As each baseball season passes, tensions between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) seem to grow stronger. The White Sox were never able to put together a consistent stretch in 2022, finishing the season at 81-81 and missing the playoffs. On the players side, however, the discussion of a salary cap is a non-starter, or as Jeff Passan put it, a “declaration of war” by the owners. The White Sox took a significant step forward in 2025, and they will look to make even larger strides in 2026. It’s frustrating that these things only seem to happen when the White Sox are trying to compete.