Less than a week after his team suffered a devastating collapse in the ALDS, White Sox General Manager Chris Getz wasted little time outlining his plans for the coming offseason. In a videoconference call with reporters on Wednesday, he reflected on the 2026 season and provided insight into areas of the team he plans to improve this winter, mentioning both the starting rotation and the outfield specifically.
With room to add payroll and a need for a right-handed power-hitting outfielder, two potential free agent targets stand out in the upcoming free agent class. Former Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki or former Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena could fit into the type of player the White Sox are looking to add to their lineup for the 2027 season and beyond. Evaluating their offensive production, defensive abilities, clubhouse fit, postseason experience, and projected contracts can help determine which would be the better addition for the South Siders.
It’s not entirely surprising that the White Sox want to improve their outfield mix. Sam Antonacci and Tristan Peters were more productive than expected as rookies and Braden Montgomery has a lot of upside, but the outfield unit as a whole lacked power. White Sox outfielders combined for just 47 home runs over the regular season, compared to 131 home runs from their infield. Adding a proven power hitter like Suzuki or Arozarena would add much-needed thump and another run producer from one of the outfield spots.
Lineup Balance
The appeal of either Suzuki or Arozarena goes beyond their power. Handedness is another important part of the equation. The 2026 White Sox were very left-handed heavy, with Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth, and Randal Grichuk as the only notable right-handed hitting contributors on the 2026 squad. The lack of thump from the right side was noticeable all season, especially when Vargas or Meidroth went into slumps.
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In an era where the three-batter minimum rule is in effect, adding another quality right-handed hitter like Suzuki or Arozarena would balance the lineup a lot more and make it harder for opposing managers to gain platoon advantages late in games. Opposing teams routinely threw a lot of left-handed pitchers at the White Sox down the stretch, and the South Siders’ left-handed-heavy lineup ultimately got exploited as the season went on.
Offensive Comparision
Offensive production is the primary reason either player would appeal to the White Sox, and their 2026 seasons were remarkably similar from that perspective. Both finished with exactly 26 home runs. They each had more than 30 doubles as well, while posting comparable batting averages, on-base percentages, and slugging percentages. Arozarena held the advantage in overall production with a .865 OPS and 151 wRC+, compared to Suzuki’s .841 OPS and 134 wRC+. Arozarena also struck out less frequently, with a 21.6 K% to Suzuki’s 24.4 K%. Still, both had very strong seasons at the plate and have long track records indicating they are quality MLB hitters and worthy of a big free-agent contract.
Their career platoon splits also offer an interesting comparison. Arozarena has historically been more productive against left-handed pitching, recording a .878 OPS against lefties compared with a .759 OPS against righties. Suzuki’s numbers have been more balanced, with an .867 OPS against lefties and a .808 OPS against righties. Who one considers the better hitter is a matter of opinion. Suzuki has a slight advantage based on the overall numbers, while Arozarena’s 2026 numbers give him the edge in the most recent sample. Regardless of one’s preference, it’s tough to envision either of them falling off a cliff anytime soon barring injuries or something else unexpected.
Defensive Value
The most significant difference between the two players comes on the defensive side. Arozarena has spent most of his major league career in left field, while Suzuki has primarily played right field. The quality of their defense is also noticeable. Arozarena has historically been a poor defensive left fielder, while Suzuki has been a respectable defensive right fielder.
Despite being on the “wrong side” of 30 years old, 2026 was Suzuki’s best season so far defensively at the MLB level. He ranked in the 85th percentile or better in arm strength, arm value, and range per Baseball Savant. He was also just named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award, a testament to the value he provides in the field. From a defensive perspective, Suzuki is the clearly superior player.
Bringing Suzuki in to play right field would raise questions about Braden Montgomery’s future defensive home, but it is a trade-off worth making in my opinion. A potential defensive alignment of Montgomery in left field and Suzuki in right field would improve the team’s overall defense in the outfield and ensure that there are strong arms in both outfield corners.
The Mune Connection
From a clubhouse culture and team fit perspective, Suzuki’s relationship with Munetaka Murakami likely separates him from Arozarena in terms of appeal to the White Sox. Both Murakami and Suzuki played in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, represented Japan in the World Baseball Classic, and Murakami even reached out to Suzuki prior to the season for advice on acclimating to Chicago after signing with the White Sox last year. “[It was] nothing really about baseball,’’ Suzuki said through his translator. “More about Chicago, you know — where to live, where to eat.”
There is clearly some level of trust and friendship between the two, and signing Suzuki to a long-term deal could make Murakami more inclined to stay on the South Side for the long haul. It’s an aspect worth considering given that the two sides have already discussed contract extension possibilities.
From Suzuki’s perspective, the idea of staying in Chicago would also likely appeal to him. As a father of two young children, he wouldn’t have to uproot his family to go elsewhere and he is already familiar with the city. It would also provide him an opportunity to team up with Murakami, someone he has played with and against for a long time. Arozarena doesn’t have any connections to the city or White Sox players, tilting this aspect in Suzuki’s favor.
Postseason Success
If the White Sox are in the market for either of these players, they clearly intend to build on the postseason success they had in 2026. As such, evaluating Arozarena’s and Suzuki’s postseason numbers is another key part of the calculus. Arozarena is the far more experienced postseason performer with 45 total playoff games, 12 playoff home runs, and a .946 playoff OPS to his name. The vast majority of this damage occurred during the 2020 postseason, when he almost single-handedly carried the Rays to the World Series. Nevertheless, he has shown he can perform when the lights are bright.
Suzuki has just 10 postseason games to his name, but has performed well with 3 home runs and an .828 OPS. Because of Arozarena’s volume and proven success, he gets the edge in this category. His experience and proven postseason success would be a meaningful addition to a team hoping to become a consistent playoff contender.
Age/Contract Considerations
With Suzuki being 32 and Arozarena 31, they figure to get similar free agent contracts given their comparable offensive numbers and ages. The potential lockout and salary cap/floor discussions could throw a wrinkle into free-agent proceedings this winter, but I expect each to land a four- or five-year deal somewhere in the $25-$30 million range per season. A deal of that magnitude would easily surpass the largest free-agent contract in White Sox franchise history, but would be well worth the cost to provide additional thump and experience to a young lineup. There is nothing on the books after next season, and there is a real opportunity to add an established star-level hitter while most of the young core is still cheap.
The Verdict
I would be ecstatic if the White Sox landed either of these players. They both bring proven power, valuable postseason experience, and a much-needed right-handed presence to the lineup. That said, Suzuki would be my preferred pick in a perfect world. His defensive abilities and personal relationship with Murakami are the two selling points for me. I also believe he is the better overall hitter. Reinforcing the starting rotation will ultimately be priority #1 this offseason, but adding either Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki to the lineup would further cement the White Sox status as legitimate contenders moving forward.
