The Chicago White Sox enter this season with a substantially reduced payroll. The team made a deliberate effort this offseason to cut costs, achieving their goal with notable departures and minimal acquisitions. As a result, the White Sox will be among the few MLB teams operating with a payroll under $100 million.
Key Departures
The most significant payroll reduction came from cutting Yoán Moncada, who was set to earn $25 million this season. Acquired as part of the Chris Sale trade, Moncada fell short of expectations due to inconsistent performance and frequent injuries, ultimately leading to his departure.
Other notable subtractions include infielder Nicky Lopez and relievers Michael Soroka and Chris Flexen, who collectively accounted for approximately $9.05 million. These moves, along with others, have slashed the White Sox payroll by $67.67 million, according to Brooks Gate and Jon Heyman.
Key Additions
The team’s most notable offseason addition is versatile utility player Josh Rojas, signed to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. Similarly, left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez was signed to the same deal. Veteran pitcher Bryse Wilson joined on a one-year, $1.05 million contract, while outfielders Austin Slater and Mike Tauchman were added for $1.75 million and $1.95 million, respectively.
Arbitration pay raises for players like first baseman Andrew Vaughn and relievers Justin Anderson, Penn Murfee, and Steven Wilson contributed roughly $19.15 million back to the payroll. Despite these additions, the White Sox have no plans for further significant spending this offseason.
According to Spotrac, the team’s payroll is projected to be around $72.97 million at the start of the season, reflecting their cost-cutting approach.
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