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White Sox Make Surprising Trade Deadline Decision

By
ChiSoxFanMike
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May 31, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman (18) looks on before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

It ended up being a relatively uneventful trade deadline for the White Sox this year. They made just two trades, and Luis Robert Jr. was not the only notable player who stayed put today despite swirling rumors. Mike Tauchman also remains on the team, even after reportedly receiving significant outside interest.

Logical Trade Chip

Tauchman, 34, has had a productive season after signing a one-year, $1.95 million contract with the team this past offseason. Over 56 games, he has compiled a .291 batting average, .844 OPS, 134 OPS+, 1.5 bWAR, and 1.3 fWAR. He has earned every penny of his contract and then some.

On the surface, he felt like a prime trade candidate. Not only has he performed this season, but he will also be 35 in December. For a rebuilding club like the White Sox, logic would dictate that turning him into prospects is the right decision. There was no shortage of teams who could have used another productive outfielder, particularly one who hits from the left side. Yet he stayed put, as there is more to meet the eye than his stats.

Local Roots

Tauchman’s roots play a significant factor. The Palatine native has spoken publicly about his desire to stay close to his family, whom he has described as his village. Tauchman and his wife have become advocates in the community as well, recently donating care packages to hospitals as his daughter’s health issues have become close to his heart. There is no indication that Tauchman requested not to be traded, but it is fair to assume the team did not want to uproot him and his family.

Veteran Presence

There is also a valid argument for keeping Tauchman from a baseball perspective. He has also received rave reviews for his clubhouse presence. He helps me out a lot in the outfield, [with me] being fairly new out there in the big leagues,’’ Brooks Baldwin said. ‘‘Just certain situations — what to do and how to approach a play, what to look out for from righties. Just hearing what he’s seen in the past and what’s helped him, that’s really valuable.’’ Will Venable echoed similar sentiments. “He’s got experience, he says the right things, does the right things, works the right way. But certainly as he’s performed well this year, it gives him some more to stand on. Guys listen when he talks.’’ Venable said.

White Sox Outfield Moving Forward

The White Sox have lacked quality outfield depth for some time and have minimal reinforcements in the upper levels of the minors. Given that Tauchman has another year of arbitration remaining, the team can slot him into a starting spot again next year, likely in right field. With prospects like Braden Montgomery waiting in the wings, Tauchman provides a quality bridge option in 2026 and potentially beyond in the White Sox outfield.

Win/Win Situation

Not trading Mike Tauchman likely cost the White Sox an opportunity to add another prospect to the farm system. If the rumors are true, he undoubtedly had trade value. But ultimately, keeping him is a win for both parties. He gets to stay close to his family, while the team retains a quality veteran presence at a position of need. 

Evidence Growing Ryan Poles Hit A Home Run With New Draft Class

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan poles

Ryan Poles hasn’t been bad with drafting for the Chicago Bears since taking over as GM. It is evident he’s acquired some good talent since 2022. Among the highlights are Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright, and Gervon Dexter. Hopes remain high for Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze going into their second years. However, the main issue for the Chicago Bears is they haven’t secured any true stars yet. If Poles wants to get this team past the elite of the NFC, he has to start scoring some legitimate blue-chip players.

One thing about those types is they tend to stand out immediately. If this is the case, Poles may have delivered his magnum opus with the 2025 draft class. Barely a week into training camp this year, and one thing is evident. Colston Loveland and Luther Burden are legit. The Bears’ 10th and 39th overall picks have given the defense problems from the moment they stepped on the field. They’re not only making frequent catches, but doing so while getting legitimately open. It isn’t a fluke.

Ryan Poles may have struck gold in back-to-back picks.

Aside from fortifying his protection, finding offensive firepower for Williams was always the goal. Loveland was a primary target for months. Head coach Ben Johnson saw visions of Pro Bowler Sam LaPorta when watching the Michigan tight end. It was such a natural fit. Burden was a different story. Most experts figured the Missouri receiver was too talented to fall out of the 1st round. It was a big surprise when he was still on the board when the Bears picked again. That made the decision easy. His size, speed, and ability to make plays after the catch were all things Johnson would love to use. Many felt he was never utilized to his full potential in college. Under this coaching staff, he could blossom.

Early returns suggest those assessments were correct.

