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Following a productive 2025 campaign, the Chicago White Sox are gearing up for a critical winter. The club's primary focus is adding starting pitching, but the front office must also address other roster gaps, most notably a backup catcher.
With the baseball world fixated on where ace Tarik Skubal might land, several lesser-known free agents could prove to be shrewd additions. Below are three under-the-radar targets the White Sox should consider in the coming months.
Kris Bubic
Injuries have plagued Kris Bubic throughout his career, which could suppress his value as he enters free agency for the first time. The Kansas City Royals drafted the left-hander in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Stanford University. After debuting in 2020, Bubic struggled over his first three seasons, and injuries—including Tommy John surgery—limited him to just 50 games over the next three years.
In 2025, he earned an All-Star nod with a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts, raising expectations for 2026. However, arm issues again derailed his season; he made only nine starts for the Royals, posting a 4.11 ERA before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Carlos Durn. Due to the Dodgers' deep pitching staff, Bubic saw limited action upon returning from injury, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings across five games and allowing two runs in two playoff appearances.
Bubic could fill a Sean Newcomb-type role for the White Sox, serving as either a back-end starter or a bulk reliever in various leverage situations.
Michael Soroka
White Sox fans might scoff at the idea of bringing back Michael Soroka given his 2024 performance in Chicago, but the right-hander was once a highly touted prospect for the Atlanta Braves, finishing runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year in 2019. Injuries marred his early career, limiting him to just 10 games from 2020 to 2023. With the White Sox in 2024, he went 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA.
However, Soroka appeared to find his form after signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026, recording a 3.41 ERA in 22 games with 114 strikeouts and 29 walks over 116 innings. He could slot into the middle of the rotation and potentially emerge as the No. 2 starter behind Sean Burke.
James McCann
While Soroka may not evoke fond memories, the White Sox could opt for a reunion with a fan favorite in James McCann. An All-Star with Chicago in 2019, McCann became popular on the South Side during his two seasons with the team due to his defensive prowess and ability to handle a pitching staff.
Over the past two seasons with Arizona, he has served as a backup to Gabriel Moreno but has experienced a late-career resurgence, slashing .272/.317/.444 with 12 home runs in 93 games. The White Sox have a need at backup catcher given the uncertainty surrounding Edgar Quero, Drew Romo, Jake Rogers, and others for the 2026 season.
McCann's influence was evident in the turnaround of former starter Lucas Giolito. The 37-year-old backstop could help young catcher Kyle Teel better manage the pitching staff while providing a veteran presence in the clubhouse.