The White Sox are in the mix for one of the more intriguing arms on the market, and they’re not alone.
Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported that Chicago has strong interest in Japanese right-hander Kaima Taira, a Seibu Lions pitcher who was recently posted for MLB teams. Levine said the White Sox and Cubs are both scheduled to meet with Scott Boras this week, with Taira among the Boras Corporation clients drawing attention this offseason.
Taira’s market is already widening beyond Chicago. The Padres, Giants and Blue Jays have also been linked to him, and more clubs are expected to jump in as the chase picks up. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported that Taira does not plan to travel to the United States for in-person meetings and will instead speak with interested teams over Zoom.
What makes Taira such a fascinating target is the mix of profile and production. He’s listed at 5-foot-8 and 209 pounds, yet his fastball generally sits at 95-97 mph and has touched triple digits. He’s also coming off a big season in Japan, going 12-5 with a 1.36 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 24.8% strikeout rate and 7.9% walk rate over 146 innings.
Taira has spent most of his career in relief, which is part of why some MLB teams may see him as a bullpen arm. But when he’s been stretched out, he’s shown starter upside.
In 2023, he posted a 2.40 ERA over 150 innings as a starter, then missed several months in 2024 because of an injury before returning to the bullpen. He went back into the rotation in 2026 and again found success, with Sox scouts present for some of those outings.
The expectation, at least early on, is that Taira wants to start in the majors. That could matter in a market where role is often part of the sales pitch, and it may give Chicago an edge if the White Sox are willing to promise that opportunity.
That lines up with the team’s offseason priorities. Chris Getz made it clear in a SiriusXM interview earlier this week that starting pitching sits at the top of the White Sox’s to-do list.
“We’re going to exhaust the starter market, both free agency - we’ll take a look - along with trades. That is our top priority.”
Getz also pointed to internal options such as Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Anthony Kay and Noah Schultz, and said he’s encouraged by the growth of the organization’s younger arms. The team has also confirmed that Grant Taylor will move out of the bullpen and into a starting role after spending the past couple of years as a reliever.
How far the White Sox are willing to go for outside help remains the real question. Getz wouldn’t commit to a specific spending level when discussing pitchers near the top of the market, but he did say there are times when “you’ve got to get a little bit more aggressive.”
Taira would give Chicago another chance to deepen its connection to the Japanese market. The White Sox have not often been major players for NPB talent, but they did buck that trend last offseason by signing Munetaka Murakami. With the club’s financial flexibility, they have the ability to make a serious run if they decide Taira is the right fit.
There’s also a clock ticking on the offseason itself. Major League Baseball’s current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1, and the White Sox are preparing for the possibility of a work stoppage. Getz said the club is ready to move quickly if players are available and talks start to shift.
“If a player is ready to sign, let’s get our ducks in a row and go.”
Getz also said the team believes its young core, clubhouse chemistry and recent success have improved its appeal around the league. What the White Sox do in the coming weeks could help determine whether they can build on their breakout 2026 season and keep pushing toward becoming a legitimate American League contender.
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