I covered the Chicago White Sox outfield for 2027 yesterday, today it's in the infield's turn. Let's tale a look to see which players will likely be here and who might not.
Who Is In, Who Is Out For The 2027 Chicago White Sox Infield?
We'll do this moving from third base across to first base, with a look at backups and possible prospects below. Spoiler alert -- as with the outfield, I don't expect much change. That is why I didn't list free agents last time when I examined the outfield. As for the infield, there are maybe three intriguing free agents, but the Sox seem more likely to keep the core together.
For simplicity's sake, we'll ignore possible 2027 labor strife and assume everything is working under today's procedural rules. Spotrac is the reference point for contracts, Baseball Reference for stats, and MLB's Web site for the free agent list.
Here goes.
Miguel Vargas, 3B
Vargas was the team's MVP this year, with a 5.4 WAR. He seems a lock at third base -- however, there are scenarios where I could see him moving to first base, with Munetaka Murakami moving to DH. Perhaps if Caleb Bonemer gets promoted and plunked at third instead the outfield. Or, perhaps, if the Sox snag a free agent like Eugenio Suarez or Bo Bichette, who has an opt out.
Adding a free agent who can take this team to the next level would be awesome, but if not, Vargas seems quite set at the hot corner.
Colson Montgomery, SS
The shortstop hit over 30 bombs this year but also set a MLB strikeout record for a hitter in a single season. His defense is generally good but he had a few key errors down the stretch. Some fans are hoping he gets traded, but that seems a backlash to the ALDS loss. A quick look at FA shortstops shows that the only ones with a good WAR are over 30. I'd prefer if Colson stays, but the Sox will need to work with him to cut his strikeouts down.
Chase Meidroth, 2B
His 4.5 WAR was second-best among the team's position players. He hit over .300 in the playoffs. He's among the best second basemen in baseball. Meidroth is not going anywhere, unless he brings back three ace starting pitchers in a trade or something bizarre (and extremely unlikely) like that.
Munetaka Murakami, 1B
Murakami played third base in Japan and seems to be an easy candidate to move to DH. His occasionally shaky defense was sharp in the postseason, though.
The bigger issue is his bat. He is a home-run threat every time up, and he takes his walks, but he also strikes out too much. He has struggled to lay off high fastballs, especially. If he can adjust -- and if he's fully healed from the injury that sideline him late in the first half -- he can be a huge weapon. And since he's not, as of this writing, had his two-year deal extended, the Sox will have a key decision to make for 2028.
Either way, I expect him to be the Sox's first baseman for at least one more year.
Prospects and Backups
Sam Antonacci, OF/IF
Sam seems set as a left fielder now, but he does play some second base -- I suspect he'll get some games in the infield in 2027.
Luisangel Acuna, IF
Acuna is a light-hiting player who is here, and probably will be here next year, to pinch run and be a defensive replacement. As a fringe player, he could be moved, but I suspect he will have the same role next year that he did this year.
Tanner Murray, IF
Murray played six unremarkable games at SS and 3B last year. He could be an end-of-bench guy but I am not sure he'll even be on the roster.
Rikuu Nishida, IF
Nishida played more outfield than infield in 2026, but he could be in the mix as a bench player.
Caleb Bonemer, 3B
He's likelier to be in the outfield, should he finally get promoted in 2027, but he could be a future third baseman.
Roch Cholowsky, SS/3B
The Sox's number-one draft pick could someday supplant Colson Montgomery, but I suspect the organization will be content to let the 21-year-old get plenty of seasoning in the minors. It's possible he gets some time with the big club next year, but I am looking more towards 2028 or 2029 before Roch is a big-league roster mainstay. Especially if Colson fixes his strikeout problem.
The free-agent class for infielders doesn't look great -- most of the high WAR players are on the older side. Others, like former Sox Lenyn Sosa, are more like utility/bench players.
I expect the Sox's infield will look the same in 2027 that it did in 2026. That's a good thing -- these are good players. A strikeout cut down is needed, but I have few questions otherwise.
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