Rundown

• [Intro] The Chicago White Sox added Tanner McDougal and Duncan Davitt to their 40-man roster this week, and then made two additional trades. Audio from White Sox GM Chris Getz explaining the rationale of his decision-making, and Tanner McDougal expressing his excitement in being one step closer to accomplishing his dream.
• [12:00] James Fegan and Jim Margalus join the show to discuss if there were any surprises with the 40-man decision-making
• [16:43] First trade: White Sox acquiring LHP Chris Murphy - does he replace Fraser Ellard?
• [18:52] Speaking of Ellard's retirement, where does that sudden decision rank among unexpected White Sox retirements?
• [24:07] Second trade: White Sox dealing Yoendrys Gomez and Steven Wilson to Tampa for Everson Pereira and Tanner Murray. With the White Sox dealing with a lack of pitching depth, why did they deal from that depth? Also, does Pereira have the inside track in making the White Sox 26-man roster?
• [33:37] Justin Ishbia meets the Pope, but also speaks on record for the first time as the White Sox upcoming "Steward".
• [44:55] MLB's new TV deal with NBC, ESPN, and Netflix sure makes it seem like they can't afford to miss any regular season games with a lockout in 2027.

Sox Machine is also helping with the South Side Food Drive to raise donations for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Every $1 donated is worth three meals. You can join the virtual food drive by donating at this link: https://myfooddrives.org/team/782427

Rundown

• [Intro] Tuesday, November 18 is two deadlines in Major League Baseball but only one of them concerns the Chicago White Sox. With the 40-man protection deadline approaching, which White Sox prospects get protected from the Rule 5 draft?
• [9:15] As the GM Meetings were wrapping up, Josh Nelson left for vacation. Biggest takeaway from James Fegan's reporting in Las Vegas is that the White Sox are not going to be big spenders, again. Sure seems like someone within the White Sox organization should be trying to figure out the revenue issue to spur more spending in free agency.
• [18:05] The White Sox are in the market for a left-handed hitting infielder that could play some third base, but not required. With that clue from Chris Getz, which players fit that criteria?
• [28:48] St. Louis infielder Brendan Donovan is a left-handed hitting infielder. Should the White Sox kick the tires to see what the Cardinals asking price is?
• [31:48] Grant Taylor is sticking with bullpen duties, for now.
• [37:16] Edgar Quero is also sticking around
• [43:52] Why Andrew Benintendi will be spending more time as the White Sox designated hitter than left fielder in 2026
• [49:14] What we are watching from the White Sox until the Winter Meetings
• [54:49] Around MLB: Josh Naylor is staying in Seattle

Rundown

• [Intro] The Chicago White Sox introduce Derek Shomon as their new hitting coach. Audio from Chris Getz and Will Venable, who share their excitement in bringing Shomon on board. Getz also chimes in why the White Sox are having such turnover at the hitting coach position, and Shomon shares his goals for White Sox hitters.
• [15:04] James Fegan joins from Las Vegas as he covers the 2025 MLB GM Meetings. He shares what the White Sox are hoping to improve upon offensively adding Shomon to the coaching staff. Jim Margalus chimes in about the White Sox continued focus on improving their results against fastballs.
• [22:52] Around MLB: Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are indictment is a shocker when considering the amount of live prop bets that MLB allows. What will change for MLB when it comes to gambling to avoid future instances of game fixing?
• [33:15] GM Meetings: James and Jim share what they hope to learn from the GM Meetings as Getz speaks to the media on Wednesday, November 12.
• [40:03] Josh Nelson presents his Offseason Plan Project to Jim and James for their feedback. How do they feel about Josh's plan, and how close could the White Sox actual offseason activity look like his plan.

Rundown

• [Intro] Chicago White Sox hire new pitching coach Zach Bove from the Kansas City Royals. White Sox general manager Chris Getz and manager Will Venable share their insight on the new hire.
• [10:02] How can Bove help the White Sox pitching staff?
• [31:15] Next hire incoming is the White Sox handing the hitting coach duties to Derek Shoman
• [36:06] Luis Robert Jr. is officially coming back as the White Sox exercise his $20 million option.
• [40:50] Chris Getz talks about the White Sox upcoming strategy when approaching free agency. Don't expect long term deals from the White Sox as they may repeat signing five or more players to one year contracts.

Rundown

• [Intro] Sox Machine is also helping with the South Side Food Drive to raise donations for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Every $1 donated is worth three meals. You can join the virtual food drive by donating at this link: https://myfooddrives.org/team/782427
• [3:20] The World Series did make it back to Toronto, and in a somewhat surprising way with the Blue Jays leading the series, three games to two. But it's Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching Game 6 for the Dodgers. Can he duplicate his performance from Game 2 and force a Game 7?
• [17:02] The Chicago White Sox are close to hiring new pitching and hitting coaches according to Sox Machine's James Fegan.
• [22:54] Today, the 2025/26 Offseason Plan Project kicks off. Jim Margalus breaks down how the process will work this offseason, and more importantly, what is this offseason's budget.
• [31:18] A new game for the podcast harkening back to Siskel and Ebert in which Josh and Jim play Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down. This edition is reviewing James shortlist of free agent pitchers for the White Sox.
• [34:18] Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Martin Perez
• [36:36] Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Zack Littel
• [44:43] Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Chris Paddack
• [50:32] Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Dustin May
• [55:21] Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Anthony DeSclafani
• [57:37] Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Erick Fedde
• [62:10] Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Cody Ponce
• [68:36] Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down: Hiroto Saiki / Anthony Kay / Drew Anderson

