The White Sox can see a future in Grant Taylor and Hagen Smith as starters. They just aren’t ready to put a label on it for 2027.
That was the message from general manager Chris Getz during Wednesday’s end-of-season media session, where he talked up both young arms without locking in a timeline for either one. Getz said, “I think they’re both going to be starting pitchers at some point in their careers,” but followed that with, “But we haven’t made a decision yet” about the 2027 season.
Chicago has spent plenty of this season living on the edge with bullpen-heavy pitching plans, leaning on openers and bullpen games while its starters threw the fewest innings in MLB. That setup helped the club navigate a playoff run that ended with an 84-78 finish, a Wild Card Series win over the Houston Astros and then a five-game ALDS loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
Taylor, 24, gave the Sox a real glimpse of what makes this conversation interesting. He put up a 2.25 ERA with 106 strikeouts and 10 saves across 84 regular-season innings, then added a statement performance in Game 1 of the ALDS, going four innings in a save against Cleveland and striking out six without walking anyone. Those kinds of outings show why Chicago has to consider what it loses if it pulls him out of the bullpen full time.
Smith’s case is a little different, but just as compelling. The 2024 fifth-overall pick logged a 1.29 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 28 innings after debuting in August.
He started the year in Triple-A Charlotte as a starter, moved to relief in July, and then handled postseason opener work. That path leaves the White Sox with options, and for now, that’s exactly where the discussion sits.
Getz also made clear that Chicago won’t rely only on internal arms to solve the rotation picture. He plans to chase outside starting pitching, with James Fegan reporting that right-hander Luis Castillo is recovering from right shoulder impingement and Davis Martin dealt with right calf discomfort. The White Sox also view Sean Burke, Noah Schultz and David Sandlin as possible pieces for next year’s rotation.
The big-picture backdrop matters here. After three straight 100-loss seasons, the White Sox climbed to 84 wins, which naturally raises the bar for what comes next. Even so, Getz said he has not discussed the 2027 payroll with team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, leaving another piece of the puzzle unsettled as the club weighs how aggressive it can be in adding arms.
For now, the door is open on Taylor and Smith as starters. It’s just not fully open yet.
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