In a surprising move, veteran left-hander Martín Pérez has decided to walk away from a $10 million mutual option with the White Sox, opting instead for free agency. But here’s where it gets intriguing: Pérez, who turns 35 in April, is coming off a season marred by injuries and limited performance, yet he’s choosing to test the market rather than secure a guaranteed payday. Why would he take such a risk? Let’s dive into the details and explore what this means for both Pérez and the White Sox.
The White Sox officially announced that Pérez declined his end of the mutual option for 2026, accepting a $1.5 million buyout instead. This decision comes after a challenging 2025 season for Pérez, who signed a $5 million deal with the Sox in January—a $3.5 million salary plus the buyout. However, his season was cut short after just four starts due to elbow inflammation, later diagnosed as a flexor strain. He didn’t return until August, finishing the year with a 3.54 ERA in just 56 innings. For a player entering his mid-30s, this wasn’t the walk year he’d hoped for.
And this is the part most people miss: Pérez’s decision to decline the option might seem puzzling given his less-than-stellar performance and age. After all, his 19.3% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate in 2025 weren’t exactly eye-popping numbers. However, it’s possible Pérez anticipated the White Sox would decline their end of the option, so he took control of the narrative by walking away first. This avoids the awkward scenario of being rejected after triggering his end of the deal. It’s a calculated move, but does it pay off? Only time will tell.
Now, Pérez re-enters free agency with a resume that includes durability concerns but also a history of being a reliable, if not dominant, starter. While he’s never been a high-strikeout pitcher, he ended the season healthy, which could make him an attractive option for teams seeking veteran depth in their rotation. Could he land another deal as a back-end starter in 2026? It’s certainly possible, but he’ll likely have to settle for a smaller contract than he might have secured a year ago.
Meanwhile, the White Sox find themselves with a rotation lacking experience. With names like Shane Smith, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Grant Taylor, Yoendrys Gómez, and Jonathan Cannon leading the charge, the Sox’s starting pitching depth is unproven—none of these pitchers have more than 256 major league innings under their belt. This raises questions about the team’s strategy moving forward. Will they pursue established starters in free agency, or will they take a chance on their young arms? Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Could Pérez and the White Sox reunite, or is this breakup permanent?
As both Pérez and the White Sox explore their options, one thing is clear: this offseason will be pivotal for both parties. Pérez is betting on his ability to bounce back, while the Sox are banking on their young talent to step up. What do you think? Is Pérez making the right call, or should he have taken the guaranteed money? And how should the White Sox address their rotation needs? Let us know in the comments—this is a conversation worth having!
