CHICAGO – The midway point of the 2025 White Sox season arrives at the end of this three-game home set with the Diamondbacks, which began with a 10-0 loss Monday featuring starter Shane Smith struggling, Edgar Quero’s first career ejection for arguing balls and strikes and infielder Vinny Capra pitching for a third time.
A record of 25-54 is not where the White Sox want to be, not close, even with wins and losses not being at the forefront of this rebuilding stage. But general manager Chris Getz, who spoke for 25 minutes prior to the series opener, continues to stress positives.
Miguel Vargas’ overall growth. Chase Meidroth’s arrival and success. Grant Taylor’s electric stuff on the mound among the talented group of young hurlers, just to name a few.
“There are a lot of things to highlight,” Getz said. “There are other areas that need to be continued to be developed, worked on. We had objectives coming in that we really wanted to focus on with our Major League staff, and they have done a pretty good job in executing.
“We know there’s more that needs to happen for us to turn the corner and accelerate some things. Overall, I feel pretty good about things. When you look at a record like we have, you are not too happy about it by any stretch. But there are some positives that we can hang our hat on and continue to move forward.”
Here are two more takes from Getz:
Workload management
Smith, who entered Monday as a prime All-Star candidate for the White Sox, lasted just two innings and 64 pitches. After not allowing more than three earned runs in any of his first 13 starts, Smith has given up 10 earned runs combined over his last 6 1/3 innings.
His 2025 innings total sits at 74 2/3, with his career-high at 94 1/3 in the Brewers’ Minor League system in 2024. But the White Sox are concerned with more than just the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft’s workload as the season progresses.
“You’ve got to stay on top of how the pitchers are responding, start to start,” Getz said. “You look at the innings and the quality of the pitch, you look at the biomechanics of the pitcher. You take feedback from the pitcher, and those were really motivating factors in us bringing in an Adrian Houser, making a trade for [Aaron] Civale, for us to comfortably give those guys a break when it’s needed.
“As we navigate the season, we are probably going to have to get creative with some things. We have proven a willingness and openness to get creative, like a Garrett Crochet situation we did last year. That might apply to some of the arms we have here.”
Getz’s plan includes not having to shut down any one hurler. He also should get Jonathan Cannon back as soon as the Dodgers series next week, with the right-hander making an injury rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte in Toledo Tuesday.
“Tried to make adjustments from St. Louis to now. Stuff felt good, just wasn't around the zone,” Smith said. “Obviously really wanted to try and throw up a zero, but [manager] Will [Venable] told me my day was done.”
Could he stay or could he go?
Trading Luis Robert Jr. by the July 31 Deadline, at the latest, seemed to be a foregone conclusion entering Spring Training. He was the veteran who could produce the biggest return, with $15 million owed to him this season and $20 million club options for each of the next two years with $2 million buyouts.
That trade still could happen, despite the center fielder featuring a .573 OPS following two walks and an 0-for-2 showing on Monday. But Getz said there’s a chance Robert could be a future part of this team.
“That’s a real possibility,” Getz said. “When you still watch Luis Robert play, you are looking at a guy who can change the game pretty quickly and in a lot of different ways. Those types of players are hard to find. That’s the reason why there’s a lot of attention on Luis Robert, because he’s earned that right.
“He’s performed at a high level, and to find talent like that is not easy. Obviously he’s been more productive in the past, but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in the potential here with the Chicago White Sox.”
Getz has not been making phone calls pushing a trade of Robert, but teams have been calling the White Sox. If Chicago can be helped long term by a Robert trade, it will be made.
“We like having Luis Robert,” Getz said. “I enjoy having him in the lineup on a nightly basis.”