The vision for the Chicago White Sox in free agency should be simple: protect at-bats and innings for the young core while raising the bar with more legitimate veteran additions than a year ago.

Toeing that line can be difficult. But it’s possible. 

Last offseason, Chicago dipped into the bargain bin—Dan Altavilla, Justin Dunn, and guys on minor league deals who were more lottery ticket than actual addition. That can’t be the approach again. Instead of patchwork arms, stabilize the bullpen with a real closer. Instead of Martin Pérez being your “splash” for the rotation, give the staff a veteran anchor on a multi-year deal who can set the tone every fifth day.

On the offensive side, the standard for who earns consistent at-bats needs to be higher. There aren’t many open spots in the lineup, and if the White Sox are going to take plate appearances away from younger players, it has to be for someone who clearly upgrades the roster—not another Austin Slater, Josh Rojas, or Michael A. Taylor type.

One area that feels like a lock to be addressed is the outfield. On paper, the foundation is already there. Andrew Benintendi still has two years left on his five-year, $75 million deal and, unless he’s moved, he’ll be back as the everyday left fielder. Luis Robert Jr. will return with his $20 million club option being picked up for center field. Mike Tauchman has one more year of arbitration and posted a .756 OPS in 93 games—more than enough to justify giving him another run.

But Tauchman is at his best in a platoon, taking most of his at-bats against right-handed pitching. He dealt with lower-body injuries all season and probably isn’t built to handle 130+ games at this stage of his career. A complementary outfield bat is absolutely a need—but the White Sox can and should aim higher than Austin Slater.

Chicago needs more power and more stability. They can get both for a reasonable price by signing Austin Hays.

Hays, 30, hit 15 home runs with a .768 OPS for the Cincinnati Reds this season and crushed left-handed pitching to the tune of a .949 OPS in 105 plate appearances. Since 2019, he owns a .753 OPS in the majors and even earned an All-Star nod with the Orioles. He carries the same “lefty masher” label that Slater does, but with more consistency and actual value against right-handed arms. If he repeats his 2024 production, you’d have no issue running him out there every day in right field.

Hays has a $12 million mutual option with Cincinnati for 2026, but it’s hard to see the Reds allocating that kind of money to him—especially when they appear poised to shop in slightly deeper waters and might need to save. Spotrac lists his market value at one year, $5.1 million.

I’d be fine with the White Sox stepping in a tick above that. A two-year deal in the $12–14 million range makes all the sense in the world. Hays raises your floor instantly, the cost would be negligible, and he could even turn into a trade chip at the deadline if need be.

With the exception of Braden Montgomery, there isn’t much major league-ready outfield depth coming through the system. For a roster that looking to take another step forward in 2026, this fit makes too much sense.

I would love this move for Chicago.