The 2026 Chicago White Sox turned a slim postseason outlook — 6.6% (ZiPS) and 1.5% (PECOTA) — into a surprise playoff run by outperforming FanGraphs’ Positional Power Rankings at almost every spot. While the only under‑performance came at catcher (ranked 26th but finished 28th), the team exceeded expectations across the board, aided by a weaker AL overall. The article breaks down each position’s ranking versus actual production, highlighting the collective overachievement that propelled the Sox beyond single‑digit odds.
In the latest Sox Machine podcast, host Josh Nelson reveals that five White Sox players will not return for 2027, highlighting two backup catchers and struggling relievers among the seven names discussed. He and analyst Jim Margalus also debate the future of the left field position and question Andrew Benintendi’s role—if his early-season performance falters, he could face a waiver. The episode, part of the Offseason Plan Project, is sponsored by Ankin Law.
PREAMBLE Premature end to the rebuild or a year of overachievement? With highs and lows spattered around a roller-coaster of a season, the Sox go into the 2026 off-season with one of the most optimistic foresight’s since 2021. How can the Sox build on this momentum? Turning the weaknesses into strengths and letting the kids…
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PREAMBLE Chris Getz has been abruptly fired and I have taken over. I won’t be sentimental about 2026 and an 84 win team, that’s for sure. ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS Bart, Brazoban, Leasure, and Murphy are gone. If you didn’t contribute in 2026, why on earth would I bring you back? OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS I don’t…
The post Your 2027 World Champion Chicago White Sox (abbreviated season; 81 games) appeared first on Sox Machine .
PREAMBLE $130 million? Really, Jerry? You’re getting revenue from postseason games, higher TV ratings despite a dreadful play-by-play announcer, and more sales in Japan due to actually spending a little to get Munetaka Murakami? We’re not doing that, you cheap bastard. I’m adding $25 million to this budget, with the logic that some strategic spending…
The post New Day Rising (Asinwreck’s Offseason Plan) appeared first on Sox Machine .
The White Sox’s 2026 season hinged on shortstop Colson Montgomery, who dazzled with 31 homers and a .206 isolated slugging percentage—leading AL shortstops in power and earning 2.8 fWAR. Yet his .197/.282/.403 line and a league‑worst 35.6% strikeout rate raise red flags, especially against four‑seam fastballs where he hit .154. Compared to his 2025 rookie burst (31 HR, 2.7 fWAR in half the games), Montgomery’s swing‑and‑miss surged, his chase rate rose to 32.4%, and his walk rate lagged at 8.5%. The article weighs his elite defense (+10 OAA) against the danger of a Gallo‑style regression, suggesting the White Sox must curb his strikeouts or risk turning a solid regular into a marginal player.
PREAMBLE Establish where you see the White Sox at this point, and your mindset/philosophy/strategy in putting together the roster for the upcoming season. 2026 was an incredible season! Venable worked magic to get the pitching staff one game from the ALCS. Of course, pitching is a priority. I would urge Reinsdorf to open up the…
The post SavannahSox’s Offseason Plan appeared first on Sox Machine .
In "Armchair’s Offseason Plan," the author evaluates the Chicago White Sox after a disappointing 2025 run that fell apart against Cleveland in the playoffs. He pinpoints three core issues: a shallow starting rotation that overtaxed the bullpen, a hitting approach that devolved into pure power at the expense of contact—resulting in record strikeout games—and insufficient bat speed to handle high‑velocity pitching. The piece outlines his philosophy for reshaping the roster ahead of the 2026 season.
Caleb Bonemer reported to the Arizona Fall League as the White Sox’s main attraction, and he’s lived up to the billing thus far. Glendale’s 10-0 victory over Mesa on Thursday featured Bonemer’s best game of the showcase to date. He went 3-for-5 while finishing a double shy of the cycle. and the home run was…
The post Arizona Fall League update: Caleb Bonemer is bolstering his prospect stock appeared first on Sox Machine .
PREAMBLE The White Sox have a playoff-ready lineup with depth and talent coming up and/or back from injury. (Bonemer, Cholowsky, Baldwin, Murray, etc.) The focus has to be figuring out the pitching, and if a quality veteran bat falls into the lap, go ahead and take it. I understand the desire for both Smith and…
The post Coser’s Offseason Plan appeared first on Sox Machine .
PREAMBLE I see a successful team past “rebuild” as the foundation is laid and now in the “build” mode, which I see as sort of a “stay the course, add key pieces, but don’t go into full buyer mode yet, for a number of reasons… The lockout will mean a weird 2027 season so there…
The post EP’s Offseason Plan appeared first on Sox Machine .
PREAMBLE …How much fun was that? I know I complained a lot, and the ending of the season was incredibly disappointing, but having meaningful baseball all summer and into October is all you can really ask for as a baseball fan: And for the first time in a long time, the South Siders delivered! Now,…
The post Getting Serious™ About Competing appeared first on Sox Machine .