White Sox Pull Off Deadline Robbery With Houser Trade

By
Craig Rowland
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Jul 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Curtis Mead (25) hits a single against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The White Sox were significantly less busy at the deadline than expected, which is surprising considering the market for teams that were selling. However, they made a nice last minute trade sending pitcher Adrian Houser to the Tampa Bay Rays.

According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the White Sox received infielder Curtis Mead, as well as AAA pitchers Duncan Davitt and Benjamin Peoples in exchange for Houser.

For just a rental player, this is an extremely solid return. Curtis Mead was a former top-100 prospect that was ranked as high as 33 on the MLB Pipeline list prior to the 2023 season.

As of right now, Curtis Mead only has 320 MLB at-bats under his belt, so he still has plenty of time to develop into a nice major league hitter. In those 320 at-bats, Mead has hit .238 with five home runs and 20 RBIs. He has been much more successful in the minor leagues, as he has hit .297 with a .371 OBP and a .875 OPS in 300+ minor league games.

In addition to Mead, the White Sox also received two pitchers. One of the pitchers is Duncan Davitt, a 25 year old starting pitcher who has made it to AAA this season.

So far in 103 innings pitched between AA and AAA, Davitt has 4.08 ERA with 105 strikeouts and a very solid 1.17 WHIP. He will likely join the rotation in AAA, as they could use some extra depth.

The White Sox also acquired 24 year old reliever Ben Peoples. Peoples has spent the whole year in AAA and has not made his MLB debut yet. In 37.1 innings, Peoples has a 2.65 ERA with 39 strikeouts.

It is likely that we will see all three of these players in Chicago at some point this year, as they are all in AAA or ready to make the jump to the major leagues. This was a very nice return for Houser, as the White Sox hopefully will get three useful MLB players.

White Sox Trade Adrian Houser To Tampa Bay Rays

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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May 26, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Adrian Houser (57) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The White Sox have traded Adrian Houser to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead, along with minor league pitchers Duncan Davitt and Benjamin Peoples. 

Peoples is a 24-year-old right-handed reliever who owns a 2.65 ERA with 39 punchouts in 37.1 innings in Triple-A this season. Davitt is a 25-year-old right-hander who just reached Triple-A this season. In 103 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, he owns a 4.08 ERA with 105 strikeouts and 1.17 WHIP.

Mead is a former top-100 prospect who ranked as high as 33rd overall in baseball in 2023. 

After turning heads in the Australian Baseball League, Mead signed with the Phillies in 2018. Eighteen months later, he was dealt to the Rays for reliever Cristopher Sanchez. In 2021, he produced a .911 OPS in 104 games across three levels of the Rays’ minor league system, but an elbow strain suffered in Double-A the following season limited his production. 

He reached the majors in 2023 after slashing .294/.385/.515 in 61 games in Triple-A. Since reaching the big leagues, he has appeared in 111 games, hitting .238 with a .629 OPS, five homers and 20 RBIs. He started both Games 1 and 2 of the Rays’ Wild Card Series loss to the Rangers in 2024. 

He is still just 24 years old and can play multiple infield positions. While his defense doesn’t provide a ton of value, he still brings a bat with a ton of upside, especially given what Ryan Fuller has been able to do with White Sox hitters this season.

Houser threw his final pitch in a White Sox uniform last Friday night against the Cubs. He left the stadium a winner, tossing 6.2 innings of three-run ball on five hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. He was then scratched from the lineup before his next scheduled start against the Phillies. 

It marked the end of an impressive run on the South Side for Houser, who went 6–2 with a 2.10 ERA, 3.0 WAR, and a 47.3% ground ball rate over 68.2 innings. The 32-year-old right-hander delivered nine quality starts in 11 outings for the Sox, consistently giving his team a chance to win while pitching deep into games. 

The White Sox signed Houser to a one-year, $1.35 million deal in May—a move that didn’t draw much attention at the time. With Martín Pérez on the injured list, the White Sox needed an innings-eater, and Houser was looking for a path back to the majors after starting the season in Triple-A Round Rock. He had signed with the Rangers but failed to crack their Opening Day roster.

