings at a total cost of $7.5 M. While neither dazzled, they helped the White Sox scrape into October, with Foster Griffin emerging as the sole true over‑performer. The article breaks down each pitcher’s AAV, innings, ERA and value, noting that past short‑term moves like Fedde’s 2024 rebound and Martín Perez’s $3.5 M deal also added depth. Overall, the piece shows how strategic, inexpensive stopgaps can keep a contending roster afloat.
As MLB’s current CBA expires on Dec. 1, a new deal may introduce a $180.2 million salary floor in 2028, with 2027 as a transition year. The Chicago White Sox, projected to have a 2027 payroll of about $125 million, would need to add roughly $55 million, making a salary floor “music to the ears” of its young core. The article argues the floor could push Chicago to lock up pre‑arbitration talents like Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, Sam Antonacci, Tristan Peters, and possibly revisit extensions for Munetaka Murakami or pre‑MLB deals for prospects. This financial push could shape the White Sox’s offseason strategy amid looming labor talks.
In a November 7, 2026 post, ndsoxfan outlines the White Sox’s offseason strategy aimed at sustaining the surprise success of 2026 and returning to the playoffs. He highlights the handling of arbitration‑eligible players, confirms that upcoming free agents—specifically Zack Newcomb, Dylan Fedde, and Zach Grichuk—will be let go, and promises to double down on the coaching staff’s winning tactics. The brief preview signals decisive roster moves and a focus on continuity to avoid regression.
The Sox Machine breaks down the White Sox’s upcoming arbitration and free‑agent moves, emphasizing the team’s financial flexibility after 2027. Arbitration‑eligible hitters Miguel Vargas and Brenton Doyle receive tenders, while Joey Bart, Huascar Brazobán, Jordan Leasure and Chris Murphy are non‑tendered. Vargas is a clear pick, and the author trusts that Ryan Fuller and the front office will chase Doyle, leaving the other non‑tenders on the table. The piece previews how these decisions shape the club’s roster and budget.
The Chicago White Sox sign right‑hander Alec Marsh to a minor‑league contract with a major‑league spring‑training invite. The 28‑year‑old, who posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 129 innings for Kansas City in 2024, is still recovering from labrum surgery performed in October 2025. While the deal adds depth to a rotation that logged the fewest innings in MLB in 2026, Marsh must prove his health in spring training to earn a major‑league spot. The signing marks the White Sox’s first free‑agent move of the offseason.
On November 7 the White Sox recall several quirky milestones: In 1997 the club bought left‑hander Doug Creek from the Giants only to flip him to Japan a month later, never seeing him pitch for Chicago. The day also marks the birth of 2002’s dreadful pitcher Todd Ritchie, whose 6.06 ERA and –1.7 WAR rank among the worst White Sox seasons. 2005 saw GM Ken Williams snubbed for Executive of the Year despite steering a 99‑win, World Series‑winning club. Later highlights include the short‑lived 2012 acquisition of Blake Tekotte and Minnie Miñoso’s 2014 induction into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Chicago White Sox kick off the 2026/27 off‑season by landing former 70th‑overall pick Alec Marsh on a minor‑league deal with a Spring Training invite. Marsh, who posted a 4.96 ERA over 203.1 innings in 2023‑24 as a starter, missed 2025‑26 with shoulder surgery and was removed from the Royals’ 40‑man roster. Chicago views him as a low‑risk, high‑reward depth addition that could bolster the rotation or provide organizational depth. The signing, reported by James Fegan and Scott Merkin, underscores the Sox’s focus on pitching depth after a successful 2026 season.
Osvaldo Bido’s 2026 roller‑coaster ends in disappointment. After a whirlwind off‑season—claimed off waivers by the Braves, dropped, and bounced through the Rays, Marlins, Angels and Yankees—he finally makes Atlanta’s Opening Day roster. Bido flashes brilliance in his debut, striking out three, but his next five outings tumble to a 1.50 ERA, 1.28 FIP and 1.45 xFIP, mirroring a disastrous 2025. The Braves DFA him in mid‑April; the White Sox claim him, but his struggles persist, finishing the MLB year with a –0.2 fWAR over 18⅔ innings. A brief, ineffective stint in Japan follows. With zero command and average pitch shapes, Bido’s MLB future looks uncertain heading into 2027.
