White Sox General Manager Chris Getz has already stated that the front office doesn’t plan on spending much this offseason. Many of the same names trotted out last year will return as the front office continues to evaluate some of the young players in its system. While the White Sox likely won’t be as active in free agency as many fans hope there could still be plenty of change coming to the South Side.
Despite a 121-loss season, the team holds several trade chips that could be moved this offseason. Bleacher Report recently ranked the top 25 potential trade chips in the MLB this offseason, and the White Sox had three players on the list, two of which cracked the top five.
Andrew Vaughn
While Andrew Vaughn’s numbers don’t jump off the page, he could be an interesting target for several small-market teams across the league. Vaughn led the White Sox in games played (149), hits (140), RBIs (70), OBP (.297), Slugging Percentage (.402) and OPS (.699). He also ranked second in home runs (19). Pacing the 2024 White Sox is a low bar to clear but Vaughn has is averaging 19 home runs and 75 RBIs over the last three seasons.
The White Sox have butchered Vaughn’s development by rushing him to the major leagues and then having him learn an entirely new position during his first year in the big leagues. He seems like a player who could benefit from a change of scenery.
Vaughn was a high-profile college bat drafted in the first round. That alone may be able to attract some interest from other teams who want a crack at developing him. He is only 26 years old and arbitration-eligible through 2026 making him affordable for a team like the Pirates who want to take a flier on a bat.
Luis Robert Jr.
Following Luis Robert Jr.’s 2023 season in which he was named an All-Star, Gold Glove Finalist, and Silver Slugger Award Winner, it looked like the White Sox centerfield was finally on the path to becoming a star. He hit a career-high 38 home runs, swiped 20 bags, drove in 80 RBIs, and posted a 130 OPS+
But his upward trajectory was halted by injuries and a lack of lineup protection. Robert was limited to 100 games in 2024 due to a hip flexor strain and was mostly ineffective at the plate. The 27-year-old slashed .224/.278/.379 with 14 homers, 35 RBIs, and an 87 OPS+.
It was a season that tanked some of his trade value. On raw talent alone, Robert is a five-tool player. But the results have not always been there to show for it.
Unlike Vaughn, contending teams would be the primary market for Robert’s services. Trading for him would be at least a $17 million commitment on top of the pair of $20 million club options to retain him for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Getz was reportedly a tough negotiator when trying to trade Dylan Cease. Because of this, Robert’s asking price will likely be massive, which some teams may be hesitant to pay given his recent track record.
Garrett Crochet
Garrerr Crochet is the most likely player on the White Sox to be traded this offseason. Getz tried to move him during the trade deadline until Crochet’s camp leaked that he would not pitch in the postseason unless he were given a contract extension. This scared some teams off and ultimately resulted in Getz hanging onto his prized left-hander.
Crochet is only 25 years old and just completed his first season as a starting pitcher. The former 11th overall pick in 2020 put together a spectacular season, posting a 3.58 ERA, 35.1 percent strikeout rate, and 4.1 WAR en route to an All-Star appearance. He has proven to be a legitimate ace in this league and still has two more years of control.
Crochet comes with some risk, but already underwent Tommy John surgery and looked healthy through the season. The White Sox did cap his innings midway through the season in an effort to preserve him so it is still yet to be seen how big of a workload he can handle.