Despite a 5.03 ERA in 39.1 minor league innings, Houser carried an impressive 57.3% ground ball rate, which is one of the reasons the White Sox took a chance on him. That flier turned out to be one of Chris Getz’s most successful moves of the season, as Houser became one of the most consistent arms in the American League, allowing the White Sox to cash in at the deadline.

Hot Streaks In Charlotte Could Shake Up The White Sox Roster

By
Craig Rowland
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Feb 27, 2024; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Will Robertson (88) bats during the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

The White Sox are currently focused on building for the future, as they could make some moves as we approach the trade deadline. The future starts with the farm system, as the White Sox already have a solid foundation of prospects in their system.

There is talent at each level in the minor leagues, as the White Sox have done a good job over the last few years of drafting and adding players with different timelines to the major leagues. Prior to what could be significant additions to the farm system before Thursday at 5 P.M., we can take a look at each level to see who’s performed well over the last month.

We now take a look at the Charlotte Knights, the AAA affiliate of the White Sox.

Will Robertson

One player that has been on fire for the Knights is new addition Will Robertson. In just eight games in July with the Dash, he has hit .324 with a very solid .361 OBP. He’s added three homeruns and six RBIs.

Robertson was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for cash after having a very good year in AAA. Overall on the season, he is hitting .296 with a .398 OBP. He’s added 17 homeruns, 50 RBIs and an insane 1.004 OPS. This has led to his call-up after the departure of Austin Slater.

Robertson may get a chance to show what he can do, as he just has 16 career at-bats in the major leagues. Still only 27, the White Sox are hoping that his hot season in AAA can translate over to the major leagues.

Dru Baker

Another outfielder that has played well over the month of July is Dru Baker. Baker was acquired earlier in the year for Matt Thaiss and had a bit of a rough patch after returning from the IL in May. However, Baker has been much closer to his usual self over the last 30 days.

In 59 at-bats, Baker is hitting .254 with a .290 OBP. He’s added four doubles, one triple, two walks, and two stolen bases. Baker has raised his batting average nearly .020 points this month and if there are some more trades in the outfield, Baker could be on the move to Chicago next, as he was acquired by GM Chris Getz.

In other notes, Bryan Ramos hit four homeruns in 18 games, Dominic Fletcher hit .314 over the last month, and Tim Elko has hit three homeruns in five games this month. However, there will need to be some more moves made by the White Sox to call any of these players up to Chicago, as the team has only made one trade at the time this article was written.

Winston-Salem Prospects Are Catching Fire At Right Time

By
Craig Rowland
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Jun 17, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; NC State Wolfpack third baseman Alec Makarewicz (99) hits a two-run home run against the Florida Gators during the third inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

The White Sox are currently focused on building for the future, as they could make a few moves as we approach the trade deadline. The future starts with the farm system, as the White Sox already have a solid foundation of prospects in their system.

There is talent at each level in the minor leagues, as the White Sox have done a good job over the last few years of drafting and adding players with different timelines to the major leagues. Prior to what could be significant additions to the farm system before Thursday at 5 P.M., we can take a look at each level to see who’s performed well over the last month.

We now take a look at the Winston-Salem Dash, the high-A affiliate of the White Sox. The roster is likely to change over the next few weeks, as some of their draft picks could report to Winston-Salem when they start their affiliated career.

Alec Makarewicz

One of the players that has had a great month of July for the Dash is third basemen Alec Makarewicz. Signed as an undrafted free agent last year, this is Makarewicz’s first full professional season.

Makarewicz started his minor league career with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and played very well. Over 28 games, he hit .301 with a .360 OBP. He added two homeruns, 28 RBIs, and had a very good .802 OPS.

Now with the Dash, Makarewicz had a rough start to the season but it appears that he has turned it around in July.  In 77 at-bats, Makarewicz is hitting .325 with a .395 OBP, while slugging .532.

He also has added four homeruns and 21 RBIs, both of which account for more than half of his season total. On the year he has seven homeruns, 42 RBIs, and is hitting .241. If he can keep this up, he can continue to bring that average up and potentially earn a promotion on Birmingham, as he is 24.

Makarewicz is a very underrated prospect, as he has played well for an undrafted free agent. Keep an eye out for him, as he could be a quick riser through the system.

