Sox On 35th Podcast - Weekly Show on the Chicago White Sox

We're back for season 4 of the Sox On 35th Podcast! Our usual crew of Duke Coughlin, Jordan Lazowski, and Nik Gaur get you set before Opening Day 2026 for the White Sox on Thursday: What does the Reese McGuire signing mean? How will the team replace Mike Vasil's innings? Final Offseason Grade for the White Sox? 2026 Season Predictions Win/Loss Record Team MVP/Cy Young More HR: Montgomery or Murakami? Most IP: Schultz, Smith, or McDougal? Don't miss your chance to get ready for the season!

The long-anticipated Luis Robert Jr. trade has finally happened, and we're here to break down what it means for your 2026 Chicago White Sox. In this emergency podcast, Duke Coughlin and Nik Gaur react to the White Sox trading Luis Robert to the New York Mets, closing the book on the last major piece of the previous front office era. The guys discuss why the return feels underwhelming to many fans and whether Chris Getz realistically could’ve done better - or if he should have just kept him instead. The conversation then shifts to incoming prospects Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley. The two focus largely on Acuña, due to his expected prominent role with the 2026 club. Despite his defensive versatility, speed, and winter-league performance, Duke and Nik have differing opinions on just how good of a prospect Acuña is and just how much long-term value he will provide to the team. Where do you fall in this debate? Finally, the duo looks ahead: what the $20M in payroll flexibility actually means, why the outfield remains a glaring need, and how the White Sox should approach the rest of the offseason. The episode closes with a reflective send-off for Luis Robert, revisiting favorite moments and acknowledging what could have been.

🚨EMERGENCY PODCAST 🚨 The White Sox stunned the baseball world on Sunday, signing Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34M deal. In this episode, Jordan Lazowski, Nik Gaur, and Brett Haffner react to the shocking Murakami signing, explain how the White Sox pulled it off, and discuss what it means for the rebuild, the lineup, and the franchise’s future. They break down Murakami’s historic NPB résumé, why his market only resulted in a two-year deal, and the real risks and rewards of bringing one of Japan’s most hyped hitters to Chicago. From marketing impact to on-field expectations, this is everything White Sox fans need to know about the most surprising signing of the offseason. Topics covered in this episode: • Why MLB fan bases were shocked by the deal • Murakami’s NPB dominance and home run record • Risk vs. reward of international hitters • Murakami's strikeout/swing-and-miss concerns vs. elite power upside • How Murakami fits with the rest of the team's young core • Year 1 expectations for Murakami • What this means for the rest of the White Sox offseason Make sure to subscribe to Sox On 35th for more White Sox news, offseason breakdowns, prospect coverage, and podcasts all year long!