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1 trade White Sox must not make at 2026 MLB trade deadline
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- 1 trade White Sox must not make at 2026 MLB trade deadline
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The Chicago White Sox are no longer a record-setting group of losers. Instead, they find themselves in first place in the American League Central, percentage points ahead of the Cleveland Guardians .
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The White Sox have exceeded expectation by wide miles. An optimistic point of view as the season got underway had the White Sox getting out of the division cellar and getting within a stone's throw of .500. However, manager Will Venable has a team that works hard, hustles and takes advantage of the opportunities that the opposition provides them.
Oh, yes, there's something else. The White Sox have quite a bit of talent. Much of that talent consists of the many young players on the team. Many were drafted by the White Sox but several came in a key trade with the Boston Red Sox when Chicago sent dominating left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet to Fenway for four players, including catcher Kyle Teel , Chase Meidroth , Braden Montgomery and Wikelman González.
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While Gonzalez (lat) is still developing in the minor leagues, Teel, Sam Antonacci and Braden Montgomery are key players on the White Sox. The team has high hopes for the rest of the season and those hopes may become even more viable in the years to come.
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The White Sox may well win the AL Central or qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card team. While they have improved dramatically this season, the team still has needs if the White Sox are going to finish the season successfully. But more than that, they should be a high-level team for years to come.
The desire to assert themselves as the season moves towards the home stretch will be strong, but the White Sox cannot make the mistake of giving away their future for success in 2026.
GM Chris Getz must protect his best assets
Trading elite talent for established pitchers — something they really need — would be a huge mistake. While teams that are willing to sell veteran talent are not going to do the White Sox any favors, Getz has to draw the line.
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Colson Montgomery , Braden Montgomery, Sam Antonacci, Miguel Vargas and Teel appear to be the core of the team for the future. These are the players that Getz should protect and keep on the team.
The current team may need starting pitching, but these players need to stay in the fold. The most effective of the starting pitchers on the market will undoubtedly be Tarik Skubal of the Tigers. He will also undoubtedly be the most expensive. For a division rival like the White Sox, the cost would be even more expensive.
The Tigers would be looking for a package of young prospects that includes a smart, hustling and aggressive outfielder like Antonacci as the headliner. He would be an ideal pickup for the Tigers and one who could get a deal going, but Antonacci is a player that the White Sox don't want to lose. And even if Getz could swallow hard and make a deal that includes Antonacci, it would not be enough the Tigers would want at least one more young player.
Colson Montgomery (23 home runs and 53 runs batted in) would be out of the question and so would Teel. It would also be hard to let Vargas (20 HR, 56 RBI) go since he has been so effective this season.
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Trading for Skubal is a losing proposition because he will be a free agent in the offseason. He will be the most sought after free agent pitcher available, and losing a player like Antonacci would be disastrous for a partial season rental.
Making a deal for Gray appears more reasonable
Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Even though the Boston Red Sox have been on a major hot streak with 11 wins in their last 13 games, including a three-game sweep of the White Sox, they are still 43-48 and tied for third place with the Blue Jays in the American League East.
They were 14 games below .500 just two weeks ago and they have struggled to put a representative lineup on the field. In addition to having to play a number of minor leaguers, injuries to Crochet, phenom Roman Anthony and Trevor Story are likely to prevent the Red Sox from continuing their climb after the All-Star break.
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Sonny Gray is the ace of the staff following a recent injury to Ranger Suarez (groin strain), and he should be available in a trade by the August 3 trade deadline.
Gray will be an excellent asset for the White Sox to acquire, and the Red Sox could use a solid player in return. They won't need multiple young players like the Tigers would ask for and Boston general manager Craig Breslow is unlikely to cling to hope with a team that has multiple holes — even if it has been on a hot streak.
Trading a skilled and hard-working prospect like Antonacci would be a mistake, and the White Sox should not do it. Acquiring Gray from the Red Sox would not be easy, but parting with Antonacci would not be required.
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