White Sox’s trade deadline plans are about to get clearer for one reason

Imagn Images

White Sox’s trade deadline plans are about to get clearer for one reason

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated May 12, 2026 8:07 PM ET

The Chicago White Sox have been surprising contenders this season, as they are just one-and-a-half games behind the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central. They’re actually tied in the loss column heading into Tuesday’s action, too.

So what exactly will the White Sox do at the MLB trade deadline?

Chicago is about a year ahead of schedule here, as I’m not even sure general manager Chris Getz expected the team to be this good, this fast. That could potentially result in the White Sox being a bit more cautious in terms of selling off pieces before Aug. 3.

Should it necessarily stop Chicago from making moves for the future? Absolutely not, but it does mean that the White Sox will have to be a bit more careful with how they go about the process.

But the White Sox’s overall trade deadline plans largely hinge on one factor: the return of catcher Kyle Teel.

Kyle Teel could alter White Sox’s trade deadline strategy

Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Teel has not yet played a game this season, as he has been recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered during the World Baseball Classic. But Teel is now inching closer and closer to a return, as he is beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

To say that Teel’s return will help Chicago in a massive way would be putting it lightly.

Due to Teel’s absence, the White Sox have been subjected to Edgar Quero’s .433 OPS and questionable defense behind the plate. The catcher position has been a major weak link for Chicago, and it’s about to get a huge boost with Teel’s impending return.

The White Sox landed Teel in the trade that sent pitcher Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox in December 2024. The 24-year-old went on to slash .278/.375/.411 with eight home runs and 35 RBI over 297 plate appearances last season, putting himself on the map as a potential future star.

Once Teel returns, Chicago’s lineup will look considerably better, and it could result in the White Sox making a stronger push in the division. That, in turn, could cause Chicago to sit on players like pitchers Davis Martin and Erick Fedde rather than trading them, and it could even lead to the Sox semi-buying midsummer.

Teel could very well be the biggest X-factor in determining how the trade deadline will play out for the Southsiders.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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