The White Sox are doing something smart down the stretch in 2026. They are using a roster rule that started as a fix for a pandemic season. This move keeps young players close to the big-league club without burning roster spots. It is a low-risk way to stay ready for anything. The team knows how to use the rules to their edge.
A Rule Born From Chaos
This idea did not come from a front office meeting. It came from a messy 2020 season. The term “taxi squad” became commonplace during the COVID-19-riddled 2020 season, per Yahoo Sports. Teams needed a way to handle sudden injuries or sickness on the road. That year, the Minor League Baseball season faced total cancellation. So, every MLB organization set up an alternate training site instead. These sites were usually at nearby facilities or minor league parks.
At first, three extra players from each team’s 60-man pool could travel with the club. At least one position must be filled by a catcher if all three spots are utilized. These players were not on the active roster. They traveled with the team and stayed at the team hotel. They worked out with the group and waited nearby as emergency options. They did not get MLB service time or an MLB salary just for being on the squad. The system was built for survival, not strategy.
From Pandemic Fix to Daily Tool
The term “taxi squad” has not disappeared since that short season. The Chicago White Sox have been using the squad down the stretch in 2026. The current taxi squad differs somewhat from the formal mechanism established during the COVID era. Specific rules and a set number of spots no longer define this formal mechanism. MLB teams may retain minor league players close to or within the big-league club for immediate depth. A quick roster move becoming necessary is what this supports.
Those players still are not members of the active roster. They are barred from appearing in a game until the proper roster transaction occurs. The White Sox are using this to keep their bench deep without paying for it. It is a clever way to handle the grind of a long season. The team gets fresh legs without making a hard choice.