Nick Altermatt

On the pitching side, Nick Altermatt has been lights out in the month of July. Also an under the radar prospect, Altermatt was selected in the 17th round in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Altermatt made his minor league debut last season, as he pitched to a 2.76 ERA over 38 games between the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and the Winston Salem Dash. This year he has been even better, especially in July.

In 13.2 innings in July, Altermatt has a .66 ERA and has 13 strikeouts. He’s walked just one and has a stellar .80 WHIP. This is exactly what you want out of your relief pitchers.

This is a fantastic month for Altermatt and since he is coming out of relief, he could move through the system relatively quickly, as he is 25 years old and was drafted out of college.

Outside the top-100 prospects, the White Sox have some very solid under the radar prospects that could make an impact in Chicago at some point if they continue this play the rest of the season.

How the Cubs Can Pivot after Losing Out on Eugenio Suarez

By
Aldo Soto
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Jul 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Willi Castro (50) celebrates hitting a double against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs were one of the teams reportedly in pursuit of All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Even with the red-hot streak from Matt Shaw following the break the Cubs were still trying to add the slugger to the lineup. On Wednesday night, the Seattle Mariners, who were also seen as one of the favorites to trade for Suarez, did exactly that, sending three prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cubs have to pivot and although there’s no other hitter comparable to Suarez on the trade market there is one ideal target who would be an ideal plan B for the club.

Willi Castro – Minnesota Twins

The bench for the Cubs has been a mess for several years and so far in 2025 not much has changed. Justin Turner has turned it around at the plate after struggling in April, but there hasn’t been much if anything at all coming from the other backups. Jon Berti has a .496 OPS in 106 plate appearances and Vidal Brujan was designated for assignment after having a 43 wRC+ and putting up a -0.2 fWAR in 36 games.

By trading for 28-year-old Willi Castro the Cubs can address a few different needs on the roster. At the moment, Seiya Suzuki is the backup center fielder with exactly one career start at the position in the majors. Castro has played 94 games in center and in 2024 started 24 games there for the Minnesota Twins.

More importantly, Castro could become a useful utility player as he has the ability to play all three outfield spots, plus second, shortstop and third base. Oh and he can actually hit.

Beginning with the 2023 season, Castro has a combined 107 wRC+ in nearly 1,400 plate appearances. So far in 2025, the switch-hitter is slashing .245/.335/.407, with 10 home runs in 86 games. It gets better as Castro would also give the Cubs another much-needed right-handed bat. Against lefties, Castro is putting up a 131 wRC+ this year with a slash line of .278/.337/.500.

A great option to fill in at third base in case Matt Shaw cools down at the plate. He can slot into the other infield spots and can even be another weapon on the bases. Back in 2023, he had 33 steals with the Twins.

Castro was on fire earlier in the year, but he has struggled as of late. Since June 21, he has a 68 wRC+, regressing back to his numbers from the previous two seasons.

Castro will be a free agent following the 2025 season.

Bears Reveal Discouraging Jaylon Johnson Update

By
Erik Lambert
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jaylon johnson
Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1) after an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

It’s never a good thing when you’re going through training camp without one of your best players. The Chicago Bears learned they would have to deal with this reality when Jaylon Johnson informed them he’d suffered an injury setback while training during the summer. While details weren’t revealed to the public, head coach Ben Johnson said it would be a couple of weeks before the star cornerback returned. It was unfortunate, but the bright side was it’d give other cornerbacks on the roster some much-needed reps.

However, things took a bleaker turn on Thursday. Coach Johnson was asked for an update on Jaylon. His wording this time didn’t inspire much confidence about the prognosis. Forget returning for camp. There is now a growing possibility that Johnson may not be ready for opening night against Minnesota.

“I think there is a scenario where he will be ready for Week 1, and that is really the target day. I know he is working hard and diligently to get there for that and with those types of injuries that he’s got, you just never know. You never know. It’s still early in that process, but I know he’s attacking that rehab really well.”

The timing of this is brutal. Chicago faces a stacked lineup of opposing wide receivers through the first three weeks. Their pass rush still has serious questions about it. Facing such a gauntlet without their All-Pro cornerback would not be ideal.

Jaylon Johnson absence will reveal the strength of the Bears’ depth.

