The White Sox didn’t just trade Luis Robert Jr.
Oakland Athletics v Boston Red Sox | Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/GettyImages
They traded away the one thing their outfield could reliably point to and say, that’s real.
Now, heading into 2026, Chicago’s outfield doesn’t feel like a position group. It feels like a collection of question marks standing in the same grass.
Andrew Benintendi is still there — talented, but increasingly defined by injuries and a defense that doesn’t look like it’s moving in the right direction.
Derek Hill brings glove-first value, but almost no track record as a consistent bat. And then there’s the “maybe” pile: Luisangel Acuña, Everson Pereira, and Jarred Kelenic — high-upside names, but not players you confidently build a major-league outfield around if you’re serious about taking a step forward.
That’s why Chris Getz’s recent comments matter more than they sound.
Because he’s not saying the outfield is set.
He’s saying the opposite… without saying it outright.
Getz Isn’t Promising an Outfield Move — He’s Signaling One
At his media session following the Robert trade, Getz downplayed the idea that the team needs to add an outfielder. Instead, he framed it as something broader: the White Sox want to keep improving the roster overall.
But then came the quote that stuck.
When asked if the outfield is set, Getz said the team expects the roster to “continue to evolve” and emphasized that the White Sox have “financial flexibility” to bring in more talent.
That’s not reassurance.
That’s a warning label.
And it got louder when Getz appeared on the Rekap podcast with David Kaplan and Ryan McGuffey.
“We’re looking at the outfield market,” Getz said. “We’re talking to clubs. There are still guys out there.”
The key part isn’t that they’re looking.
It’s that he specifically mentioned talking to other teams — and didn’t lean on free agency.
That might sound like a small detail, but in January, it’s the kind of detail that tells you where the real action is happening.
The White Sox Might Be Pivoting to the Trade Market
Free agency has been slow. Negotiations stall. Prices get weird. And for a rebuilding team that doesn’t want to overpay, the outfield market can become a trap fast — especially when the options aren’t clean fits.
So if Getz is talking to clubs, it raises a logical possibility:
Chicago may be shifting from “sign a guy” to “trade for the right guy.”
And if that’s true, the White Sox suddenly become much more interesting.
Not because they’re chasing stars — they probably aren’t.
But because they’re chasing solutions.
The Outfield Targets Are Real… but the Prices Are Unknown
The tricky part is figuring out who’s actually available — and who the White Sox would be willing to pay for at this stage of the rebuild.
They’re unlikely to move top prospects for a short-term upgrade. That eliminates the biggest names quickly. But there are still intriguing options floating around the rumor mill:
- Nick Castellanos (Phillies) — a salary dump candidate at $20 million
- Jasson Domínguez (Yankees) — talented, but likely expensive
- Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox) — a fit that makes too much sense
- Jo Adell (Angels) — upside-heavy, still inconsistent
Each name comes with a different kind of risk.
Castellanos is the “take money, get something back” move. It only makes sense if Chicago is willing to absorb the contract in exchange for prospects — essentially buying future value with payroll space.
Domínguez is the dream upside play, but the cost could be painful.
Adell is the classic change-of-scenery gamble.
But Abreu?
Abreu feels like the one that would make fans stop scrolling.
Why Wilyer Abreu Feels Like the White Sox Move
Wilyer Abreu is 26, plays elite defense in right field, and has produced an OPS near .780 in each of the last two seasons. That’s not superstar output — but it’s legitimate everyday value.
More importantly, he fits Chicago’s roster construction in a way that feels intentional.
The White Sox lineup is already leaning toward left-handed impact with names like Colson Montgomery and Munetaka Murakami. Adding Abreu would create another strong left-handed presence while improving outfield defense immediately — something this roster desperately needs after losing Robert.
And the trade logic gets even more interesting when you look at what Boston has reportedly been exploring: catching.
That opens the door to a bigger conversation involving White Sox catcher Edgar Quero — a name that could appeal to the Red Sox if they’re trying to reshape their roster and create space for other bats.
It’s not guaranteed.
But it’s the kind of alignment that makes a trade feel possible instead of theoretical.
The Quiet Truth: Chicago Doesn’t Have Much Time Left
Spring Training is coming fast.
And the White Sox are running out of time to pretend the outfield can “sort itself out.”
Maybe they bring back Mike Tauchman. Maybe they sign Michael Conforto. Maybe they simply roll into 2026 with what they have and treat it like a development year.
But Getz’s wording suggests something else.
Because when a GM says, “We’re talking to clubs,” it usually means:
We’re not done.
And in an outfield market with more problems than answers, the White Sox may have no choice but to get creative — fast.
So the real question isn’t whether Chicago can add an outfielder.
It’s whether they’re about to make the kind of trade that changes the rebuild’s timeline…
or the kind of move that proves they’re still stuck waiting for the future to arrive.
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