The Chicago White Sox have attracted a lot of attention during the last few Winter Meetings. They probably won’t get much attention at this year’s meeting in Orlando.
After all, the club doesn’t have elite pitchers to deal with like it did in 2023 with Dylan Cease or in 2024 with Garrett Crochet.
Advertisement
There is speculation that center fielder Luis Robert Jr. could be traded. His star has faded with his struggles at the plate. I doubt any team will pay the high price Getz is asking to acquire an inconsistent and oft-injured center fielder.
The Winter Meetings are for blockbuster trades and major free agent signings, two things Getz has indicated the club likely won’t do.
Getz has maintained that if the club is going to improve in 2026, it will likely be through the internal improvement of a young core that emerged last season.
That doesn’t mean Getz won’t make additions to the roster. He’ll have some money to spend this offseason. It won’t be much, given the financial constraints the property is likely under. He will have enough budget for minor moves like signing pitcher Anthony Kay.
Advertisement
However, Getz has a collection of young receivers he could offer on the trade market for a potential blockbuster deal. And trading Kyle Teel or Edgar Quero would make headlines at the Winter Meetings.
MLB.com White Sox beat writer Scott Merkin suggested Getz could pair one of his young catchers along with Robert Jr. for a nice return.
Catching is a strength with (Kyle) Teel, Edgar Quero and Korey Lee on the 40-man roster, and Getz believes catching talent is gold. But the White Sox could repurpose this talent by moving a catcher out of the mix, possibly pairing him in a deal with another player, like Robert. Getz is not buying anyone, but he is always looking to improve the squad as a whole.
Teel was one of the prospects the White Sox obtained at last year’s Winter Meetings in the Crochet trade with Boston. The former Top 100 prospect impressed in 78 major league games with a .273/.375/.411 line, eight home runs and a 125 wRC+.
Quero showed he has solid hit-to-ball skills at the plate with a .268 average in 111 games last season. His power numbers need to improve, as he hit just five home runs and produced a .356 slugging percentage. Both backstops must also hone their defensive skills behind the plate.
Advertisement
The club still has Korey Lee, who just turned 27 and has proven his ability. The depth is there to be used in the rotation, the bullpen, a young outfield piece or at first base.
But it would be organizational negligence to market any of them at this time.
I understand the logic of multiplying a young asset by many. However, Teel or Quero’s return would have to be multiple Top 100 prospects, as that was their pedigree.
It would have to be at least a couple of Top 100 prospects who are capable of being the White Sox’s best players (remember, not all Top 100 players become superstars). Teel showed that he could star in this league and be the face of this franchise. Quero could also be an All-Star backup as long as he can harness his power. Both have already shown that they can be everyday major league players.
Advertisement
I also understand that clearing a position logjam is another reason to trade into Teel or Quero.
However, given the physical toll trapping takes on the body, teams are beginning to divide trapping duties more equally.
I hope the White Sox continue the move, which will stop the madness of having the number one catcher behind the plate for over 120 games. It’s not every day that teams have two catchers who can hit well. Teel and Quero have shown the potential to hit at a high level, so one of them can fill in as designated hitter on the day the other is catching.
Manager Will Venable resisted having both young bats in the lineup until Lee was pulled. It might be worth keeping Lee in the organization for another season if it keeps the coach comfortable. Although I’d like to see Lee do more than pinch-run and catch the ninth inning if Quero or Teel at DH are replaced by a pinch-hitter; Try Lee in left field because he can run, or have him play first.
Advertisement
The beautiful thing about catchers is that they can also become viable first basemen or left fielders. Although I’m not willing to go so far as to say that Lee is untouchable, like Teel or Quero should be.
The main reason why Teel or Quero should not be traded is that they should be fundamental pieces of the next competitive team.
His talent screams centerpiece! Neither should be used as a bargaining chip, at least not this offseason.
One could argue that its trade value may never be that high, so use that high value to acquire more parts for rebuilding. One could also argue that not having both in the lineup will delay the club from climbing out of this pit of despair.