Six members of the 2026 Chicago White Sox have elected free agency, including several key contributors to the team’s run to the ALDS.
The team announced Thursday that pitchers Erick Fedde, Sean Newcomb and Trevor Richards, outfielders Randal Grichuk and Tommy Pham, and catcher Jake Rogers are all headed to the open market.
While several of those names have a case for returning, two stand out as particularly important pieces for the White Sox to prioritize bringing back.
Sean Newcomb
Sean Newcomb was arguably the most valuable contributor of the bunch, last season, and when you look at the teams needs this offseason, he also makes the most sense to bring back.
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The left-hander threw 90.1 innings last season, the most of any White Sox reliever. The only bullpen arm to surpass him was Erick Fedde, who began the season in the starting rotation before transitioning into a bulk-relief role.
Newcomb posted a 3.09 ERA during that stretch while holding opponents to a .223 batting average. His greatest value, however, came from his versatility. He was effective as an opener, capable of covering multiple innings and dependable in high-leverage situations, recording four saves along the way.
That Swiss Army knife role was previously filled by Mike Vasil, who logged 101 innings during the 2025 season. Although Vasil is expected to return in 2027 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, he likely won’t be ready to shoulder the same workload.
Bringing Newcomb back alongside Vasil would give Will Venable considerable flexibility in managing the bullpen. Having both a left-handed and right-handed option capable of handling a variety of roles would provide the White Sox with valuable versatility throughout the pitching staff.
However, Newcomb is also likely to be one of the most sought-after players in this group given his success last season, and has indicated that he wants to be a starting pitcher, something the White Sox might not be able to provide.
The White Sox gave him a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation during spring training before ultimately shifting him to the bullpen, where he has enjoyed far greater success over the course of his career.
Randal Grichuk
Claiming Randal Grichuk off of waivers, was arguably the savviest move that Chris Getz made last season. After being discarded by the New York Yankees, Grichuk looked like a completely different player once he put on a White Sox uniform.
Despite splitting time with Andrew Benintendi in a platoon role, with the majority of his at-bats coming against left-handed pitching, Grichuk made the most of his opportunities. He launched 15 home runs and drove in 46 runs in just 265 at-bats.
He also hit .287 with an .880 OPS, delivering several clutch moments along the way. Perhaps none was bigger than his go-ahead home run against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 12, a ninth-inning blast that gave the White Sox a 6-5 lead when they were down to their final strike.
Bringing Grichuk back will ultimately depend on the White Sox’s plans for Benintendi. If Benintendi returns, reuniting the two in a platoon role would make plenty of sense.
Grichuk posted a 1.025 OPS against left-handed pitching compared with a .655 mark against righties. Benintendi, meanwhile, recorded a .741 OPS against right-handers and a .500 OPS against lefties.
Combined, those splits made the White Sox’s designated hitter platoon one of the most productive in baseball. The duo’s production ranked ahead of both Ben Rice and Kyle Schwarber this season and third in MLB, trailing only Yordan Alvarez and Shohei Ohtani.
However, with Caleb Bonemer nearing the majors and Sam Antonacci’s path to consistent playing time already crowded, the White Sox could decide to eat the final year of Benintendi’s contract to clear a spot on the roster.
If that happens, Grichuk’s chances of returning would likely take a hit. The designated hitter role could instead go to Antonacci or become part of a larger rotation, leaving little room for Grichuk in the lineup.
