The Chicago White Sox are trying to compete for a postseason spot while continuing to develop their young talent.
It’s a position few saw them being in at the start of the season, when a .500 record seemed like a reachable goal if everything went right.
But thanks to American League parity and a strong May, the Sox could be able to do the unthinkable. Their .523 winning percentage (34-31) is fourth-best in the AL, and they’re hanging in with a crew of young players and a few veterans.
General manager Chris Getz repeatedly has said the Sox would turn into buyers at the trade deadline if they’re in the race, but he also has been adamant he won’t sacrifice long-term goals for one season. The loss of slugger Munetaka Murakami for a month has placed an arbitrary deadline on this Sox team, which probably has 31 games to prove it’s good enough to stay in contention.
Getz can’t count on the magic wand of Mike Vasil to make up for the Sox’s inexperience. But by the All-Star break, he should have ample evidence showing whether he should stay the course or make some bold moves for the second half.
As the Sox open a three-game home series against the Atlanta Braves, the best team in baseball, here are some pressing questions Getz must ask himself.
1. Is it time to call up Hagen Smith?
In his last three outings at Triple-A Charlotte, the top Sox pitching prospect allowed three earned runs over 14 innings with 25 strikeouts and six walks. Overall he has struck out 72 in 47 2/3 innings over 13 starts with a 3.78 ERA.
His 33 walks are the biggest concern, but Smith seems to be trending in the right direction. In his last outing Sunday against Durham, he struck out nine in 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
The earliest he could pitch for the Sox would be Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which would mean starting his major-league career against leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani and facing one of the best lineups in baseball in an electrified atmosphere at Sox Park.
That would be a daunting task, but the Sox rotation could use a boost with Noah Schultz on the 15-day injured list with patellar tendinitis in his right knee. David Sandlin replaced Schultz after being called up from Charlotte and was brilliant in his debut May 27 against the Minnesota Twins. But he now has an 8.10 ERA in three outings after manager Will Venable used an opener before Sandlin in Sunday’s 9-5 loss in Philadelphia.
Venable is giving ace Davis Martin extra rest by using Erick Fedde on Tuesday night against the Braves. The rest of the rotation schedule has yet to be announced.
2. Should the Sox acquire short-term catching help?
Edgar Quero and Drew Romo have struggled offensively, and Sox catchers are hitting a combined .176 with a .263 on-base percentage, among the worst in the majors. Kyle Teel is hitting off a tee but appears to be a way off from returning from his knee injury and will need another rehab stint once he’s deemed ready to play.
Should Getz bite the bullet and try to get an experienced catcher with some pop who might be available for a prospect? Milwaukee Brewers backup Gary Sánchez or Cubs starter Carson Kelly, who has a mutual option in his contract for 2027, could be among those available by July.
Or should Getz just concede offense from the position and wait for Teel’s return, hopefully by the second half?
3. Should Jacob Gonzalez get a look at shortstop, with Colson Montgomery moved to third base more often?
Venable said Saturday that he has three shortstops ahead of Gonzalez in Montgomery, Luisangel Acuña and Chase Meidroth and that there’s no urgency to use the rookie there right now.
But the former Ole Miss infielder can play both short and second, and Montgomery can move to third if Gonzalez plays short, with Miguel Vargas at first. Gonzalez likely will be here for a while with Murakami out until July, so why not see how he fares at other positions?
4. Can Chris Getz move Andrew Benintendi and open a spot for top prospect Braden Montgomery?
Benintendi’s five-year, $75 million deal was the biggest free-agent signing by total value in Sox history, as everyone knows by now — and as he’s probably sick of being reminded. His arrival coincided with the team’s free fall, and he has been basically untradeable because of his contract and lack of performance: an 0.1 WAR in four seasons in Chicago.
He has been a good soldier, not complaining about his diminished role, and a good clubhouse presence. But Sam Antonacci has been so valuable that Benintendi doesn’t really have a spot in left field. Most of his at-bats have come as a designated hitter against right-handers, but the Sox could use that spot for other left-handed hitters who need a day off from the field.
It’s a small sample size, but Benintendi has hit .279 with four home runs, 13 RBIs and an .894 OPS over his last 18 games. If he can continue at that pace through the All-Star break, Getz potentially could find a suitor, though the Sox probably would have to eat a good portion of the remaining $23 million on his deal through 2027.
Braden Montgomery, a switch hitter playing right and center, has a .315 average and .912 OPS in 29 games since being promoted to Charlotte. Getz said last week he expects Montgomery to play right field whenever he’s called up.
“There will be a time where he comes up here and helps this club,” Getz said. “But right now we want to make sure he’s doing everything he can to be prepared for when that time comes.”
Right fielder Evan Pereira is rehabbing at Charlotte and could be back soon, while Austin Hayes’ rehab stint was paused. So Montgomery might have to wait a while — but it’s hard to imagine the Sox can leave their top prospect in the minors too much longer if they deem themselves contenders.
