The Chicago White Sox’s turnaround in 2026 has them in the thick of the postseason race. That could impact the organization’s decisions at the upcoming trade deadline.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz’s latest comments don’t suggest the club will be too aggressive a buyer at the deadline.
“We just want to continue to find ways to build, and that’s really it,” Getz told Chad Jennings of The Athletic. “Nothing really profound. You have to believe in what we’ve been doing, and I think we’ve got a group that is believing that we’re on the right track.
It’s understandable for the White Sox to stay the course they’re on and not make any drastic changes. While they took their lumps the past two seasons, Getz’s transformation of the organization has borne fruit in 2026. Chicago enters play on June 3 with a 32-29 record and is a major factor in the American League postseason chase.
What Can the White Sox Do at the Deadline?
For the first time in a while, the White Sox can think about moves to help them win now vs. win in the future. With Chicago in the thick of a postseason race and the American League Central division within reach, they can make that type of move.
Through shrewd trades and strong player development, the White Sox’s contention window has opened. They have a young core of hitters coming up through the minors and a much stronger farm system under Chris Getz.
There aren’t many areas where the club could improve the starting lineup. Center field could be one spot, as Tristan Peters is a potential regression candidate. Peters’ .343 wOBA is currently 52 points higher than his expected wOBA, which factors in contact quality.
While Chicago can seek improvements to their outfield, they have to consider Braden Montgomery’s arrival. Montgomery is the organization’s No. 2 prospect and is crushing the upper minors to the tune of a 141 wRC+ in 51 games. He’s split time between center and right field this season.
Perhaps the best addition they can make is to the rotation. Not in the sense of pursuing Tarik Skubal, but rather Kris Bubic or Chris Bassitt. With much more talent coming up the pipeline, the White Sox can do more heavy lifting after the season.
“It’s never been about 2026,” said Getz. “It’s still very big picture.”
White Sox Long-Term Outlook
The changes that Getz has made as the general manager are starting to show in the on-field results. Chicago is eighth in wRC+ (105) and 15th in pitching fWAR (5.7). Much of their impact has come from their young core, which suggests there’s staying power behind this 2026 surge in the standings.
For Chicago to be a consistent factor in the American League Central, it will come down to their pitching. Davis Martin and Grant Taylor are looking like All-Stars in 2026. But they’ll need more pitching to make noise in the postseason.
The talent pipeline still has some impact talent on the way. Chicago has four prospects in the Top 50 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, and three of them could be in the big leagues by the end of the season. Braden Montgomery, Noah Schultz, and Hagen Smith all figure to be contributors by the end of 2027.
The 2026 season could end up being just the beginning. With their farm system and young core, the White Sox are primed to contend for the next half-decade.
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