In the World Series opener, the Tampa Bay Rays went 0‑for‑6 with runners in scoring position (RISP) and lost 3‑2 to the Milwaukee Brewers, exposing a rare clutch weakness for a team that led MLB with a .283 RISP average this season. The article contrasts that lapse with the Chicago White Sox’s own RISP struggles—.243 average and a 29.2% strikeout rate—highlighting how the Brewers used timely hits and aggressive baserunning to secure the win. It argues the White Sox must balance power with consistent contact, citing potential free‑agent options like Luis Arráez, while noting that even elite RISP hitters can falter under pressure.
Greg Even outlines the White Sox’s offseason roadmap, highlighting clear strengths and glaring weaknesses. He recommends tendering Miguel Vargas, Brenton Doyle and Huascar Brazobán, while non‑tendering Joey Bart, Jordan Leasure and Chris Murphy, suggesting minor‑league deals for the latter two. Even notes that prospects like Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami, Sean Burke and Davis Martin will provide clearer data by July, guiding further roster moves.
PREAMBLE The Whitesox arrived a year early and benefitted from a weak showing by the American League in 2026 leading to a wildcard birth… before thoughts of this young core rattling off multiple post season appearances over the next decade fill our fandoms hearts, its important to note the 2nd half meltdowns of some of…
The post Can the opener: knoxfire30’s offseason plan appeared first on Sox Machine .
For a moment, it looked like the Cleveland Guardians were going to do it again. After storming back from an 0-2 deficit against division rival Chicago in the ALDS, Cleveland carried that momentum into Tampa Bay. Home runs from Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey, along with a clutch RBI single from José Ramírez, helped the […]
The post Cleveland Guardians 2026 Post-Mortem: Guard Ball at a Crossroads appeared first on Just Baseball .
PREAMBLE The guiding principle of this plan is simple: build a roster that can survive a baseball season, rather than one that looks good for the first five turns through the rotation. With a $130 million budget, the White Sox cannot buy their way out of every weakness. They can, however, concentrate their spending where…
The post Embiggen the Rotation: A Perfectly Cromulent $130 Million White Sox Plan appeared first on Sox Machine .
The Boston Red Sox have until November 20 to decide whether Gonzalez’s 2025 breakout justifies his arbitration salary. After the Chicago White Sox designated him for assignment, the 30-year-old utility man found his niche with the Boston Red Sox. Now, Gonzalez’s future is once again uncertain ahead of the 2027 season. Whether he will stay […]
The post Red Sox Could Make a Surprising Move on 30 YO Star After 3 Long Years appeared first on EssentiallySports .
PREAMBLE Obviously the 2026 season was a surprise in the best way possible. Nobody expected the White Sox to take the jump they did. This has really moved the rebuilding process up by a year in terms of the moves the Sox should be looking to make. While I do think the Sox infrastructure and…
The post Nick’s Offseason Plan appeared first on Sox Machine .
PREAMBLE At the start of the offseason, we met with with Tarik Skubal. The meeting went well. We were confident in our package and Skubal’s agent informed us we were the top offer and Skubal wanted to sign. We flew him to Chicago. It’s all smiles. He starts flipping through the contract. His smile morphs…
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PREAMBLE It’s time to spend with the big boys. I’m pretty sure Jerry won’t do that, so it’s up to Ishbia to convince him to. After all, it’s going to be his team in a few years, so he has a vested interest in keeping the momentum going. ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS Leasure is damaged good and…
The post roke1960’s Offseason Plan appeared first on Sox Machine .
The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays have secured the 2026 World Series by building deep, low‑budget rosters, prompting the Chicago White Sox to ask what it would take to join them. Chicago led the AL with 776 runs and 211 homers, but posted the lowest batting average (.236) and on‑base percentage (.320) among the three clubs, and struck out a league‑high 1,494 times, a weakness that surfaced in their ALDS loss. In contrast, Milwaukee (.258/.341) and Tampa Bay (.259/.326) emphasized contact and on‑base skills, while their pitching staff posted markedly better ERAs (3.51 and 3.72 vs. Chicago’s 4.12). General manager Chris Getz now faces the task of pinpointing the upgrades that could turn the White Sox’s power into October success.
Projecting the 2027 Chicago White Sox batting order from Antonacci at leadoff to Colson Montgomery at the bottom with the DH spot still open
Sox Machine launches its 2026-27 Offseason Plan Project, inviting fans to act as White Sox front‑office decision‑makers after the club’s 84‑78 season, a Wild Card win and a Division Series loss. Participants fill out a form outlining their ideal roster moves, free‑agent strategies, and draft plans—ignoring current budget limits and assuming standard CBA rules despite a potential lockout. The exercise encourages bold, creative ideas, from realistic tweaks to pipe‑dream acquisitions like Munetaka Murakami, and will be posted for community discussion.
As the World Series kicks off, Sox Machine launches its Offseason Plan Project, inviting listeners to assume the Chicago White Sox GM role with a $130 million payroll. The podcast outlines how to craft a 26‑man roster to improve on the team’s 84‑78 finish and prepares fans for upcoming free‑agency and trade decisions. A downloadable Google Sheets builder is provided to help map out roster moves. Sponsored by Ankin Law, the episode also teases new Sox Machine gear.