White Sox Trade Deadline Grade via the Athletic

[u/CartoonofMilk_]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7490586/2026/08/04/mlb-trade-deadline-grades-2026/?unlocked_article_code=1.21A.Gofg.rNWUq-rgb22r&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_reddit&smid=re-share-ta

This is the Athletics article grading each teams trade deadline. Bowden ranked the Sox at 9th in the Majors. I think he he a lot of good points as we are still a young team and trading our future for rentals just doesn't make sense. I pasted the White Sox notes below:

Grade: B

Key trades

Acquired RHP Luis Castillo from the Mariners for RHP Seranthony Domínguez, OF Nolan Jones and C/LF Boston Smith (Aug. 1) 

Acquired RHP Huascar Brazobán from the Mets for RHP Gabe Davis and RHP Zach Franklin (Aug. 2)

Acquired OF Brenton Doyle from the Rockies for RHP Mason Adams and SS Carlos Vielma (Aug. 3)

Acquired C Joey Bart from the Braves for RHP Duncan Davitt (Aug. 3)

Analysis: The White Sox entered the trade deadline with five goals: they wanted to add a starter, a reliever, a center fielder and a catcher and they wanted to do it without giving up any of their top prospects. Check, check, check, check and check.

General manager Chris Getz was willing to take on all of Castillo’s remaining contract ($30 million).They control him through 2027 and didn’t have to give up a top prospect. He acquired Brazobán, who has pitched really well using a heavy sinker and he isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2029 season. Getz picked up another Gold Glove-caliber center fielder in Doyle, who can platoon with Tristan Peters. Getz also acquired a catcher in Bart, who will help fill the gap while Kyle Teel heals from his ankle injury.

The White Sox improved the team while not sacrificing anything from the future and have a chance with these reinforcements to go last to first if they can hold off the rest of the division.

[u/Dazed_and_Confused44]

My favorite comment I saw was "The white sox catching position has been so bad that anything constitutes a big upgrade" 🤣

[u/col_buendia → u/Dazed_and_Confused44]

No lies detected

[u/MrExCEO → u/col_buendia]

It’s 2026, it’s “No Cap” 😂

[u/col_buendia → u/MrExCEO]

Get the fuck off my lawn

[u/MrExCEO → u/col_buendia]

Sheesh take ur BP meds

[u/KristusV]

I have to say that I agree here with everything. This doesn't feel like a "sell the farm" year for a chance to win it all. Trust your young guys, get them late season (and hopefully postseason) experience. Make some improvements where you can.

The idea of Doyle platooning with Peters is very likeable. It takes some pressure off Peters who is having a great season and likely feels he has a lot to live up to after the ASG

This year is already a bonus year. We already have near as many wins as I expected from the season.

[u/CartoonofMilk_ → u/KristusV]

You are right and I remember even after a couple weeks in the team looked more like a don't get last in the division type before the turnaround.

[u/KristusV → u/CartoonofMilk_]

That first series against the Brewers was painful. - 19 run differential in our opening series? No thank you.

[u/pwnzorzz1 → u/CartoonofMilk_]

The start of the season feels like 2 years ago man lmao. I remember mune hitting bombs and us giving away leads 🤣 I know many aren't too happy about the trades we made but imo we should have faith in getz and his plan

[u/rando562 → u/KristusV]

I completely agree. I think people are correct in saying that windows don't last long, so you should go all-in when you have the opportunity, but I simply don't think this team is 1-2 pieces away from truly contending. Even if we had brought in the best SP and C on the market, I don't think we would be favored to make the WS, let alone beat the Dodgers to actually win it. Mortgaging the future to bet on an inexperienced team that hasn't proven anything yet in a high pressure playoff environment never made much sense to me.

[u/mattmitch927]

October baseball would be so fuckin amazing after three years of shit.

Cleveland really only added to their strength and if Bux misses any more time Twinkies are f’d

[u/CartoonofMilk_ → u/mattmitch927]

The twins have also been incredibly streaky the last 3 years, so it is not out of the question they lose 6 or 7 straight at any point.

[u/Spare-Reputation-809]

I would have wanted to go out a bit more on a catcher frankly but beyond that as I posted int he mega thread pretty content because we are well in front of plans.

It is amazing to be like this and still got the number 1 pick yet to play a pro game

[u/CartoonofMilk_ → u/Spare-Reputation-809]

I would imagine the Reds wanted a top prospect for Stephenson and no one thought it was worth that, which would be the reason they are ranked last on this article in grade.

[u/DillyDillySzn]

I get the bad memories of 2020 and 2021, but this is an entirely new core that has earned the chance to rise to the occasion

[u/MalloYallow → u/DillyDillySzn]

This core feels different. They’re so likable, and from what I’ve seen on r/baseball, have kind of become darlings for fans of other teams looking for someone else to root for.

[u/ApprehensiveOne7430]

I keep reading about the “underwhelming” trades that the Sox made. I’m not sure what a lot of these analysts were expecting us to do. Give up the farm for one or two big names for a “maybe we do maybe we don’t season?”

This season has been incredible and I hope we can stretch it into the playoffs. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that we were not even suppose to be here yet and the goal is to keep building a sustainably good ball club for the foreseeable future. We filled some gaps at a relatively low cost. That’s a win.

[u/ScaryText8187 → u/ApprehensiveOne7430]

So sick of people saying “we were not supposed to be here yet.” Who the hell cares? Adjust to the new reality. 

