The White Sox Should Look Into These Value Players This Winter

With the MLB offseason officially underway, free agents can now sign anywhere. This is the time of year when fans dream about the star free agents on the market signing with their favorite team. For White Sox fans, Tarik Skubal, Michael King, and Freddy Peralta stand out among the potential pitching targets, while Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena are two intriguing options on the hitting side.

For as fun as it is to dream about the White Sox signing premier players, this is still a Jerry Reinsdorf led franchise as of now. As such, it is probably unrealistic to assume they will pay the big bucks for the top names. Even if that proves to be the true yet again, there are several under-the-radar options on the market who could provide quality value at a lower price point.

Taylor Ward

A down year is the only reason Ward is on this list. He was a 3+ WAR player three out of four seasons from 2022 to 2025 with the Angels and was off to a strong start with the Orioles in 2026 before getting traded. He landed with the Mariners at the trade deadline but struggled mightily after, hitting just .125 with zero home runs in 101 plate appearances with Seattle.

Soon to be 33, it’s possible Ward’s best days are behind him. Even so, he has a track record of being a quality player. It’s possible that switching teams midseason could explain his struggles as he had played with the Angels his entire career until this past season.

The aforementioned Suzuki and Arozarena are the clear top two outfielders on the free agent market, but Ward could make sense if the White Sox would rather put most of their financial resources towards pitching. He is a logical fit to fill the same role that Randal Grichuk had this past season. A one-year prove-it deal could be beneficial for both sides if the White Sox are willing to gamble on his history of being a productive player.

Lane Thomas

Whether Grichuk returns is one of the key questions the White Sox face on the hitting side this offseason. If he leaves, Lane Thomas is another option. While the 31-year-old doesn’t offer as much power or offensive ceiling as Grichuk, he still slashed a respectable .262/.364/.440 in 165 plate appearances against southpaws in 2026 and offers significantly more speed and arm strength. Thomas is somewhat similar to Brenton Doyle in terms of skill set but is a value play to consider if the team wants an additional right-handed-hitting outfielder to the mix.

Gary Sánchez

Catching was supposed to be one of the strengths of the White Sox heading into 2026, but that ended up being far from the case. Kyle Teel suffered multiple injuries throughout the season and the backup options were all disappointing. White Sox catchers collectively were among the worst in MLB from a statistical perspective.

Now a veteran of 12 MLB seasons, Sánchez has never been known as much of a defensive catcher but does offer a different skill: hitting lefties. The 33-year-old Sánchez slashed a respectable .238/.366/.436 in 123 plate appearances against lefties with the Brewers in 2026. Teel will hopefully be healthy entering 2027 and the White Sox have Edgar Quero and potentially Joey Bart as other options behind the plate, but Sánchez represents a logical platoon partner for Teel if the team wants to go with a more offense-oriented backup catcher.

Clay Holmes

Likely the highest-profile name in this entire group, Holmes missed time in 2026 with a fractured fibula and was not as good with the Cubs after being acquired from the Mets. Still, his overall numbers were solid, as he finished the season with a 3.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while allowing just six home runs in 101.1 innings. He is a specialist at generating ground balls, ranking in the 99th percentile per Baseball Savant. That ability makes him an ideal fit for a home ballpark like Rate Field that can be hitter-friendly in the summer.

Even with his success, Holmes doesn’t have overpowering stuff and will be 34 years old on Opening Day. He recently declined his $12 million player option for 2027 and will almost certainly receive a raise after his overall performance. Among the starting pitchers available this offseason, he is someone I believe could provide quality value on a reasonable two or three year contract.

Kris Bubic

Kris Bubic is a name White Sox fans probably recognize after he spent parts of seven seasons with the division-rival Kansas City Royals. Following a breakout 2025 season in which he was named an All-Star, Bubic only appeared in 14 games total between the Royals and Dodgers in 2026 because of elbow and shoulder issues. He came back to make five scoreless relief appearances with the Dodgers in the regular season and allowed two runs in 1.1 playoff innings.

Bubic is one of those pitchers who is good when he is on the mound but has struggled staying healthy. He has had a laundry list of physical problems over the years, including undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2023. Signing him is a gamble for that reason. It’s not a given that he will be able to stay healthy for any length of time. That said, he is a talented pitcher when on the mound and could make sense as an upside play.

I wouldn’t want him to be the main addition the White Sox make on the pitching side, but could get behind it if he is a complementary addition to the rotation or potentially a bullpen signing to fill the same role Sean Newcomb had this past season. Bubic is also only 29, so it’s not like he is over the hill and his best days are behind him. A fresh start could do wonders for him.

Evan Phillips

Phillips is another talented pitcher who has been bitten by the injury bug. He’s only made 38 regular season appearances over the past two seasons because of shoulder and arm problems, but has performed well when he is on the mound. He is also a proven postseason performer, never allowing a single run in 17 playoff appearances and was the closer for multiple Dodgers teams that were really good.

The White Sox will need to beef up their bullpen this winter and Phillips is someone I included in my offseason plan as a potential value signing. Like Bubic, there is a risk he just won’t be able to stay healthy, but there is also a scenario in which he is an effective reliever at a reasonable price. Phillips could be an ideal candidate for a one-year prove-it contract. He would get an opportunity to demonstrate that he can stay healthy, while the White Sox could potentially land a high-upside reliever without making a significant long-term commitment.

A. J. Minter

The left-handed side of the White Sox bullpen has some question marks heading into 2027. Sean Newcomb could go elsewhere, while Bryan Hudson showed signs of wear and tear down the stretch. Hagen Smith could be stretched out as a starter, adding more uncertainty. Another addition from the left side makes sense.

Minter has been around the block for a while. Now 33, he has made 445 MLB relief appearances across parts of 10 seasons. He is coming off a strong 2026 season in which he posted a 2.56 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 8.1 K/9 in 48 games with the Mets and Twins. Minter is prone to giving up the long ball but hardly walks anyone and has put up good numbers throughout his career. He is a guy I think the White Sox could land on a short-term deal who would have a clear role in the bullpen as an experienced veteran and has postseason success to his name.

John Schreiber

Schreiber is interesting because he is the type of reliever that is very good when utilized correctly but has extreme platoon splits. Right-handed hitters hit just .155/.206/.233 against him in 2026, but lefties torched him to the tune of .310/.420/.550 because of his low arm angle that makes it easy for left-handers to hit. He would be best utilized in a middle-relief role as a right-handed specialist, particularly in situations where the opposing lineup has several right-handed hitters. If the White Sox can avoid exposing him to unfavorable matchups, he could provide some quality relief innings at a relatively affordable price and is another guy with a track record in the playoffs.

Big Offseason For Chris Getz

Nothing would make me happier than to see the White Sox open up the checkbook and make splashes on big-time free agents this winter. But we have all been fans of the team for long enough to know that Jerry Reinsdorf’s historical reluctance to pay top dollar for anyone will be a factor in the equation.

It’s a big offseason for this organization. They took a big step forward in 2026 and now need to build upon it. Relying exclusively on bargain-bin additions would be a mistake, particularly with several roster needs that still need to be addressed. At the same time, a team like the Mets is proof that spending at the top of the market isn’t always guaranteed to be a successful strategy.

There are a variety of potential contributors in this free agent class who could be had at reasonable prices. The team struck gold with several of these types of players last year and will probably look to do so again this winter. Ideally, the front office will combine a few impact additions with some calculated value signings like the players listed above.