With spring training right around the corner, the Chicago White Sox still have one major item unchecked on their offseason to-do list: bringing in a veteran starting pitcher. And with a handful of big-name arms still sitting on the free agent market, including future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, the Sox have a real opportunity to inject some experience into an otherwise unproven rotation.
Two Legends Still on the Market
Let’s start with Verlander. At 43 years old on Opening Day, he’s the oldest active player in Major League Baseball-but you wouldn’t know it by watching him finish out the 2025 season.
Pitching for the Giants, Verlander posted a 3.85 ERA and matched it with a 3.85 FIP, adding 137 strikeouts over 152 innings. Sure, the 4-11 record doesn’t pop off the page, but that’s more a reflection of run support than performance.
What really stands out is how he found another gear late in the year, putting up a 2.99 ERA over his final 14 starts. That’s not just hanging on-it's adapting, adjusting, and still competing at a high level.
Scherzer, meanwhile, had a rockier ride with the Blue Jays. In 17 regular-season starts, the 41-year-old turned in a 5.19 ERA and 4.99 FIP-numbers that are among the worst of his storied career.
But even in a down year, Scherzer still showed he can miss bats, striking out nearly a batter an inning. And when the lights got brighter in October, he delivered a 3.77 ERA across 14.1 postseason innings.
That’s the kind of veteran poise teams crave when the stakes rise.
A Rotation in Need of Stability
The White Sox rotation heading into 2026 is long on potential but short on track records. Shane Smith, Davis Martin, and newcomer Anthony Kay are expected to hold down spots, while Sean Burke, Sean Newcomb, Jonathan Cannon, and Duncan Davitt will be in the mix during spring training. It’s a young, untested group-one that could benefit enormously from a seasoned voice in the clubhouse and a steady arm on the mound.
That’s where Verlander or Scherzer could make a real impact. Even in the twilight of their careers, both have the ability to eat innings and provide a stabilizing force every fifth day.
And their value goes far beyond what they do on the field. For a young staff still learning the ropes, having a future Hall of Famer in the room-someone who’s been through every scenario imaginable-could be a game-changer.
More Than Just Mentors
There’s also a strategic layer to this. If either Verlander or Scherzer signs a one-year deal and pitches well, they could become valuable trade chips by the deadline.
That’s a win-win scenario: the Sox get a veteran presence early in the season and potentially flip that for more young talent midseason. That could open the door for prospects like Drew Thorpe, Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, or Tanner McDougal to step into rotation roles later in the year.
A Calculated Play
Financially, the White Sox should still have room to make a move, even after signing reliever Seranthony Domínguez. And if they’re looking for a short-term, high-upside arm to help bridge the gap between now and the next wave of pitching talent, Verlander and Scherzer are about as proven as it gets.
There’s no guarantee either would jump at the chance to join a team in the midst of a rebuild-especially at this stage of their careers. But if the Sox can make the case and the fit is right, adding one of these legendary arms could be one of the savviest moves of the offseason.