White Sox’ offseason shaping up to once more focus on rebuilding rather than big free-agent spending

What kind of White Sox winter will it be?

Look to the last two as templates.

Chris Getz’s slow-moving rebuilding project is not without its big positives as the 2025 campaign comes to a close. Not only could the team see around a 20-win improvement from last season, but a core of young position players has emerged, illustrating a path toward the contention Getz & Co. are trying to make a reality.

But fans hoping those bright spots would send things into overdrive are likely to be disappointed this offseason.

Once more, massive free-agent dollars don’t seem likely to flow from 35th and Shields toward baseball’s top free agents, with Getz focusing on getting the guys who are here already better rather than supercharging the roster with significant outside additions.

“We are going to find ways to improve this,” Getz said Wednesday. “Most importantly, we need to have these young players … have an excellent offseason, absolutely dominate when it comes to their offseason program.

“We are going to carry that out in the offseason, because this group is vital for the future success of this organization.”

This winter seems primed to look like those of the recent Sox past, with any additions, however helpful, doing little to energize the fan base and unlikely to play significant long-term roles.

“I think all areas of the team can be improved,” Getz said. “But the most important thing is continuing the improvement and development of our young players.

“It’s honestly just too early right now to state how we are going to approach this offseason. … We’ll look at the free-agent market. If it makes sense and we match up, then we will go ahead and do that.

“What’s really going to drive this are the players that are currently in our uniform.”

Perhaps the most dramatic looming decision for Getz’s front office already seems to have been made, with Getz going a long way toward confirming that the team will pick up Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million club option for 2026.

That has seemed the likely outcome since the Sox held onto Robert at the trade deadline and looked even likelier as Robert ratcheted up his offensive production in the season’s second half. What’s on the verge of turning into a season-ending hamstring injury had the potential to affect the team’s decision, but Getz squelched that idea.

“It doesn’t really change anything,” Getz said. “When he hurt his hamstring, we knew that was a possibility, that there might be an injury that hits him or someone else. But Luis has obviously proven that he can be an impactful player, and it doesn’t need to just be in the [batter’s] box.

“He’s still in a White Sox uniform. We anticipate him being in a White Sox uniform next year and continuing to strengthen our group up the middle. … I expect him to be back.”

A core clicking into place and improved play since the All-Star break might have had some seeing the potential for a breakout 2026, and that potential still exists. Getz said he expects pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith to make major league impacts soon and that it’s possible top-ranked prospect Braden Montgomery could reach the big leagues next season.

But the big jump required to take the Sox from the AL’s worst record to fighting for a playoff spot will seemingly have to come from those inside the organization, not via big offseason additions from the outside.

“You don’t want to set too low of expectations for a young group,” Getz said. “I don’t want to limit them by any stretch. But I do think it’s important to know that this is still a young, impressionable group that’s developing at the major league level.

“I’m always motivated to improve our club. There’s different ways to do it. Most importantly, it’s continuing to support these guys in the offseason and get ready for 2026.”