With the offseason now in full swing and clear roster needs that must be addressed, it is time to assess the state of the White Sox farm system to identify candidates who could be traded for proven talent this winter. Given the organization’s surplus of position player prospects and its need for starting pitching, there are several names who could find themselves in different places by Opening Day 2027.
Billy Carlson
If you have been part of the White Sox online community for any length of time, you have most likely seen a trade proposal involving Billy Carlson. The tenth overall pick in the 2025 draft, he has undeniable talent. He got a signing bonus of more than $6 million as a high schooler, with some scouts describing him as the best defensive high school shortstop they had ever seen.
Unfortunately for Carlson, he faces an uphill battle to ever make it to Chicago for circumstances out of his control. The White Sox are loaded with infielders, and their two top prospects, Roch Cholowsky and Caleb Bonemer, are also infielders. Bonemer recently shifted to the outfield in the Arizona Fall League because of the logjam, and by the time Carlson could be ready for the big leagues, every spot on the dirt might be taken. The odds are stacked against him to ever contribute in a starting role in Chicago.
The Dilemma
The thought of trading Carlson this offseason presents an interesting dilemma. On one hand, he put up respectable numbers in Low-A, including an on-base percentage of nearly .400. His combination of offensive potential and exceptional defense makes him a quality trade chip as things stand right now. Yet at the same time, trading him this soon could ultimately prove to be selling low on his talent if he adds some power to his game. If he starts showing more pop at the plate, his prospect stock could rise considerably and make him a much more valuable trade chip down the road.
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I see arguments for both sides of the debate and won’t go so far as to say it’s a foregone conclusion that Carlson will be dealt this offseason. That said, he is a logical trade chip and could be one of the headlining pieces in a deal for a controllable starting pitcher. The fact that he is a no-doubt shortstop with impressive on-base skills at only 20 years old is a profile any other organization would love to add to their farm system, especially one that is willing to wait a couple more years for him to fully develop.
Kyle Lodise
The team’s third-round pick in 2025 out of Georgia Tech, the 23-year-old Lodise put together an impressive season with the High-A Winston-Salem Dash in 2026. In 111 games, he recorded 20 doubles, 20 home runs, and 42 stolen bases with a .380 on-base percentage and an .820 OPS. He also steadily improved as the season went on, recording a .983 OPS with six home runs and nine stolen bases in August alone.
While not as highly regarded as Carlson on prospect lists, Lodise falls into the same category of being a potential casualty of the White Sox organizational infield logjam. It’s hard to envision a starting spot for him ever opening up at the big league level. As such, it could make sense to include him in a trade package as a higher-floor prospect given his college pedigree and minor league success.
George Wolkow
It feels like George Wolkow has been in the White Sox farm system forever even though he is still only 20 years old. Selected in the seventh round in 2023, he possesses some of the most intriguing physical tools in the organization. At 6-foot-7 and 239 pounds, he has the build of a football player and his tools and raw power are what scouts dream of. After a somewhat disappointing season in 2025, he rebounded this past year in High-A with 25 doubles, 22 home runs, and 15 stolen bases with a .762 OPS in 123 games. Much like Lodise, he improved as the season went on after a slow start in April.
I have seen many White Sox fans over the years label him as untouchable because of his sky-high potential, which is understandable. Players with a physical build comparable to Aaron Judge don’t grow on trees. That tantalizing upside is exactly why he would also appeal to other teams. With a strikeout rate of over 32% in High-A, I do not consider him untouchable and think he could be used in a trade package as a high-upside second or third piece.
Anthony DePino
A lesser-known name to most fans, Anthony DePino was taken by the White Sox in the seventh round in 2025 out of the University of Rhode Island and has mashed in pro ball since. Across 93 games with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, he slashed .260/.357/.482 with 14 doubles and 19 home runs in 392 plate appearances. The numbers are especially impressive when you consider that Double-A is typically considered the toughest level of competition in the minors, as well as the fact that Regions Field, the Barons’ home stadium, is pitcher-friendly.
DePino does have his fair share of limitations. As a 23-year-old first baseman, he doesn’t offer the same level of future upside as Carlson or Wolkow because he is older and has limited value defensively. Still, he could be of interest to a rebuilding team with playing time available at first base. Unfortunately for him, that opportunity won’t be with the White Sox.
Javier Mogollon
At 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, what Javier Mogollon lacks in size, he makes up for in production. An international signing by the team for $75,000 in 2023, Mogollon has hit at every level he’s been at since becoming a professional. He’s also shown impressive power for a player smaller in stature, hitting 14 home runs in 91 games in 2026 between the Low and High A levels while adding in 36 stolen bases.
Another infielder, Mogollon has the same problem as several other players on this list. There just likely won’t be anywhere for him to play as he continues to ascend up the system. He is another prime candidate to be traded for that reason, and it could make sense to cash in now given his track record of performing everywhere he’s been.
Big Decisions Loom
Chris Getz will be swimming in uncharted waters this offseason. For the first time in his tenure as general manager, he will focus on strengthening a team looking to establish itself as a legitimate contender rather than dismantling the roster as part of a rebuild. With an excess of position player talent, particularly on the infield, and a clear need for pitching, it feels like only a matter of time before some of his prospects are shipped out to fill needs on the big league roster. It will be interesting to see how aggressive he is on the trade market this offseason.
