Even Dodgers fans have to love Miguel Vargas’ character development with White Sox

Miguel Vargas was a big deal when he was a part of the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system, peaking as a top-50 prospect in the sport in 2023. His long-term fit on the roster was always dubious, but the potential he brought to the table was obvious.

And so, the team included him as a change-of-scenery piece in their three-team 2024 trade deadline deal that brought Michael Kopech and Tommy Edman back to LA. Vargas, who signed with the Dodgers out of Cuba as a teenager, was understandably emotional when he learned that he was being sent to the league's worst team after spending the first half of the year with a premier World Series contender.

But now, a funny thing has happened. The Chicago White Sox are good again (or, at least, much better), and Vargas is a huge reason for their resurgence in 2026.

His 1.9 fWAR ranks second on the Pale Hose this year, behind only star shortstop Colson Montgomery. After many tumultuous seasons with frustratingly short pockets of brilliance, it appears the Vargas we were once promised has arrived.

Miguel Vargas has blossomed into a face of the White Sox, turning the tide on Dodgers from blockbuster trade

Thanks to the brilliance of Tommy Edman during the 2024 postseason, it's safe to say the Dodgers don't regret the original trade involving Vargas one bit. His NLCS MVP Award from that championship run more than justified the prospect cost.

However, now that Edman is hurt (and more expensive) — not to mention the fact that Kopech is still out of the league while searching for a new deal — the door is open for the other teams involved in that trade to make up ground. And since the Cardinals acquired Erick Fedde (now back on the White Sox) and Tommy Pham (released before the 2024 season ended), it's on Chicago's shoulders to bridge that value gap.

Vargas is doing his darndest this year to help that cause. Among all third baseman in the league, he ranks tied for third in fWAR (1.9), third in wRC+ (142), ties for second in home runs (12), third in on-base percentage (.369), and first in walk rate (15.1%). The above-.500 White Sox wouldn't be in legitimate AL Central contention without him.

But for any Dodgers fans worrying that the team gave up too much value in Vargas, fear not. The player he was blocked by at the MLB level, Max Muncy, is the only third baseman with a better OPS this season. Sometimes, a player just need an opportunity to thrive elsewhere.

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