The Chicago White Sox are no longer a punchline. After setting a modern MLB record for losses last season, they sit in first place in the American League Central, a hair ahead of the Cleveland Guardians. Nobody saw this coming. Not even the optimists who figured the Sox might scrape near .500.
Manager Will Venable has this team playing hard, taking extra bases, capitalizing on mistakes. But here’s the thing that actually matters: the White Sox have real young talent now. A lot of it. Some of it came from the Garrett Crochet trade with Boston — catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, outfielders Braden Montgomery and Wikelman González. Others, like Sam Antonacci and Colson Montgomery, are homegrown. Miguel Vargas has 20 homers and 56 RBIs. This group looks like the core of something that could last.
That’s exactly why general manager Chris Getz has to resist the urge to go all-in at the 2026 trade deadline.
The Skubal temptation is real. So is the danger.
Detroit’s Tarik Skubal is the best starting pitcher likely to be available. He’s a left-handed ace, a Cy Young candidate, and a guy who could tilt a playoff series. But he’s also a rental — a free agent after this season. And the Tigers, being division rivals, will demand an absurd haul. Reports indicate Detroit would want Antonacci as the headliner, plus at least one more top prospect.
Antonacci is a hard-nosed outfielder with plus speed and a relentless approach at the plate. He’s exactly the kind of player the Tigers covet. But he’s also exactly the kind of player the White Sox need to keep. Losing him for two months of Skubal, even dominant Skubal, would be a disaster. Colson Montgomery, Teel, Vargas — those guys are off the table too, and rightfully so.
The math doesn’t work. You don’t trade a potential six-year building block for a two-month rental when your window is just cracking open.
Sonny Gray makes more sense. But don’t overpay.
The Boston Red Sox have won 11 of their last 13, including a sweep of the White Sox, but they’re still 43-48 and tied for third in the AL East. Injuries to Crochet, Roman Anthony and Trevor Story are piling up. The front office under Craig Breslow knows this team has too many holes to be a serious contender this year.
Sonny Gray is their best starter now, and he’s a more realistic target. Gray won’t require the kind of prospect package Skubal would. Boston would want a solid player in return, but they’re not in a position to demand a top-tier prospect like Antonacci. A deal for Gray could get done without dismantling the future.
The White Sox need starting pitching — that’s obvious. But they need to acquire it the right way. Protect the young core. Take a measured swing. Don’t trade Antonacci, don’t move Montgomery, don’t gut the system for a rental no matter how good he is. Because the real prize here isn’t just winning the division in 2026. It’s building a team that can win it again in 2027, 2028 and beyond.
Getz has to be the adult in the room. The phone will ring. He has to say no.
Leave a Comment