This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin's White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CHICAGO -- Take a look across social media on a daily basis and there is a plethora of mock trades being suggested by White Sox fans.
That interest works hand in hand with the South Siders (35-31) currently holding an American League playoff spot and emerging as one of the best stories through 66 games of the 2026 season. But general manager Chris Getz has shown internal additions can be just as productive.
Braden Montgomery’s promotion from Triple-A Charlotte for Tuesday’s series opener against the Braves at Rate Field marked the 12th White Sox player to make his big league debut in ’26.
There’s first baseman Munetaka Murakami, who came over to the White Sox with eight seasons of professional experience in Japan. There’s left fielder Sam Antonacci, who joined the White Sox after being hit by a pitch 39 times across his 2025 Minor League campaign and leads the Majors with 15 amid his myriad skills.
Now, there’s the switch-hitting outfielder Montgomery, who is the fourth of four players to reach the Majors from the Garrett Crochet trade, joining catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-hander Wikelman González. Their contributions have not gone unnoticed by others who could follow.
“It’s really cool to see everyone producing at a high clip and it’s nice to see it’s coming from the organization,” right-hander Tanner McDougal told MLB.com. “Trades are awesome and it’s good to be good in the big leagues, but it’s much cooler to be good when it’s guys that are homegrown and from your org.”
“The goal from the beginning was to develop our own players and I say our own players, players we’ve drafted, signed internationally, and traded for and guys that could be a waiver wire pickup. Could be a Major League free agent,” Getz said. “That goes back to strengthening our infrastructure, which we feel really good about and will continue to do.”
McDougal has battled through a right hamstring issue and a right flexor strain that possibly came from trying to compensate for that hamstring soreness. Although McDougal and his 100-mph fastball have not been in a game for Charlotte since April 29, he’s throwing a bullpen on Friday and is moving forward toward a return.
Left-hander Hagen Smith, the No. 47 prospect overall and No. 4 with the White Sox, per MLB Pipeline, could be in the mix to soon join Chicago. He struck out 18 over his last nine innings for the Knights, and Getz made clear on Tuesday how the starting rotation was in a TBA mode for the homestand as the club tried to find the right fit, the right amount of rest for each hurler.
At the core of all these decisions resides a fast-rising White Sox team, surprising everyone but themselves.
“To be honest with you, it’s just good to see winning baseball, especially on the South Side,” McDougal said. “It’s cool to be in the mix and hopefully at some point make a difference up there this year and help the team get back to the playoffs where as an org and as a team, we feel we belong.
“Nobody wants to be bad. Nobody wants to suck. The fact that we are having success and the boys are buzzing is great.”
Getz has talked frequently about the team making meaningful steps forward as a prime target for the 2026 campaign and mentioned that idea again during Tuesday’s media session. Development will not be pushed aside because the White Sox have moved into playoff position.
Then again, Getz certainly has to respect and take into consideration what the team has accomplished. The club will be looking to add, with the pitching side being a strong possibility, as it is for every Major League team, but there’s still room for those adds to come from within.
“We’ll continue to assess where we are at the Major League level and see what we have internally,” Getz said. “If there are other opportunities to bring guys up and for them to plug in and help us, that’s what we are going to do.”
As a final side note, those mock trades have been noticed by Getz in some instances.
“There are some good ideas out there,” Getz said with a laugh. “And we are not going to dismiss any of these ideas that come from anyone. Those are thrown out there pretty good.
“It’s more being respectful to this team and how they are playing but not losing sight of the future of the Chicago White Sox. What we built, where our farm system is.”