As the White Sox get set for an offseason that’ll assuredly feature a different approach than years past, there’s a lot of intrigue surrounding which moves the team could make to improve this winter. With a young core of position players that are no longer just fun stories and are now among the league’s best lineups, it seems like the central focus of the offseason will be on pitching. Still, General Manager Chris Getz mentioned upgrading the outfield among the offseason possibilities, and the White Sox can be open-minded about their approach.
On a Yankees podcast last week, MLB insider Joel Sherman mentioned a trade possibility for the White Sox and Yankees. With New York likely in the market for a second baseman due to the impending free agency of Jazz Chisholm, Sherman mentioned White Sox rookie Sam Antonacci as a trade possibility. In return, the White Sox could target pitching, either in the form of a top prospect like Elmer Rodriguez, or an established big leaguer like Ryan Weathers. It would be a painful decision to move on from Sam Antonacci, but is it a move they should consider?
The White Sox may need to make a difficult decision about Sam Antonacci
When considering a trade of Antonacci, there are some pros and cons. Antonacci, who will be 24 before Opening Day, made his big league debut in April and immediately became an impact hitter at the top of the White Sox order. He’s not the biggest power hitter around, but his propensity for getting on base helped him finish the season with a .277/.370/.396 slash line and a 116 OPS+. Antonacci’s plate discipline and ability to put the ball in play made him a valuable leadoff man. Knowing Antonacci’s work ethic and skillset, it would be a surprise if he didn’t take a step forward in 2027, with the next steps perhaps developing more power and improving defensively.
Sam Antonacci sends one the other way and plates another 2 runs for the @WhiteSox 💪 pic.twitter.com/VPZqtwYYQI
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2026
Speaking of defense, let’s talk about why the White Sox might be interested in moving a guy like Antonacci despite his offensive value. To get him to the big leagues, the White Sox moved Antonacci to the outfield for the first time in his career in 2026. While he looked mostly comfortable to the naked eye, his metrics didn’t back it up. Antonacci finished with -9 OAA in left field, among the worst marks for all position players in baseball. It’s possible that Antonacci could improve in the outfield, but -9 OAA is simply not sustainable for the White Sox to field long term. The team’s infield is full of good players, so there may not be an easy place to move Antonacci elsewhere on the roster. In addition, Antonacci posted just a .608 OPS against lefties in his rookie season. Another metric that could improve with more experience, yes, but if the White Sox are looking for an immediate fix, they might not want to bank on it.
Let me be clear, I’m not saying the White Sox should move Sam Antonacci just to move him. Even if they upgrade in left field, Antonacci could still have value as a utilityman on the roster with his versatility. But if another team were to approach them offering a young big league pitcher for Antonacci, I think it’s something they’ll want to consider. This offseason will be a pivotal point in the White Sox rebuild, so it’s important for Getz and the front office to consider every possibility. We’ll see what that entails.
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