Rundown

• [Intro] Thoughts on the World Series as it heads to Los Angeles tied one game apiece. Early on it seems clear that the Toronto Blue Jays have to get to the Dodgers bullpen earlier. With how the starting pitching stacks up, can the Blue Jays win at least one game in LA to get the series back home?
• [9:33] First Base Review: It seems the debate to start 2026 is "Who should get more of the playing time at first base: Miguel Vargas or Lenyn Sosa?" What can the White Sox do to help Sosa defensively? Can these two help get the White Sox closer to league average offense in 2026?
• [24:10] Second Base Review: What does Chase Meidroth need to accomplish to settle the question if he’s the White Sox long-term plan at second base?
• [36:46] Shortstop Review: The position belongs to Colson Montgomery, as long as he's healthy. If Montgomery does miss any time, who are the best backup options? Is this an area where the White Sox could look for outside help?
• [44:25] Third Base Review: Who is the White Sox primary starting third base before the offseason begins? Miguel Vargas doesn't grade as a good defender at the position, Curtis Mead didn't show much offensively, and Bryan Ramos is out of options. Is this a position of need for the White Sox to find outside help?

Rundown

• [Intro] James Fegan is back and shares what his experience was like running the Chicago Marathon
• [7:05] Our World Series preview as Seattle suffers another heartbreak, George Springer's big moment, Shohei Ohtani coming off one of the best performances ever, Vlad Guerrero Jr. crushing this postseason, and our series predictions.
• [24:43] Two bold managerial hires with the San Francisco Giants bringing Tony Vitello from college baseball, and Kurt Suzuki agreeing to a one year contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
• [39:20] White Sox Catchers Review: With how well Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero hit, do the White Sox have a Top 10 catching unit in baseball? Also, it automatic that both Teel and Quero are with the White Sox to start 2026? What kind of possibility is there of one being dealt to help address other areas in the roster?
• [50:31] White Sox Outfielders Review: This is a unit that sorely needs to be addressed as only five outfielders are on the current 40-man roster, and both Mike Tauchman and Derek Hill could be non-tender candidates. What kind of outfielders should the White Sox target this offseason, and what are the odds Jerry Reinsdorf shocks the world by signing a big free agent?

Rundown

• [Intro] The Chicago White Sox starting pitching staff had a 4.39 ERA, which ranked 21st in MLB. However, the starters FIP of 4.89 ranked 29th in MLB. So if the rotation pulled off a minor miracle carrying a better ERA with minimal defensive improvement, what did we like about the White Sox starting pitchers in 2025?
• [10:59] On the flip side, what we didn't like about the White Sox starting pitchers in 2025.
• [18:00] Are Davis Martin and Sean Burke guarantees in making the starting rotation next season?
• [20:55] Any concerns of a Shane Smith regression for 2026?
• [26:06] Yoendrys Gomez made 12 starts for the White Sox this past season. How should the White Sox handle Gomez going into next season?
• [30:42] After sifting through the current White Sox starters, Josh Nelson begins building out his whiteboard of rotational depth. This practice includes determining when Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith join the team.
• [42:30] The hope for how the White Sox starting rotation could look like at the end of next season
• [45:43] If the White Sox are stuck in the clearance aisle when shopping for starting pitching help, which free agents could fit that spending limit?

Rundown

• [Intro] A few thoughts on the League Championship series. It seems like Milwaukee could be in big trouble heading to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, after a big Game 3 win in Seattle, could Toronto steal another game to send the series back to Canada?
• [10:50] The Bullpen Review is to help recap the previous season's production while looking ahead in how the White Sox could improve this unit. Starting with what we liked from the White Sox bullpen in 2025.
• [17:55] What we didn't like about the White Sox bullpen in 2025.
• [20:40] Does Will Venable believe in closers?
• [28:38] Will the White Sox revisit the idea of having Grant Taylor start games?
• [33:24] Looking at Roster Resource's projected eight-man bullpen for the White Sox in 2026.
• [39:25] Brandon Eisert has dramatic splits at home vs. away.
• [43:51] Josh sets up his 2026 bullpen whiteboard and is looking at two openings to find new pitchers
• [50:46] Jim pitches the idea of the White Sox pursuing Arkansas pitching coach, Matt Hobbs, as Ethan Katz's replacement

Rundown

• [Intro] Congrats to James Fegan for completing the Chicago Marathon
• [4:47] Championship Series Preview: Can Andrew Vaughn continue to be Milwaukee's hero in the postseason?
• [16:59] ALCS Preview: Blue Jays vs. Mariners - How Toronto focused on improving bat speed helped them overwhelm the New York Yankees.
• [29:38] NLCS Preview: Brewers vs. Dodgers - Does Milwaukee's regular season success vs. Los Angeles carry over to the postseason?
• [35:55] Chicago White Sox only have three players entering arbitration this offseason: Mike Tauchman, Steven Wilson, and Derek Hill. What are the chances that any of those three get tendered a contract?
• [44:54] The Savannah Bananas announced their 2026 World Tour, which includes stops in Chicago and Nashville. The Bananas playing a series at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, which seats over 100,000. If the Bananas can draw over 100,000 for one game, will MLB attempt to do the same in the near future?