With free agency about to heat up ahead of a possible lockout, the White Sox are in a spot where they may need to spend real money if they want to make noise in the playoffs. The roster already has some pieces, but the next step is obvious: more pitching, and better pitching.
That means starting arms at the front of the rotation, plus at least one shutdown reliever. The source material makes it clear the White Sox could not fully trust a few pitchers when the games tightened up in the playoffs, and that kind of issue can’t follow them into another season. There’s also a need for a bat that can help offset the strikeout-heavy power in the lineup after the White Sox set the wrong kind of strikeout records against the Cleveland Guardians.
Money should not be the obstacle. The White Sox are expected to carry one of the lowest payrolls in baseball next season, which leaves room to make a serious push if they choose. In their more competitive years earlier this decade, they pushed payroll close to 180 million, and that level of spending is presented as the kind of move they could make again now.
One of the first names worth circling is Michael King, formerly of the San Diego Padres. King declined his player option, which sends him into free agency, and he enters the market as one of the best arms available, trailing only Tarik Skubal in this class.
For the White Sox, the fit is easy to see. They need a frontline starter to pair with Sean Burke, and King checks that box. The only catch is that his strong playoff run this season may have pushed his price even higher.
King’s 2026 season was a strong one across the board. He posted a 3.21 ERA over 185 innings, struck out 159, walked 70, put up a 1.178 WHIP, and held hitters to a .221 average. Those are the numbers of a top-end starter.
And this wasn’t a one-year spike. King carries a career 3.23 ERA and has built a reputation as a steady, dependable starter on good teams. He also brings playoff experience from time with the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres.
A rotation built around Burke and King would give the White Sox a legitimate one-two punch, while King’s ability to work deep into games could take pressure off the bullpen. The expectation is that he could land a deal worth 100 million plus, but the White Sox’s light payroll gives them the flexibility to go after that kind of contract.
The bigger point is simple: the White Sox need ace-level help, not more middle-rotation depth. They already have enough of those types, and that was part of why they were knocked out of the playoffs.
If they want to keep moving forward, adding a pitcher like King should be near the top of the list. At 31, he still has several strong years left, and the hope is that he could help lead the White Sox toward a World Series.
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White Sox Finally Found Real Power But One Big Question Remains
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What still hangs over the offense is whether that power can be woven into a more reliable, cohesive approach rather than appearing in isolated flashes. The White Sox have the raw material now, and even the more unusual swings in the mix have underscored how much more dangerous the lineup can be when it is doing damage in the air. The next step is turning those individual moments into something that holds up over a full season. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Prospect Braxton Bragg Is Making A Strong Case For More
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For Chicago, that matters because the Fall League is often where a player can change the tone of his offseason with one strong stretch. Bragg has done enough to get noticed in a group that also includes some eye-catching work from other prospects, and the White Sox will keep watching closely as the league's leaders continue to sort themselves out. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Prospect Jarold Rosado Still Has One Big Thing To Prove
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The next step has been the hard one. Rosado has another shot coming at Double-A in 2027, and for a pitcher in his stage of development, that level tends to tell the truth quickly. Chicago does not need him to be perfect, but it does need to see that the stuff that played against younger hitters can hold up when the competition gets sharper and the margin for error gets thinner. [Read more 🡒]