As Spring Training action begins, teams will have to make very difficult roster decisions, as you can only have 26 players on your active roster with 14 more added to the 40-man. When a team makes a move and a player is out of minor league options, they must go through waivers to be demoted to the minor leagues.
Since there are plenty of quality free agents still available, some solid players will pass through waivers as teams continue to add before the season starts. Since the White Sox were the worst team in baseball last year, they should have the first priority on the players that hit waivers.
Luckily for the White Sox, the perfect player was just designated for assignment, and he would’t even have to move to come to the White Sox.
Needing room on the roster for Justin Turner, the Cubs have DFA’d OF Alexander Canario, sources tell ESPN. Canario is a good trade candidate. He never got a real shot in Chicago, playing in just 21 big league games.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 20, 2025
According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the Chicago Cubs have designated outfielder Alexander Canario for assignment, as they had to make room on the 40-man for newly acquired Justin Turner.
This is the perfect opportunity for the White Sox to make a claim, as they could use another young outfielder with potential, as they don’t have many that are close to the big leagues. However, before he can be claimed by the White Sox, Canario is subject to a waiver period where he could be traded, which would thwart the White Sox from using their number one waiver priority.
Regardless if they have to trade, they should make a move for Canario, as this is the perfect move for the 2025 season. Canario has only 25 major league at-bats, but impressed in his short time in the major leagues.
Last year for the Cubs, he made it into 15 games, hitting .280 with a .357 OBP. He added one homer, two RBIs, and one stolen base. At AAA Iowa, he hit 18 homeruns and 57 RBIs.
Alexander Canario (DFA'd by CHC) is a slugging corner OF who showed excellent power metrics in AAA but struggled with strikeouts
His power potential makes him an intriguing candidate to be scooped up by a rebuilding team pic.twitter.com/mfoUfY3eXy
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) February 20, 2025
Canario is known for his power, and that is exactly what the White Sox need. In 2022 in the minor leagues, Canario hit 37 homeruns. Besides Braden Montgomery and George Wolkow, the White Sox don’t have any promising outfield prospects close to making their debut, so Canario would be a nice influx of young talent to the veteran outfield group. The White Sox did not inject any confidence in Dominic Fletcher or Zach DeLoach with their offseason moves, as they added three new veteran outfielders to the major league roster.
ALEXANDER CANARIO'S FIRST CAREER HOMER IS A GRAND SLAM 🐻🔥
(via @Cubs) pic.twitter.com/Sj4UmqtoyP
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 20, 2023
Regardless of the moves the White Sox made this offseason, they should prioritize a 24 year old Canario over a 30+ year old outfielder, as Canario could be a solid piece for the future.
Whether it is cash considerations or a minor league pitcher that entice the Cubs to make a trade with the White Sox, they need to pull the trigger, as promising young outfielders don’t hit the market like this too often.