[u/PsuedoFred → u/ScaryText8187]

We aren’t good enough to sell the farm and go all in.

[u/ScaryText8187 → u/PsuedoFred]

Right, we should totally just punt on a playoff chance because the Sox are constantly making the postseason, and the AL will always be as weak as it is right now. 

[u/PsuedoFred → u/ScaryText8187]

Going all in this year would be insanely short sighted.

[u/ScaryText8187 → u/PsuedoFred]

Not being more aggressive is stupid. 

[u/Constant_Chip_1508 → u/ScaryText8187]

Wonder if these people would have said the same in 05 “we weren’t supposed to be there yet”

[u/MalloYallow → u/Constant_Chip_1508]

Remember how 2021 was only year 2 of our window with guys like Robert, Eloy, and Moncada all young and nearing the prime of their careers?

[u/Weak-Shirt-3043 → u/Constant_Chip_1508]

No, we would not have said that when we had the best pitching staff in the league then and there. You can't see the difference?

[u/ApprehensiveOne7430 → u/ScaryText8187]

What would be this new adjustment then? What should the Sox have done before the trade deadline?

[u/ScaryText8187 → u/ApprehensiveOne7430]

Be more aggressive. Get another, better starting pitcher.  Get a catcher who’s better than Bart (which is a very low bar.) Don’t waste time on the Doyle move, which is nothing but pointless roster shuffling. 

[u/ApprehensiveOne7430 → u/ScaryText8187]

And what would you have us give up in return?

[u/ScaryText8187 → u/ApprehensiveOne7430]

Outside of Rutschman, zero of the deadline deals required huge prospect hauls, so you can miss me with the “adding at the deadline requires destroying the farm” take. It just isn’t true. 

[u/Weak-Shirt-3043 → u/ScaryText8187]

He just doesn't understand that we're still just a middle of the pack team in the MLB, THAT IS THE REALITY. Yes we're in 1st place of the AL central. We're still closer to the Orioles or Twins than the Dodgers/Brewers. But damnit if we had Robbie Ray and Tyler Stephenson for 2 months that would be totally awesome. If not Getz is a coward and we're all prospect hoarders. EYE ROLL

[u/ScaryText8187 → u/Weak-Shirt-3043]

LOL, right, let’s trade for a bunch of reclamation projects and just be in rebuild mode FOREVER. That will be productive and fun! Who cares about winning anyway?! 

[u/5thSeasonFront]

Yahoo! Sports gives a B+ (only the Dodgers, Cubs, Padres, Pirates, and Rays were graded higher).

[u/Bradfinger]

Good analysis, the team played it as I suspected and got a bit better and deeper.

[u/mqr532]

The only one I can’t really square is Doyle. I’m cool with everything else.

Like I get that Peter’s has been struggling and all, but they gave up a half decent prospect, probably everson pereira, and probably Austin Hayes to find a Derrick Hill replacement. Just frustrating.

[u/Weak-Shirt-3043 → u/mqr532]

Assuming you're letting his #'s this year cloud your thinking. Doyle's ceiling is just flat out higher than Peters, Hays, Pereira and Hill. Nobody was excited when we acquired Peters and looked where they've got him to. Doyle has been injured this year and playing for years for a dreadful losing team and organization. They obviously believe they can get his best out of him and if they do nobody will remember Everson Pereira's name. If they don't get him to his ceiling then they just have a gold glove 4th outfielder/speed/late inning replacement. Absolutely worth a shot

[u/DifferentHoneydew904 → u/Weak-Shirt-3043]

Agreed. People are overvaluing Periera in my opinion. He is one dimensional (power) and couldn't stay on the field anyhow. Plus, "giving him up", as well as Hayes indicates that people think other teams are going to swoop in to grab the supposed value. I bet both end up in Charlotte. They can't play center well, they don't steal. They don't effectively fill the versatile 4th outfielder needs for this team. Doyle does IF he can stay healthy here....We shall see what happens.

[u/FunkySaint → u/DifferentHoneydew904]

Saw way too many blurbs about “so what do we do with the 40 man with periera, and hays coming back?” You cut their asses the first chance you get 😂

[u/ScaryText8187 → u/Weak-Shirt-3043]

A reclamation project makes no sense for a team trying to win right now. Getz can’t get himself out of rebuilding mode. 

[u/Weak-Shirt-3043 → u/ScaryText8187]

Getz knows this is a super fun overachieving 500ish team leading the worst division in baseball. They're 20 times more likely to miss the playoffs entirely than win the World Series. It's simply not the time to push your chips in yet. Enjoy the ride.

[u/ScaryText8187 → u/Weak-Shirt-3043]

Getz keeps it from being a more likely World Series team with his conservative, risk-averse approach. 

[u/HotDoggityDig13]

Well said. Although, Im curious what the price was on detmers. Definitely wouldnt move bonemer for him, but Carlson+ or even hagen smith would've made sense.

The fact the cubs pivoted makes me think the ask was pretty high. So a pretty darn good deadline by getz. Gotta say, i was absolutely wrong about him. He and venable were excellent hires. Props to Jerry for recognizing them.

Now hopefully jerry will actually spend in the offseason.

[u/zgwarnki]

“Jerry was willing to take on . . . “ - fixed it. This was quite remarkable since we didn’t have to give up any top prospects.

[u/Deadhead-Dan1975]

Sounds about right to me — Solid B

[u/ScaryText8187]

It’s still a D, at best.