On November 7, Pinstripe Alley celebrates the birthday of Hall of Fame pitcher and longtime broadcaster Jim Kaat. Though best‑known to Yankees fans for his TV voice in the late‑1990s and early‑2000s, Kaat’s playing career spanned 20 seasons, most notably as a Twins ace who won 16 straight pitcher Gold Gloves (1962‑77) and earned three All‑Star nods. He pitched in the 1965 World Series Game 7 and posted a career‑high 14.8 WAR in 1974‑75 with the White Sox. The piece traces his humble Michigan roots, brief Yankees stint (1979‑80), and lasting legacy as a player‑turned‑announcer.
Sox Machine’s latest Sporcle Saturday challenges fans to name every left‑handed first baseman who logged at least ten games at first for the Chicago White Sox. The quiz highlights Munetaka Murakami’s rookie feat—35 homers in 127 games, making him the first Sox left‑handed first baseman to reach 30+ homers in a season with 100+ games at the position since 1951. With 152 possible entries, the 25‑minute timed quiz provides game‑appearance hints and season data, perfect for trivia lovers looking to test their White Sox history knowledge.
Caleb Williams has become Chicago’s unlikely sporting savior just eight weeks into his NFL debut, shouldering the city’s collective disappointment. While the Bears boast the league’s most potent offense in half a century, the rest of Chicago’s teams are floundering—Northwestern sits 6‑2 but unranked, the Cubs and White Sox are out of the playoffs, the Sky have traded away Angel Reese, and the Bulls sit 1‑7 with an 18‑point average loss, the worst in NBA history. Williams now stands as the lone bright spot for Chicago fans.
A four‑for‑one proposal that would send Anthony Volpe, Elmer Rodriguez, Will Warren and Ben Hess to Chicago for White Sox second‑baseman Chase Meidroth is deemed too costly for the Yankees. Meidroth posted a .276/.350 line with 16 homers over 135 games in 2026, offering a ready‑made second‑base option as Jazz Chisholm Jr. heads toward free agency. However, packaging multiple top prospects would sap New York’s pitching depth and force uncomfortable in‑field choices. The article suggests the Yankees explore internal options like Volpe or Luis Garcia Jr., or wait for a clearer market before overpaying on a trade.
The Houston Astros are interviewing Hall of Famer Albert Pujols for their vacant manager role after firing Joe Espada following the AL Wild Card loss to the White Sox. Podcaster Tyler Stafford worries Pujols may be “too good” at baseball to articulate the game for players, noting Barry Bonds’ failed coaching stint as a cautionary tale. While many legends like John McGraw and Dusty Baker transitioned successfully to managing, Stafford questions whether Pujols’ elite talent will translate to the dugout. Pujols ends his playing career with 3,384 hits, 703 home runs and 2,218 RBIs, sparking debate over his managerial prospects.
The Chicago White Sox officially announce Matt Roffe as their new director of amateur scouting, confirming his title and providing the correct pronunciation of his name (ROW-fay). The hiring, revealed on Thursday, solidifies the club’s leadership in scouting talent for upcoming drafts and prospects.
The Silver Slugger finalists are unveiled ahead of the November 17 award ceremony. In the NL, top hitters include Hunter Goodman (C), Jake Bauers, Alec Burleson, Rafael Devers and Matt Olson at 1B, and stars like Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber as designated hitters. The AL list features Dillon Dingler (C), Pete Alonso, Willson Contreras, and Michael Trout among the outfield nominees, with Yordan Alvarez and Ben Rice slated for DH. Managers and coaches, barred from voting for their own players, selected these candidates. Team honors this season spotlight the Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers and Nationals in the NL, and the Astros, Rays, Twins and White Sox in the AL as the top offensive squads. Winners roll out on November 17.