White Sox Have Underrated Need in Free Agency

There are some blatantly obvious roster needs for the Chicago White Sox to address this offseason.

The starting rotation is the most glaring of them all, as it was a clear weakness for the White Sox during the 2026 postseason. GM Chris Getz has already acknowledged his desire to improve the outfield as well. It's an opportunity for the White Sox to upgrade their starting lineup and add more well-rounded veteran players to the mix.

There could be an underrated need, however, behind the plate.

Kyle Teel's return from the injured list in September and his role as the everyday catcher for the White Sox during the playoffs silenced much of the noise. But for almost the entire 2026 regular season, catching was a glaring weakness for Chicago.

It's a position the White Sox targeted at the trade deadline and attempted to address through free agency, yet time and time again, they failed to find a competent solution.

It is not unreasonable to at least ask whether the White Sox should target a catcher once free agency opens.

By no means am I suggesting the White Sox move on from Kyle Teel. Nor do I think they should eat into his playing time. While his overall numbers didn't look glamorous at the end of 2026, a big part of Teel's early struggles can be attributed to a lack of consistent at-bats.

Once Teel settled in over his final 18 regular-season games, he batted .250 with three home runs and an .863 OPS. He also recorded a hit in five of Chicago's seven playoff games.

The White Sox can and should feel good about Kyle Teel being their catcher of the future. But as we saw, the position group could be one injury away from disaster. And it's not like Chicago has a bunch of options waiting in the wings.

There's Edgar Quero, who hit .203 with a .540 OPS in 2026. He'll still be just 23 years old on Opening Day in 2027 and could continue developing in a way that leads to a promising turnaround. Nothing is guaranteed with Quero , though, and there's still a good chance he fails to make the White Sox Opening Day roster.

Drew Romo is, at least for the time being, still with the organization. That said, the White Sox became so dissatisfied with his play over the final few months of the season that Jake Rogers claimed his roster spot after being picked up off waivers.

Joey Bart was acquired at the trade deadline and remains under club control through 2027. He played in just three games in a White Sox uniform before breaking his hand, which ended his season.

Once Bart is healthy, he's the clear-cut backup catcher for Chicago. But perhaps there's a better option available for the White Sox to pursue on the free agent market.

I don't expect the White Sox to take a swing at a starting catcher. Players like Ryan Jeffers and Tyler Stephenson were hot names at the trade deadline. But unless Chicago is looking to establish a full platoon with Teel, I wouldn't expect the White Sox to be major players for some of those more experienced everyday catchers.

What I'd watch for is a defense-first backstop who hits right-handed. Someone the White Sox feel comfortable with as a game caller and someone who complements Teel well enough to potentially serve as a late-game pinch hitter when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound.

Austin Hedges, previously of the rival Cleveland Guardians, is one option. He had a .747 OPS against lefties in 2026, is known for his defensive prowess, and he knows the AL Central well.

I also wouldn't hate to see a reunion with James McCann.

McCann was an All-Star with the White Sox back in 2019, and he served as a reliable backup catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks over the last two seasons. In 2026, McCann hit .282 with seven home runs and a .766 OPS.

The only issue with McCann is his reverse splits. He's significantly better against right-handed pitching than he is against lefties. That may be a disqualifier for the White Sox. But if Chicago is looking for a well-respected veteran catcher with defensive prowess, someone who improves the organization's depth at the position, a player like McCann or another catcher in that tier would be an intriguing name to watch.

Either way, I think catcher remains an underrated need for the White Sox and a position the team should look to address once free agency opens.