​The Chicago White Sox are headed toward the 2026 MLB trade deadline as buyers after years of shedding talent, they’re finally ready to look at the market to improve the roster rather than simply building for the future. They could use additional bullpen help and there’s room to upgrade the outfield, but their real top need remains the starting rotation. Davis Martin has been respectable, but that’s about the extent of what the White Sox have to rely on this season.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan named Reid Detmers, a 4.13 ERA left-handed ace from the Los Angeles Angels, as the White Sox’s “best match” at the deadline and also their “dream” deadline pickup. “Best match: Reid Detmers, LHSP, Los Angeles Angels. Dream match: Reid Detmers, LHSP, Los Angeles Angels,” Passan writes. He notes that while Detmers represents Chicago’s strongest fit, he’s also a dream because it’s unclear whether Angels owner Arte Moreno will permit interim GM John Mozeliak to trade a pitcher with multiple years of club control.
There isn’t a better fit for the White Sox this summer at the trade deadline than Detmers, in Passan’s view. He’s a quality starting pitcher who, despite a 4.13 ERA, possesses filthy stuff that a team would be eager to add. Detmers would also be an attractive option for the White Sox because he remains under club control beyond 2026. This sudden shift toward pursuing a short-term upgrade is entertaining, but it would be wiser to continue building for the long term rather than adding expensive rentals this year. Detmers, a 27-year-old left-handed starter, is under club control through the 2028 season. That would give the White Sox about 2.5 years of control remaining on his contract and would allow them to add rotation help in 2026 while still planning for the future.
Detmers makes a strong case as the White Sox’s top target, but the Angels’ willingness to move him remains uncertain. If the Angels decide not to part with the lefty, Detmers remains both the “Best” trade target and the “Dream match” for Chicago at the deadline due to that uncertainty.
Note: The Sporting News is cited as a preferred source in association with this discussion. The White Sox’s strategy toward the deadline continues to balance immediate rotation help with long-term control, aiming to maximize value in a season where they are finally positioned to buy rather than sell.