The White Sox are in the market for starting pitching help, and the question on everyone's mind is: who will they target? With the trade deadline approaching, the team is in a unique position, as they can cast a wide net and consider a variety of options. But with a .500 record as the only requirement for an American League postseason berth, every team has a reason to believe they can make a run, and it's hard to know which ones are serious about making a move.
One player who stands out is Dean Kremer, a 30-year-old pitcher who has been out for most of the season with a quad strain. While his peripherals limit him to a 2 WAR ceiling, and he might make around $8 million in his final year of arbitration next year, he's still a solid option for the White Sox. He throws six pitches, including three different fastballs, and is under team control for one more season, so his on-field production could very well exceed his name-brand value. But the question remains: should the Orioles trade him for the best possible return, or keep him for depth starters?
Another player to consider is Michael Wacha, a 30-year-old pitcher who leads the American League in innings. He's shut down the White Sox in two games this season, and depending on incentives, he can make upwards of $18 million in 2027. However, he's been less effective than Wacha, and will be more expensive over the same period. The White Sox's familiarity with pitching coach Zach Bove, who viewed them both as templates for how Davis Martin could emerge as a frontline starter, is an ancillary bonus.
The New York Mets' Freddy Peralta is also on the list, but he's been one of baseball's biggest disappointments. He went from finishing fifth in Cy Young voting with Milwaukee to a near-5.00 ERA with the Mets, and is only making $8 million this season. It's more a matter of whether a team can solve Peralta's mechanical issues before it's too late to matter.
The Los Angeles Angels' Reid Detmers is another option, but he's perpetually underperformed his FIP. However, his FIP is now so low that he can still underachieve it by a full run and be considered above average. But with two more arb seasons left, a team whose front office is in flux might want to wait until the next administration to properly assess his value.
The San Francisco Giants' Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Adrian Houser are also on the list. Webb is coming off three consecutive 200-inning seasons and is on pace to throw 180 innings for a fifth-straight year. Ray is a pure rental making $25 million in the last season of the contract Seattle gave him, and Houser has already been relegated to the bullpen. The White Sox dusted off Erick Fedde and restored him to usefulness, so Houser feels like he merits a mention.
The Boston Red Sox's Sonny Gray holds a no-trade clause, and he sounds like somebody who's inclined to leverage it toward a destination of his choosing. Given that he's summoned all of his veteran guile for an All-Star-caliber first half, he has a chance of tilting the market his way. The Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal is also on the list, but it's unlikely that the White Sox will make a move for him.
In conclusion, the White Sox have a variety of options to choose from, and the question remains: who will they target? With the trade deadline approaching, the team is in a unique position, and it will be interesting to see who they end up making a move for.
