Hitting these goals would mean tangible growth for the Chicago White Sox in 2026 and another massive step towards contention.
The Chicago White Sox find themselves in a slightly awkward stage of their rebuild.
The second half of 2025 featured some legitimately exciting stretches of baseball. Combine that with a handful of free agent additions, a young core that looks poised to improve, and an intriguing wave of prospects on the way, and it suddenly becomes difficult to know exactly what to expect in 2026...in a good way.
After a 19-win improvement last season, some fans are clinging to hope that another massive jump is coming — maybe even enough to push the White Sox close to .500. Others have gone further, pointing to a weak AL Central and dreaming of a leap from 60–102 to division contenders.
That’s not a realistic expectation.
So what should the goal be for the White Sox in 2026? Obviously, the aim is always to win as many games as possible. But when I sat down to think through my more realistic hopes for the coming season, I landed on four "New Year’s resolutions" for this team.
Some are quantitative. Some are not. Some may be more attainable than others.
But if the White Sox can check off these boxes, the organization will be in a very good place when the calendar flips to 2027.
1. Win 70 Games
Why 70? On the surface, it sounds arbitrary.
But beyond simply clearing the psychological hurdle of avoiding 100 losses — which isn’t enough progress to celebrate — 70 wins would represent a 10-game improvement from 2025 and keep the White Sox within striking distance of another meaningful leap.
There’s historical precedent here. The 2018 White Sox finished 62–100. A 10-game improvement in 2019 put them at 72–90. Then it was off to the races: a playoff team in 2020 and an AL Central title in 2021.
Reaching that 70-win mark matters. It builds confidence within the front office, signals credibility to the rest of the league, and justifies pushing harder for external additions.
Development is rarely linear, and regression is almost inevitable for some players. That’s why expecting much more than 70 wins feels like a stretch. The White Sox went 28–37 in the second half of 2025 — a .431 winning percentage that translates to just under 70 wins over a full season.
All I’m asking is for them to maintain that pace.
2. Develop Another Rookie Class
This one is less measurable, but it’s just as important.
The biggest bright spot of 2025 was the rookie class. Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, Edgar Quero, and Shane Smith all showed flashes that suggest they’re legitimate long-term pieces.
Not everyone will become a star. Careers will diverge. But that group gave the White Sox foundational optimism.
They need to add to it in 2026.
Braden Montgomery — the organization’s No. 1 prospect — could and should debut at some point. Infielder Sam Antonacci may not be far behind, and pitchers Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Tanner McDougal are all knocking on the door.
If another wave of prospects reaches the majors and establishes itself, 2026 is a success regardless of the win total.
3. Be League Average in Home Runs
The White Sox have lagged behind in power for far too long.
In 2023, they ranked 20th in MLB with 171 home runs. In 2024, they cratered to dead last with 133. Last season brought a modest rebound to 23rd with 165, driven largely by an offensive surge after the All-Star break.
That trend needs to continue.
Chicago plays in a hitter-friendly ballpark, yet the offense hasn’t taken advantage. Power drives modern offense, and the White Sox have been left behind.
The philosophical shift is encouraging. Gone are the days of Frank Menechino prioritizing batting average over pop. This coaching staff understands the value of the long ball, and the front office has begun targeting power.
Munetaka Murakami could push 30 home runs. Colson Montgomery hit 21 despite debuting on July 4 — clear evidence of 30-homer upside. Add 20 from Andrew Benintendi, another 20 from a healthy Luis Robert Jr., and incremental slugging improvements from Miguel Vargas, Kyle Teel, and others, and league average is well within reach.
That likely means roughly 190 team home runs.
4. Play .500 Baseball in One-Run Games
The White Sox were 15–36 in one-run games last season. Simply getting to .500 in those situations would nearly account for the entire 10-win improvement I’m looking for.
This is part of growing up.
Young teams struggle to manufacture runs, protect leads, and execute in leverage moments. The White Sox didn’t do any of that well in 2025. The bullpen faltered late, there was no true closer, and clutch hits were few and far between.
Those areas must improve.
As this roster matures and learns what winning baseball actually looks like at the major-league level, I want to see progress in situational play — locking down close games, creating runs without relying on the long ball, and protecting late leads.
That growth would be as meaningful as any addition.
That’s the list. That’s everything I want to see in 2026.
Anything beyond these benchmarks is gravy.
Patience is essential with a young rebuild, even if White Sox fans are understandably tired of waiting. There’s a version of next season where there’s plenty to celebrate without the team being a true AL Central contender.
But real progress needs to be measurable. And in 2026, that much is undeniable.