🔥 HOT NEWS: Analysts say the White Sox non-tender move isn’t just about one player — it hints at a bigger vision for 2026 and beyond ⚡.DD
What we can take away from a controversial decision by the Chicago White Sox to non-tender veteran outfielder Mike Tauchman.
The White Sox made a controversial decision to non-tender outfielder Mike Tauchman on Friday.
That move sparked plenty of critiques and a whole lot of questions throughout the White Sox community — and I’m among those asking questions. I still disagree with the decision by Chris Getz and the front office.
But I also don’t need to agree with it to understand what the White Sox were thinking.
This time of year, it’s only natural to ask what every transaction says about the organization’s future plans. Right now, Chicago’s 2025–26 offseason is a completely blank canvas. We have no real clue what’s ahead or what the roster will look like on Opening Day.
So what exactly were the White Sox trying to accomplish by non-tendering Mike Tauchman? And what does it tell us about where they’re heading?
To answer that, we need to go back to Getz’s comments to the media just a few weeks ago. He outlined organizational needs and emphasized two priorities: left-handed hitting and a corner outfielder.
On the surface, that sounds contradictory — Tauchman is both left-handed and a corner outfielder. But maybe those comments were actually the writing on the wall.
And maybe this move really tells us more about Andrew Benintendi and his future role.
Benintendi’s defense isn’t what it used to be. Like Tauchman, he’s on the wrong side of 30 and has battled lingering injuries. In that same media availability, Getz acknowledged the possibility that Benintendi could function more as a designated hitter for the White Sox in 2026.
Benintendi has tapped into more power the last two seasons, tying a career high with 20, but his offensive profile still leaves something to be desired. Perhaps the White Sox believe that shifting him to full-time DH allows him to maximize his bat without the wear and tear of the outfield.
It’s not as if Tauchman was a clear defensive solution in left, either — he played mostly right field last season.
As of today, I’d expect Benintendi to be the Opening Day DH and hold that role for the majority of the season. And that likely signals that one of the bigger additions the White Sox make (and yes, “bigger” is relative with this franchise) will be a left-handed-hitting corner outfielder.
The Sox already have rumored interest in Ryan O’Hearn, who can play first base or a corner outfield spot and has a better athletic profile.
The only way it makes sense to move on from Tauchman is if the organization plans to invest in younger, more athletic players who can fill the same role — and do it better. If the Sox don’t believe Benintendi and Tauchman can play the outfield and would both need to be DHs, then clearing the logjam explains the move.
Again, I’m not convinced it was the right call. But what’s done is done.
All we can do now is read between the lines — and the message seems pretty clear: the White Sox want to get younger, more athletic, and reshape the corner-outfield picture, even if it means parting with a reliable veteran and clubhouse leader to do it.