One good thing about GM Ryan Poles is he takes the corner position seriously. He’s done a great job over the past four offseasons of loading up that position with young talent. They still have Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson, along with the underrated Terell Smith and rookie 5th round pick Zah Frazier. They’ve also seen promising practices from veteran Nahshon Wright, who has ties to new secondary coach Al Harris. That doesn’t even mention Josh Blackwell, who’s been a quality nickel option in the past. The Bears can still be a solid defense without Jaylon Johnson. Still, that isn’t the goal. They want to be a great defense. That won’t happen until he is on the field. Chicago likely won’t know the outcome of this until the end of August. Hopefully, his prognosis improves by then.

Jed Hoyer Has a Chance to Prove All His Haters Wrong

By
Aldo Soto
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Jul 2, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs have never been this good at the trade deadline with Jed Hoyer running the show. Last night the team continued to follow his conservative strategy, adding at the margins, hoping that a change of scenery will benefit their new addition in Michael Soroka. The Cubs also traded for veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge, a steady performer, but not near the level of other star bullpen arms that were dealt on the eve of the MLB trade deadline.

Cubs fans have been demanding aggressive moves from Hoyer for years. We’ve seen some big swings, trading for Isaac Paredes and then flipping him along with Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski five months later for Kyle Tucker. Now, Hoyer has another chance to prove all his haters wrong. What once began as a fantasy is now turning into an actual possibility?

MacKenzie Gore to Cubs gaining momentum

Hoyer’s front office has already made one deal with the Washington Nationals this week, sending a pair of prospects for Soroka, but the big prize for the Cubs could be All-Star MacKenzie Gore. ESPN 1000 radio host Carmen DeFalco phrased the talks between the Cubs and Nationals as “gaining momentum” while also stating that it is no longer a pipe dream according to his sources.

Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami, who was the first to hint at the Cubs trading for Soroka and Kittredge before anyone else Wednesday night, is also hearing that the Cubs are serious about trading for Gore.

The Nationals reportedly have been asking for Cubs rookie third baseman Matt Shaw according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. That won’t happen, but it doesn’t mean the Cubs will walk away from the negotiating table.

Owen Caissie, Jaxon Wiggins, Jefferson Rojas, Moises Ballesteros and Kevin Alcántara should all be available and it’s on Hoyer and the front office to find a combination that convinces the Nationals to trade away their 26-year-old starter.

Gore was once a top prospect in the San Diego Padres farm system. He was part of the blockbuster Juan Soto trade between the Nationals and Padres a few years ago and despite some recent struggles Gore is very much the star pitcher the Cubs should be going after.

Ball’s in your court, Jed.

Caleb Williams Exploded For Best Practice By Far Of Training Camp

By
Erik Lambert
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caleb williams
Jul 24, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) signals during training camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Something that is often difficult for fans these days is that they expect results immediately. That is the side effect of the instant gratification culture that comes with the technological age we live in. Unfortunately, that isn’t how it works in professional sports. Good things take time, especially when it comes to playing quarterback in the NFL. Caleb Williams found that out the hard way last season. Hopes were high that the arrival of Ben Johnson as head coach would finally put him on the right path. However, the early returns from training camp were uneven. Some wondered how long it might take for things to click.

Apparently, the answer was not long. Thursday’s practice at Halas Hall marked the third in pads and the longest time spent on the field. It was also the breakthrough moment for Williams. Multiple sources revealed the Bears quarterback had an outstanding day, showcasing his playmaking ability and growing comfort in Johnson’s offense. He sprayed the ball everywhere, hitting receivers in stride and proving he can hit the tighter NFL windows more consistently. Much of it was aided by the rapid emergence of rookie receiver Luther Burden, who in no way looked like somebody who missed several weeks with a hamstring issue.

Caleb Williams sent a message in this practice.

Any idea that he is in over his head must be dismissed. There were always signs the former #1 pick could play as a professional. People just chose to ignore it and focus on his sack total, believing it was an obvious sign he didn’t have the processing speed to handle the NFL. For him to light up the Bears’ defense this early into camp, despite Dennis Allen throwing all sorts of creative blitzes at him, is telling. He’s starting to see the field as he should. Johnson’s firm hand guiding the way is already paying dividends. There will still be hiccups to come. They are inevitable. Still, Williams has the traits necessary to not just start in the NFL but succeed. This practice is merely the first sign that things are going according to plan.

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