The Athletic has released its top 50 free agents for the 2025–26 offseason, with the White Sox listed as potential suitors for several interesting fits.
The team’s most glaring needs are at the corner infield positions, in the bullpen, and potentially in the outfield, depending on whether Luis Robert Jr.. However, Jim Bowden of The Athletic has the White Sox linked to several middle infielders instead.
Gleyber Torres, 2B
The first is Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres, ranked as the No. 21 free agent in this year’s class. After spending seven seasons with the Yankees, Torres had a solid campaign in Detroit, slashing .256/.358/.397 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. His production dipped sharply in the second half, however—his OPS fell from .812 before the All-Star break to .659 afterward.
Part of that decline stemmed from a nagging hernia injury that required offseason surgery. Still, with Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth appearing to have the middle infield locked up, Torres seems like an odd fit for Chicago. After signing a one-year, prove-it deal with Detroit, he’ll likely seek a multiyear contract. Bowden projects him to land a four-year deal worth about $52 million—a price range and length of contract don’t make a ton of sense for the White Sox.
Jorge Polanco, 2B
Jorge Polanco is another player Bowden linked to Chicago. The 32-year-old, a 2019 All-Star, is well known to the White Sox after spending his first 10 MLB seasons with the Minnesota Twins.
Polanco is coming off a 2.6 WAR season with the Seattle Mariners, during which he hit a career-high 26 home runs and posted an .821 OPS. He also delivered a strong postseason, hitting three homers and driving in five runs during the ALCS. Like Torres, Polanco is primarily a middle infielder, with 430 career games at second base compared with just 29 at third.
If the White Sox pursued Polanco, he would likely shift to third base, with Miguel Vargas moving to first. At his age, he’s projected to receive a two-year, $26 million deal—a price within the White Sox’s range. Still, given the team’s current position in its rebuild and its middle-infield depth, signing a veteran like Polanco may not make much sense.
Trent Grisham, OF
Outfielder Trent Grisham is the first player on Bowden’s list who appears to be a more logical fit. The 29-year-old hit a career-high 34 home runs last season with the Yankees and posted a career-best 3.5 WAR. His left-handed power would play well at Guaranteed Rate Field, and he could serve as an upgrade in right field over Tauchman in a platoon role until top prospect Braden Montgomery is MLB-ready.
A two-time Gold Glove winner in center field, Grisham also has limited experience in the corner spots, logging fewer than 20 games each in left and right. While he doesn’t hit for average, his patient approach aligns with the organization’s recent emphasis on plate discipline. He owns a career 12% walk rate and drew 82 walks last season. Bowden projects him to receive a two-year, $30 million deal—well within the team’s financial reach.
Luis Arraez, 1B/DH
Luis Arraez, ranked No. 29 on The Athletic’s list, could also fill a need at first base. After spending most of his first four MLB seasons with Minnesota at second base, he has since transitioned to first.
A familiar face to White Sox fans, Arraez tormented the team during his Twins tenure, winning two batting titles and earning two All-Star selections. He added a third consecutive batting title in 2024 with the Marlins and Padres.
The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger could provide a contact-oriented boost at the top of Chicago’s lineup. However, like Vargas, he’s a below-average defender at first and offers limited power, averaging just seven home runs and 59 RBIs over his first seven seasons.
What Arraez lacks in power, he makes up for with elite bat-to-ball skills. He’s a career .317 hitter with just a 6% strikeout rate. Bowden projects him to sign a two-year, $30 million contract, which could make him a worthwhile short-term option for the White Sox.
Adrain Houser, RHP
The final player Bowden has linked to the White Sox this offseason is a familiar face — right-handed pitcher Adrian Houser, ranked No. 46 on The Athletic’s free-agent list.
Houser began the season with the White Sox, posting a 6–2 record and a 2.10 ERA over 11 starts before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays at the deadline. With Tampa Bay, he recorded a 4.79 ERA across 10 starts.
The 32-year-old features an above-average fastball, generates a high ground-ball rate, and consistently avoids hard contact. The White Sox young rotation had trouble going deep in games, forcing the bullpen to cover more innings than any team in the MLB.
By bringing Houser back into the fold, the White Sox would have a durable, back-of-the-rotation innings eater, the kind of stabilizing arm every pitching staff needs. With Houser only projected to receive a one-year deal under $5 million, the fit and the price make sense for the White Sox.
