​  What do we know about how the Chicago White Sox are going to approach the 2026 MLB trade deadline? For starters, GM Chris Getz has indicated that his club could be buyers for the first time during his tenure. As much as the White Sox are hesitant to jeopardize their future for a playoff push, Getz recognizes the necessity of supplementing a team that has played well above expectations and is currently sitting atop the AL Central.We know that pitching is going to be the primary focus. The White Sox don’t have a glaring need when it comes to position players, but the need for innings, high-leverage bullpen help, and improved starting pitching has never been more apparent. And based on reports from MLB insiders such as Ken Rosenthal, it doesn’t sound like Chicago is interested in sacrificing its top prospects to get those upgrades.Based on the information that’s out there, White Sox fans shouldn’t expect the club to deal any of their top prospects at the deadline, which of course impacts the type of player Chicago will realistically be in contention to acquire.Still, it’s hard to talk about the 2026 trade deadline without mentioning the Chicago White Sox as a potential fit for many of the top names available. When Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN released their recent rankings of the top players who could be traded at the deadline, the White Sox were linked to 10 of the top 25.This one’s for the White Sox fan wondering about the latest buzz, what’s realistic, and where expectations should be set as we prepare to flip the calendar to July.Here’s a breakdown of every player the White Sox have been linked to ahead of the trade deadline, along with how realistic each potential acquisition actually is.The Player: Joe Ryan has been at the front of the Minnesota Twins’ rotation for years now. He made his first MLB All-Star Game in 2025 and is putting together the best season of his career in 2026. The 30-year-old enters play on Wednesday with a 5-3 record and a 2.99 ERA over 87.1 innings. Only four starting pitchers in baseball have a better strikeout-to-walk ratio.The Contract: Ryan is under club control through the 2027 season, which will be his final year of arbitration. He’ll still be just 30 years old on Opening Day next season, and that extra year of control is certain to play a major role in his market value.The Fit: From a skill standpoint, Joe Ryan is the perfect addition for the White Sox, but this is simply a move I can’t see either side making. While the early expectation is that Minnesota plans to trade Ryan at the 2026 deadline, moving him within the division would be pretty surprising, especially considering the amount of outside interest that’s certain to be there.Some people believe the Twins are going to get more for Ryan than the Tigers would get for Tarik Skubal, and the fact that it’s even a debate probably means t      ​Read More