With Sean Newcomb and Randal Grichuk among the White Sox’s notable free agents, there isn’t a long list of holes to patch this offseason. The bigger issue is obvious: Newcomb’s 3.09 ERA across more than 90 innings won’t be easy to replace. Chicago has enough youth and stability elsewhere that the bullpen becomes one of the cleaner places to shop, and free agency offers a few different ways to attack that need.
The most expensive swing would be San Diego’s Adrian Morejon. He stands out not just as the top left-handed reliever available, but maybe as the best bullpen arm on the market overall.
The 27-year-old has been remarkably steady, stacking three straight seasons with at least 60 appearances and an ERA under 3.00. Mason Miller’s presence in San Diego kept Morejon from getting many ninth-inning chances, but he’s been dominant in a setup role.
That’s where the fit gets interesting for the White Sox. If he’s chasing a chance to close games and the payday that comes with it, he may price himself out of Chicago’s range.
Still, pairing Morejon with Grant Taylor at the back of the bullpen would give the White Sox a nasty late-game punch, even if it would cost them.
If the White Sox want a lefty who is more likely to come at a friendlier number, Alex Vesia makes a lot of sense. The 30-year-old debuted with the Miami Marlins in 2020 and has spent the last six seasons as a fixture in the Dodgers’ bullpen.
One rough year in 2023, when he posted a 4.35 ERA, looks more like the exception than the rule. Outside of that, he’s been nails.
Vesia also owns a career 1.59 ERA in 22.2 postseason innings, which says plenty about how he handles high-pressure spots. In 2026, he worked a career-high 72 games, put up a 2.64 ERA, and kept racking up strikeouts without overpowering stuff.
Among the options here, he looks like the cleanest replacement for Newcomb.
Then there’s Gregory Soto, who brings a different flavor entirely. The Pirates left-hander doesn’t match Vesia in reliability or Morejon in polish, but his stuff is loud and his résumé includes real closing work.
Soto converted 48 of 52 save chances across his two seasons as the Tigers’ closer in 2021 and 2022, then moved into more of a setup role with the Phillies, Orioles, and Mets before getting a shot to close in Pittsburgh in 2026. He finished 16 of 22 in save opportunities, posted a 3.63 ERA, and struck out 79 batters in 67 innings.
Heading into his age-32 season, he’ll be looking to cash in on that power arsenal. He may not be the choice to hand the ninth inning to right away, but as a setup arm with closing experience, Soto would give the White Sox another useful path to replacing Newcomb.
In Other News...
Will Venables White Sox Turnaround Just Earned Him Major Recognition
Will Venables first season at the helm in Chicago brought the kind of reset the White Sox had been chasing for years. After back-to-back years of steady improvement, the club went from a long stretch of frustration to a postseason team, then added a Wild Card Series win over Houston and pushed deep enough into the ALDS to make clear the turnaround was no fluke.
A big part of the change came from the way Venable managed the game within the game, leaning on bullpen matchups, platoons and other opponent-specific decisions that helped the roster play above its previous profile. The recognition he received this week only underscores how quickly the White Sox have shifted from rebuilding curiosity to a team that can win in October, even if the next step is still waiting to be defined. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Offseason Plan Pushes A Real Win Now Commitment
The White Sox do not need a splashy winter to make their point, but they do need one that looks more like a club finally acting with purpose. A proposed offseason blueprint for Chicago calls for a modest payroll increase, smarter roster management and a stronger emphasis on development, especially on the pitching side, where the organization still has work to do in turning starters into reliable big league pieces. It also lays out a more practical approach to the roster, with decisions on tenders, free-agent additions and possible extensions all tied to the same idea: spend enough to help now, but keep the long view in sight.
Miguel Vargas and Sean Newcomb are among the names in that mix, underscoring how much of this winter could hinge on the margins rather than headline-grabbing moves. The larger message, though, is that Chicago is being urged to make actual baseball decisions instead of waiting for the next big reset, and that means sorting through a few familiar faces and deciding which ones still fit the next version of the team. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Lineup Debate Comes Down To One October Problem
The White Soxs October unraveling put an old problem back in the spotlight: the offense could score in bursts, but it too often stalled when the game asked for one clean swing in a big spot. Chicagos production with runners in scoring position lagged behind more efficient clubs such as the Brewers and Rays, and the underlying issue went beyond missed chances. The lineup simply struck out too much in the situations that matter most, a flaw that can swallow an entire playoff series before a team has time to correct it.
For a club trying to turn the page, the answer may not be one quick fix but a broader shift toward a more balanced attack. Player development will have to do some of that work, and the front office will likely keep looking at ways to add more contact and stability through free agency. The White Sox know what the problem looks like in October now, and the next step is finding hitters who can make the game smaller when the bases are crowded. [Read more 🡒]