The Atlanta Braves just laid the blueprint for how to bring back a cut player at the right price — and the Chicago White Sox try to do the same thing.
The Chicago White Sox still have work to do if they want to field a complete, competitive roster for the 2026 season.
And if they’re looking for a smart blueprint, they don’t need to reinvent the wheel. They can simply borrow one from the Atlanta Braves.
Earlier this week, Atlanta made a savvy bullpen addition by signing right-handed reliever Tyler Kinley\ to a one-year, $4.25 million deal. It’s a move that stood out — not because Kinley is a star, but because of how the Braves handled the situation.
Kinley was an arm I liked as a potential fit for the White Sox earlier this offseason. He also happened to be a player the Braves themselves let walk just a few months ago.
Back in November, Atlanta declined Kinley’s $5.5 million club option. But instead of losing him outright, they circled back and re-signed him at a lower price — this time with another club option attached for 2027. It’s already proven to be a financially efficient decision.
It’s a useful reminder: just because a team lets a player go doesn’t mean that door is permanently closed.
We see this all the time with non-tendered players. The St. Louis Cardinals, for example, non-tendered backup catcher Yohel Pozo earlier this offseason, only to re-sign him three days later on a one-year deal. It’s a simple way to avoid arbitration and reset the price point.
And that’s exactly the approach the White Sox should take with outfielder Mike Tauchman.
Tauchman was non-tendered earlier this winter, making him a free agent — and he’s still unsigned. While the White Sox clearly valued his veteran presence in the lineup and his leadership in the clubhouse, they chose not to take him through arbitration, where his projected salary sat around $3.4 million.
That decision made sense. Tauchman dealt with injuries, including a torn meniscus late in the season, and there were legitimate concerns about his speed and durability moving forward. He underwent surgery in September and, by all indications, should be ready for Opening Day.
So no — maybe he wasn’t worth $3.4 million through arbitration.
But that doesn’t mean he isn’t worth bringing back at the right number.
White Sox GM Chris Getz has repeatedly emphasized the need for mature bats to help stabilize a young, developing core. Tauchman fits that mold. He’s not perfect, but his disciplined approach at the plate adds depth and balance to the lineup in a way that matters over a long season.
There’s also the human element. Tauchman grew up in the Chicagoland suburbs and still has family in the area. Chicago is home. That matters when it comes to comfort, buy-in, and willingness to return on a short-term deal.
The solution feels obvious.
The White Sox should bring Tauchman back on a contract similar to the one he played on in 2025 — roughly $1.95 million — and improve their depth with a veteran they already know, trust, and value.
The Braves just showed how effective that strategy can be. Now it’s on the White Sox to follow suit.