The majority of the activity completed by teams during the MLB offseason falls under one of two categories: free-agent signings, and trades. Each year, a handful of blockbusters send big name players to new teams and typically involve prospects going in return. The White Sox, for the first time in a few years, are in a position to buy this offseason and could turn toward the trade market to improve the big league club. With the GM meetings getting underway this week, discussions surrounding those trades could be advancing. Here are a handful of prospects that the White Sox could be including in trade talks this offseason.
SS Billy Carlson
If the White Sox are going to make a trade for a big name this offseason, they’re highly unlikely to be willing to include Caleb Bonemer or Roch Cholowsky in the deal. But a package surrounding third-ranked prospect Billy Carlson could make a lot of sense. Carlson, 20, was the team’s first-round pick in the 2025 draft and made his professional debut this season. In 60 games with Low-A Kannapolis, Carlson slashed .252/.380/.335 with a .715 OPS. He has yet to hit his first professional home run and his season was shortened by multiple injuries, but Carlson showed flashes of why the White Sox liked him in the first round, especially on defense. A team looking for a high-upside young infielder to headline a trade package could be interested, and the team’s abundant infield depth could lead to their decision to trade him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he headlines a trade for a starting pitcher.
RHP Tanner McDougal
Tanner McDougal put himself on the big league radar with an outstanding 2025 season in which he posted a 3.26 ERA in 113.1 innings between High-A and Double-A. After showing off his triple-digits fastball in spring training, the White Sox were excited for him to take another step forward and make his big league debut in 2026. Unfortunately, 2026 was a speed bump for McDougal, who posted just a 4.71 ERA in the minor leagues, missed several weeks with a forearm strain, and ultimately ended the season in the bullpen. McDougal made one appearance with the White Sox, walking three in just 0.1 innings. The White Sox have indicated their plans to put McDougal back in the rotation to start 2027, and he’ll likely begin in Triple-A, so he’s a strong month or two from getting a shot in a big league rotation. With a bunch of other arms that fall into the same category, the White Sox could deal from their depth, and McDougal could be a name on the move.
Tanner McDougal came out firing in his Triple-A @KnightsBaseball debut 🔥
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 29, 2026
The @WhiteSox No. 6 prospect struck out eight across four strong frames and hit 99+ mph 14 times, maxing out at 100.2: pic.twitter.com/GyeMY5SRUH
IF William Bergolla Jr.
The White Sox raved about William Bergolla Jr. during spring training and his excellent start to the season in Triple-A Charlotte made it feel like his Major League debut was imminent. Unfortunately, a freak collision in the outfield fractured his leg and ended his season. Bergolla’s strengths and limitations are obvious. He’s elite at putting the bat on the ball and he can fly on the bases. There’s virtually no power or impact contact in his bat, so he thrives mostly on spraying line drives around the field and his versatility. Bergolla is a perfect fit for a team’s utility role and could be ready to go early in 2027. He’s unlikely to be a headliner of a significant deal, but he could be a piece in a trade, as the White Sox infield mix is very crowded heading into 2027.
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