It's a critical offseason for the Chicago White Sox, one in which the organization finds itself at a crossroads.
An 84-78 record in 2026, followed by the franchise's first playoff series win since 2005, has forced Chicago's contention window open. Things may have been ahead of schedule this summer, but now the burden is on GM Chris Getz and the White Sox front office to capitalize on that success and properly supplement this roster.
The White Sox are young. On paper, they have a bright future, and there's plenty of internal growth that can reasonably be projected for a number of players. But as we so often see in Major League Baseball, that growth isn't guaranteed.
This winter, the White Sox will decide whether they're willing to take the steps necessary to become legitimate pennant contenders or, in classic White Sox fashion, balk at the idea of spending money and pay the price for a passive offseason.
The Cincinnati Reds offer a perfect cautionary tale. How Cincinnati approached last offseason should serve as a guide for exactly what not to do.
Reds Banked on Internal Development
In 2025, the Reds won 83 games and snuck into the postseason as the final wild-card team in the National League. While they were promptly swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers, there was plenty of reason to believe that a young Cincinnati team was poised to take another step forward in 2026.
Elly De La Cruz hit 22 home runs and stole 37 bases at just 23 years old. Noelvi Marte, also 23, enjoyed the most productive season of his MLB career with 14 home runs, 51 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and a .748 OPS.
Sal Stewart made his MLB debut as a September call-up and showed plenty of promise, giving Cincinnati another young hitter who could potentially help carry the offense over a full season in 2026.
And then there was the pitching staff tying everything together.
Brady Singer, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene, and Chase Burns were all under contract for 2026 and beyond. The Reds also knew they were getting Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson back at some point in 2026, and that pitching staff figured to be the crown jewel of the roster.
With young pitching and young hitting, the Reds had plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their future. But rather than aggressively building upon a playoff roster, Cincinnati banked heavily on internal development and ultimately delivered an underwhelming offseason.
Cincinnati lost veteran arms Zach Littell, Brent Suter, Scott Barlow, and Nick Martinez, replacing them with a trade for Brock Burke and the free-agent signings of Pierce Johnson and Caleb Ferguson.
Outfielder Austin Hays signed with the White Sox, but Cincinnati's only notable moves on the offensive side of the ball were bringing back Eugenio Suárez on a one-year, $15 million contract and signing J.J. Bleday to a one-year, $1.4 million deal.
That lack of urgency put Cincinnati's season in jeopardy before it even began.
Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz both took the steps forward that were expected of them, and Bleday actually ended up being a quality addition with 24 home runs and a .740 OPS. But the Reds simply didn't have enough offense.
Players like Noelvi Marte, Ke'Bryan Hayes, and Matt McLain were major disappointments. The pitching staff dealt with significant injuries, with Hunter Greene making just five starts, and almost everyone in the starting rotation outside of Chase Burns experiencing considerable regression.
Young players are volatile. Development isn't linear, and the Reds demonstrated just how dangerous it can be to bank on an entire group of young players consistently taking steps forward together.
As a result, Cincinnati ranked 27th in baseball in runs scored and finished with the worst offense in the National League.
The pitching staff was even worse, ranking 28th in MLB with a 4.83 team ERA.
The Reds finished 75-87, nowhere near the playoff picture, and now find themselves in a state of baseball purgatory. All just one year after making the playoffs with a young team that appeared to be on the rise.
The White Sox Can't Afford to Make the Same Mistake
Cincinnati's disappointing season should serve as a cautionary tale for the White Sox.
Don't bank on young pitchers taking a step forward or even repeating their previous success. Don't expect every young offensive player to make progress.
Some young players will prove they're up for the task. Others will inevitably take steps back, and it's imperative that Chicago adds proven veterans through free agency and trades to help the organization withstand whatever regression may come.
The White Sox don't need to abandon their commitment to developing young talent. That young core is precisely what has put the organization in such an encouraging position entering 2027. But there's a significant difference between building around young players and relying on them to carry an entire roster without sufficient veteran support.
If they're not careful, a season that put the White Sox ahead of schedule could ultimately land them right back in purgatory after 2027.
That's what makes this such a pivotal offseason for the White Sox.