The White Sox have at least one clear issue staring them in the face as 2027 approaches: they need more starting pitching behind Sean Burke. The postseason made that impossible to ignore, with the club leaning on bullpen days and wearing down its arms after not getting enough quality innings from the rotation.
That means Chris Getz will almost certainly have to look outside the organization. But there are also a few in-house names who could end up being part of the answer.
Drew Thorpe is the first one worth watching. Among the pitchers Getz had in the minors, Thorpe stood out most before elbow trouble led to Tommy John surgery.
Once he was healthy, the White Sox kept him in the minors on rehab assignment after rehab assignment even though the big league club badly needed innings. Thorpe made 10 rehab starts and posted a 2.85 ERA, showing he was ready for a bigger test.
If he hasn’t slipped out of favor, he should be in the mix for an Opening Day rotation job.
Mike Vasil is another intriguing piece. Chicago’s self-appointed wizard brought more than just arm talent last season, becoming a real locker room presence and helping steady a young team even while dealing with injury.
He’s expected back sometime in 2027 after Tommy John surgery, and he could fit either as a starter or a high-leverage reliever. As a rookie, Vasil put up a 2.50 ERA across 101 innings with 2.9 bWAR, and he was in the mix for a rotation role entering 2026 before going under the knife during spring training.
Then there’s Hagen Smith, who was used down the stretch as a high-leverage reliever and delivered a 1.29 ERA in 18 games. Grant Taylor has worked in a similar role, but the White Sox have been reluctant to stretch him out because of how important he’s been in relief.
Smith is different. He started in the minors, and that background gives him a real path to competing for a rotation spot.
Walks have been an issue at times, including in the postseason, but he has earned a shot to show he can handle more innings.
At the very least, Smith deserves that chance in spring training.
In Other News...
White Sox Have A Rotation Target Fans Should Take Seriously
The White Sox have turned the page to offseason planning after being knocked out of postseason contention by the Guardians, and the rotation is one of the first places the front office is likely to look for help. One name that is already worth keeping an eye on is Michael King, the Padres right-hander who fits the profile of a pitcher who could steady a staff that needs more certainty heading into next year.
King has drawn interest because of the way he pitched across both the regular season and October, giving him the kind of track record that can matter to a team looking for a dependable starter rather than a quick fix. He has also made it known he would like to stay in San Diego, but the market may still pull him into a broader sweep of free agency, which is why Chicago could have to move quickly if it wants to get seriously involved. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Face A Huge Murakami Decision After His Big Season
Munetaka Murakami quickly became one of the biggest reasons the White Sox pushed all the way to the ALDS in 2026, even if the batting average never told the whole story. Signed to a two-year deal before the season, he delivered the kind of power production and run scoring that made him impossible to ignore, and by the end of the year he had done enough to put himself in position for something bigger than a short-term fit.
The next question now is how long that relationship lasts after his current contract runs out in 2027. ESPNs Jesse Rogers believes the White Sox and Murakami have a real interest in working toward a multi-year extension, which makes sense given how well the first chapter has gone, but there is no indication anything is close yet. For a team that just found a major middle-of-the-order force, the longer-term planning may be just as important as the breakout season itself. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Face Tough Calls On Recent Additions This Offseason
With the 2026 season in the books, the White Sox front office has turned its attention to a familiar offseason pressure point: arbitration. This time, the decisions run through a group of six eligible players for 2027, and the discussion is less about routine housekeeping than about which recent additions still fit the clubs direction. The evaluations are being driven by recent performance, projected salary, and whether each players track record justifies another year on the roster.
Austin Bart, Huascar Brazobn, Brenton Doyle and Miguel Vargas all sit somewhere along that familiar tender-or-non-tender spectrum, which is exactly why this stage of the winter matters so much for a team trying to sort out value. Some of the calls appear more straightforward than others, but the larger theme is clear enough: Chicago has to decide quickly which players are worth carrying forward and which ones are better left to the open market. [Read more 🡒]