The Chicago White Sox seem set at outfield, first base, and the first three starters of their starting rotation.

Andrew Vaughn is entrenched as the starting first baseman despite being nothing more than a replacement-level player over the past four seasons. Andrew Benintendi’s contract demands he play in left. If Luis Robert Jr. is not traded before Opening Day, he is the starting centerfielder.

Then the Sox plan on platooning free agent additions Mike Tauchman and Austin Slater in right field. The recently added Michael A. Taylor is going to be the utility outfielder.

Otherwise, the rest of the positions are up for grabs as the White Sox start spring training.

There are six position battles to pay attention to as the roster had major turnover coming off a historic 121-loss season in 2024.

Fourth and fifth starting pitcher

Martin Perez, Jonathan Cannon, and Davis Martin are the only three arms that you can for sure pencil in as being part of the Opening Day roster. Also, one of those three will likely be the Opening Day starter with Perez probably getting the honor based on his veteran status.

Drew Thorpe likely would have been the fourth pitcher to join the rotation setting up a battle between Bryse Wilson and Sean Burke for the fifth starter–even though the Sox will not need one until a couple of weeks into the 2025 season.

It sounds like there is a good chance Thorpe starts the season with a short stint on the injured list after a setback during the offseason after having late-season elbow surgery in 2024 to shave down a bone spur.

Thorpe: "Realistically I would rather miss a week, a couple of weeks on the front end and be healthy and not deal with it all season, then try and push it and have to deal with it all year and missing time in the middle or end of the season."

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 13, 2025

That either kills a starting rotation battle if Wilson and Burke are effective in spring training as they would likely slide into spots four and five in the rotation.

However, do not count out some of the White Sox’s top 10 prospects who are in camp to make things interesting. Although you can rule out top pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith from getting consideration.

They are in big-league camp just to get some experience but are destined to go back to the minor leagues to build up handling a full season pitching workload.

Jairo Iriate got some big league innings out of the bullpen last season. His floor is an effective bullpen arm, but he is still going to be used as a starter this season. If he pitches well, maybe he makes a case to pitch in the majors rather than Triple-A.

Make of this what you will, if anything at all, but one wall of lockers has Martin Perez, Jairo Iriarte, Davis Martin, Drew Thorpe and Jonathan Cannon next to each other. Iriarte told me this morning he'll be working as a starter during Spring Training.

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 12, 2025

Also, Mason Adams had a great 2024 season in the minors, and he was one of the few young arms on that dominant Double-A rotation who did not get big-league innings. He spins the ball pretty well so he should not be ruled out.

Maybe Nick Nastrini can make another case for the rotation despite having major command issues when he was brought up twice last season.

You can rule out Ky Bush as he has been lost for the season after needing Tommy John surgery.

The bullpen

Outside of Justin Anderson and Shane Smith, who was taken with the first pick in the Rule 5 Draft, every spot is up for grabs.

Anderson is penciled in as the team’s closer. However, if non-roster invite James Karinchek can prove he is past the injury issues he had last season, he does have closer experence too.

Smith was the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft that is hard to envision the Sox giving up on him if he has a rough spring training. He can be stashed in the bullpen and be asked to work during low-leverage situations.

Otherwise, the Sox have loaded up on bullpen arms looking to revive their careers.

Penn Murfee has some big-league experience including an outstanding 2022 season with the Mariners but missed most of the 2023 season and all of 2024 after needing Tommy John surgery.

Prelander Berroa and Gus Varland showed some promise in late-season appearances in 2024 and should have an inside track to make the Opening Day roster.

Lefties Jared Shuster and Fraser Ellard logged innings for the Sox terrible bullpen last season. They will have to battle it out with veteran southpaws Cam Booser and Tyler Gilbert who were acquired in offseason trades.

Do not forget about Jake Eder in the left-handed reliever battle. He was once considered a top-30 prospect in the Sox system. Although, the club might want to keep him as a starter for depth. He has minor-league options, so he can still be stashed in Charlotte.

The Sox also have veterans Dan Altavilla and Justin Dunn who have big-league experience in camp as non-roster invites. Trey McGough is also in camp as a non-roster invite who had a good season in the minors in 2024. He came over in the Eloy Jimenez deal.

Second base

Nicky Lopez was let go this offseason, so once again the White Sox have to find another starting second baseman this season.

The organization has been trying to replace Ray Durham ever since he was traded in 2002.

Veteran Josh Rojas, who was signed in the offseason after being non-tendered by the Mariners, is slated as the starter right now on the unofficial depth chart. Chase Meidroth could push him off the starting spot.

The prospect was acquired in the Garrett Crochet deal and is close to breaking through into the big leagues. However, he is not on the 40-man roster.

Lenyn Sosa had a strong September in 2024 to earn him a shot to stay with the Sox. Remember, he was demoted twice that season.

He is also out of minor-league options and a terrible fielder. Brooks Baldwin made his major-league debut last season and could get some consideration too.

The Sox also have Brandon Drury in camp as a non-roster invite. He has a Silver Slugger and 2024 was his first poor season. He also battled injuries that led to his decline.

Drury can also play multiple positions so that should help him earn a spot. The Sox also have failed prospects who never got much of a runway in Tristan Gray, Cal Mitchell, Nick Maton, and Andre Lipcius in camp as non-roster invites.

Shortstop

All you have to do is add Jacob Amaya and Colson Montgomery’s names to go along with the players listed at second base when it comes to who is competing for the starting spot.

Amaya finished the season as the team’s starting shortstop. He was also designated for assignment in the offseason, and he was only brought back after the Baltimore Orioles waived him.

The Sox probably brought him back just to provide at least some sort of veteran presence in this competition that can at least competently field the position.

Baldwin can also field shortstop pretty well, but Rojas, Drury, and Sosa are not strong defensively there.

Meidroth could be tried there too, but the feeling is his range is too limited that he is better suited to second.

It also feels like this competition is rigged to allow Montgomery to win the job.

He is the one player with the most upside despite a terrible season in Triple-A. It might be a mistake to have Colson start the season in Chicago considering he might need a few more months in minors before he is ready.

Third base

Miguel Vargas is out of options. The crown jewel in the return of the Erick Fedde/Michael Kopech three-team trade deadline deal last season was terrible once he arrived in Chicago.

He will likely be given one more shot to live up to his immense potential. However, Rojas is a better defensively at third.

Plus, prospect Bryan Ramos best defensive position is third base who is expected to compete for the job.

Although, he is starting camp battling an elbow problem. It is not expected to impact his swing, so maybe he starts the season at designated hitter. He also has a minor-league option so he can go down to Charlotte.

Catcher

This should be an interesting battle. The team has two top 100 prospects in Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero who are knocking on the door at the big leagues.

However, they might need more time in the minors before they are ready for the show.

That leaves incumbent Korey Lee, Matt Thaiss, who was acquired in an offseason trade, and veteran Omar Narvaez to battle it out for the starting spot and backup.

Although, Narvaez’s decline has been so rapid he is likely just in camp to help catch throwing sessions.

Therefore, it is probably just down to Lee, Thaiss, Teel, and Quero.