Being a better team than the 2024 White Sox is a low bar to clear. But if the early Vegas odds are any indication, experts do not believe the team will be much improved.
FanDuel gives the White Sox +5000 odds to win the World Series, which is the highest of all 30 MLB teams. ESPN also released its “way-too-early 2025 MLB power rankings” and the White Sox were ranked dead last. To add insult to injury, ESPN’s David Schoenfield believes the team could be even worse, writing that it would be a “minor miracle” if the White Sox avoid 100 losses.
With 121 losses the White Sox set the modern MLB record for most losses in a season, falling just short of the all-time worst winning percentage. White Sox general manager Chris Getz has already said the team is “not going to be working in free agency.”
It’s also no secret that the White Sox are looking to trade their best pitcher, Garrett Crochet. For the first half of last season, the White Sox starting rotation featured two of the top pitchers in WAR in the American League: Erick Fedde and Crochet. Once Fedde was traded the rotation took a significant step back. If Crochet is traded things could get even uglier.
The White Sox offense ranked last in the MLB in runs scored (507), hits (1187) batting average (.221), home runs (133), on-base percentage (.278), and slugging percentage (.340). Despite Getz’s efforts to improve the team’s defense in 2024 the White Sox still ranked 10th in the MLB in errors.
Getz will be relying heavily on some of the young players in the White Sox system to develop before the front office is ready to spend big in free agency. While the White Sox haven’t invested heavily in the on-field product Getz has been working diligently to rebuild his front office and coaching staff. The goal is to rebuild the structure of the front office in the hopes it will lead to more sustained success.
Anyone who follows this team knows that 2025 being even worse is an absolute possibility, especially if we don’t spend anything on free agents. While admittedly there is real talent among the pitching prospects, the team is almost completely void of any promising bats that are ready for the big league. All you had to do was watch the playoffs to know that we aren’t even playing the same game.