GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz is looking forward to a number of things as pitchers and catchers arrive for the first spring workout on Tuesday.
That list includes watching the continued development of reliever Grant Taylor, seeing what Year 2 looks like for Shane Smith and Mike Vasil, and the type of progress prospects Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz have made ahead of camp.
“We feel really good about the direction we’re headed,” Getz said Monday at Camelback Ranch. “And to get everyone in this building right now, working towards what we want to accomplish here in the future, is really valuable, and rewarding, and exciting for the next steps for the Chicago White Sox.”
Getz said manager Will Venable is focused on starting from zero as the buildup begins toward opening day.
“We feel really good about where we’re at, the room is excited, they’re hungry,” Getz said. “But we’ve got to go out and play good baseball and that’s why we’re out here at spring training, to really set the stage for that.”
With the start of spring training, here are three positions to watch.
Catcher
Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel runs to first base on a run-scoring single in the sixth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field in Chicago on Aug. 26, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Edgar Quero made a team-leading 66 starts behind the plate last season after being called up from Triple-A Charlotte on April 17.
Kyle Teel wasn’t far behind, making 57 starts after joining the Sox from Charlotte on June 6.
Finding the right balance is crucial as the players continue their development.
Quero and Teel did appear in the same lineup more often later in the season, with one catching and the other serving as the designated hitter, particularly after the Sox recalled Korey Lee from Charlotte to give the team another catching option off the bench.
“The catching position is very demanding, physically, mentally, everything that goes into it,” Getz said. “To be able to have different options to keep our guys productive and healthy throughout the season is really important. When you’re talking about those three catchers, these are guys that complement each other.
“Obviously, more playing time, more reps behind the plate and at-bats is beneficial, but most importantly you want to keep these guys healthy and productive. So to have different options is a good thing.”
The Sox will be without Teel for a portion of spring training when he participates with Team Italy for the World Baseball Classic.
“You come out to spring training, these guys are going to be able to get a lot of different work in,” Getz said. “You’ve got games in the backfield, you’ve got split-squads. So we’ll be able to balance the attack so everyone feels like they’re ready to go come opening day.”
Starting pitching
Chicago White Sox pitcher Shane Smith, center, smiles as he speaks with young fans during the SoxFest Kids Camp Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the ComEd Recreation Center at Addams Park in Chicago. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
Smith was one of the standouts last spring, earning a spot in the rotation. He carried the strong spring over to the regular season, later receiving a nod for the All-Star Game.
Smith aims to build upon his rookie season as part of a rotation that will have at least one new member. Davis Martin returns while Sean Burke and Jonathan Cannon look to build consistency after some ups and downs in 2025.
Anthony Kay joins the mix after signing a two-year deal in the offseason. The lefty spent the last two seasons pitching in Japan. Left-handers Sean Newcomb and Chris Murphy are also possibilities. The Sox signed Newcomb to a one-year deal in December and acquired Murphy in a trade with the Boston Red Sox in November.
The White Sox and Red Sox swung another trade on Feb. 1, bringing pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin to Chicago.
And then there are pitchers working their way back from injuries, such as Drew Thorpe, and prospects aiming to eventually take the next step in Schultz, Smith and Tanner McDougal.
“We feel that we’ve been able to bring in a fair amount of depth — whether it be guys that are coming back here, some outside additions through trade, some free agents,” Getz said. “We know navigating a full season takes a lot of pitching, starting pitching and relievers. We’ve got some versatility in there.
“We’re always going to look for opportunities to add. We’ve got a young group of pitchers that, it’s a heavy load to get through a full season. It gives us a little bit more flexibility when you’ve got some arms that come into an organization that have done it before.”
The Sox continued working on their pitching depth Monday, as a source confirmed reports that the team signed Erick Fedde to a one-year deal — physical pending.
Center field
New York Mets’ Luisangel Acuña bats against the Toronto Blue Jays during the home opener at Citi Field on April 4, 2025. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Getz sees plenty of potential in Luisangel Acuña.
“He can play all over the diamond,” Getz said. “He’s a strong defender, baserunner, switch-hitter. He can do a lot of different things to help you win.”
Acuña will be an option for center field after being acquired by the Sox in the January trade that sent their previous center fielder, Luis Robert Jr., to the New York Mets.
“He’s going to play a fair amount of center field out here,” Getz said. “But we are not closing the door on the infield, either (having made starts at second, third and shortstop in the majors).
“He’s a guy that happens to have the ability to play everywhere, so he certainly is a guy to keep an eye on.”