Even if the Chicago White Sox ultimately come up short of winning the World Series, or even making the playoffs, they’ve already had a much better season than many anticipated before Opening Day. Thanks in part to breakouts from several young players, the White Sox look primed to be one of the best teams in the American League for the next few years. It hasn’t been an ideal season for everyone on the roster, however, and some underperforming players have given the White Sox a difficult decision about their futures with the team. Here are three players that may be playing themselves out of the team’s plans for 2027.
C Edgar Quero
Perhaps the most disappointing surprise of the season has been from 23-year-old catcher Edgar Quero, who was thrust into the starting role following a preseason injury to Kyle Teel. Quero showed promise during a 111-game rookie season. He didn’t show much power, but he hit .268 and showed solid on-base ability, and the White Sox hoped some offseason emphasis on bat speed would help Quero make more impact contact to supplement his other skillset. Unfortunately, it’s had the opposite effect on Quero this season, and he’s posted just a .541 OPS in 69 games. In addition, Quero continues to grade as one of the worst defensive catchers in the game. With Kyle Teel a much stronger option on offense and better defensive catchers in the system, Quero’s future on the White Sox roster is far from a certainty.
EDGAR QUERO WALK-OFF HOME RUN THE WHITE SOX TAKE A SERIES FROM THE CUBS pic.twitter.com/JPTSqeOHdP
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 17, 2026
RHP Luis Castillo
The White Sox took a big swing at the 2026 trade deadline when they acquired right-hander Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners in a trade. Castillo, 33, was in the midst of the worst season of his career at the time of the trade, and the White Sox hoped to restore his three-time All-Star form with a change of scenery. Castillo dominated in his second outing with the White Sox, but has struggled mightily since. At the very least, the team hoped he’d be able to provide length to help take the load off a taxed bullpen, but his outing against the Reds remains the only time he’s made it through five innings in seven starts with the White Sox. Moving on from Castillo and his expensive contract this offseason may not be doable, so the White Sox may need to hope they can fix him this offseason. If he comes out flat again in 2027, however, I don’t think his leash will be long.
LHP Noah Schultz
Coming into 2026, the White Sox felt like lefties Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith were waiting in the wings to be the future anchors of their rotation. An injury-plagued 2025 season for Schultz was certainly disappointing, but he returned healthy for the start of 2026 and got the big league call-up after just three strong outings in Charlotte. Schultz made 15 appearances for the White Sox, 14 of them starts, and posted a 6.06 ERA in that span. A reaggravation of his knee tendinitis forced an IL stint, but Schultz simply wasn’t locating well enough to be effective at the big league level. He posted strong numbers in his return to Charlotte, but the lack of strikeouts is definitely a concerning development. Schultz is certainly not the rotation lock the White Sox hoped he’d be entering 2027, and unless he steps things up, his future in the rotation could be in jeopardy.
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