The White Sox just lost one of their more promising young arms - and to a division rival, no less. With the ninth pick in the Rule 5 Draft, the Cleveland Guardians selected right-hander Peyton Pallette, a move that raised eyebrows across the league and within the White Sox fanbase.
Pallette, ranked as the White Sox's No. 14 prospect by MLB Pipeline, had been trending upward in 2024. He started the season in Double-A, where he posted a 3.41 ERA across 21 innings.
That performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte, and he didn’t slow down. In 43.1 innings at the next level, Pallette held opponents to a .204 batting average and struck out 54 hitters - a strong showing for a pitcher still adjusting to bullpen life.
And that’s the key here - the bullpen. After beginning his pro career as a starter, Pallette made the switch to relief midway through last season, and it seems to have unlocked something.
He made 52 appearances out of the bullpen and notched 11 saves, showcasing a fastball that touches 98 mph and a curveball with tight break and high spin. The command issues that once held him back began to smooth out, and suddenly, he looked like a legit late-inning option.
So how did a high-upside arm like that slip through the cracks?
That’s the question White Sox fans are asking after the team left Pallette unprotected on their 40-man roster. The decision becomes even more puzzling when you consider Cleveland’s track record with developing pitching.
They’ve turned plenty of mid-tier prospects into impact arms, and Pallette has the tools to be next in line. If he continues to refine his command and build on last year’s momentum, the Guardians may have just found a bullpen weapon - and they didn’t even have to trade for him.
Instead of Pallette, the White Sox chose to protect right-handers Tanner McDougal and Duncan Davitt. McDougal was a no-brainer after a breakout year in the minors, but Davitt’s inclusion raised some eyebrows. The 26-year-old was recently acquired in the trade that sent Adrian Houser to the Rays, and while he’s shown flashes - including a 25.1% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate over four minor league seasons - he wasn’t considered one of the team’s top 30 prospects.
That said, Davitt does bring some intriguing traits to the table. He misses bats and keeps the ball on the ground - a valuable combo in today’s game.
Last season, he struck out nearly 24% of the hitters he faced and posted a 43% ground ball rate. Those numbers suggest there’s something to work with, even if the ceiling isn’t quite as high as Pallette’s.
To soften the blow, the White Sox made a move of their own in the Rule 5 Draft, selecting right-hander Jedixson Paez from the Red Sox organization with the second overall pick. Paez is a different kind of pitcher - more finesse than firepower.
He doesn’t light up the radar gun, but his control is elite. In fact, his walk rate ranked third among all minor leaguers in 2024.
That kind of command gives him a real shot to stick in the majors, even if it’s in a limited role.
While some scouts still see starter potential in Paez, the consensus is that he’s more likely to carve out a role in the bullpen. Either way, he offers a different look from the hard-throwing arms the White Sox typically target, and that contrast could work in his favor.
Still, losing a high-upside arm like Pallette - especially to a division rival with a knack for maximizing pitching talent - is a tough pill to swallow. The White Sox are betting that Davitt and Paez can fill the gap, but Pallette’s development in Cleveland will be something to watch closely. If he breaks out, this could be a move the South Side regrets for a long time.