The White Sox are heading into the winter with a clear priority: build up the rotation. That plan includes outside additions, but it also runs through the roster they already have, with Grant Taylor moving out of the bullpen and into a starting role.
Even with Taylor shifting to the rotation, Chicago isn’t treating relief pitching as the main item on the shopping list. Speaking with the Chicago Sun-Times’ James Fegan and other reporters, GM Chris Getz pushed back on the idea that the club needs to chase bullpen help aggressively. The Sox may instead lean on surplus starters to cover relief innings, then look for a lower-cost veteran or two later in the offseason if they want more depth.
The infield picture could eventually give Chicago another way to address needs elsewhere. The organization has been mentioned as a possible trade partner because of its prospect depth, but Getz said that is “ not something that I would say we’re entertaining right now.”
That fits the moment the Sox are in. They may have more young infielders than immediate openings, but they are still sorting out which ones are actual long-term pieces.
And despite the unexpected AL Central title, Chicago is not abandoning the rebuilding track. Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Munetaka Murakami all played major roles in the playoff run, but the Sox still appear intent on letting the roster develop naturally rather than making a sudden shift in direction.
Minnesota is dealing with a different kind of pitching puzzle. The Twins have a much bigger bullpen need than rotation need, but they may still follow a similar blueprint by adding a starter first and then using one of the extras in relief. Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports that the club could target a mid-rotation arm and then shift at least one leftover starter into the bullpen, a strategy that lines up with the Twins’ long-standing reluctance to spend heavily on relief pitching.
GM Jeremy Zoll said the team would “ need to be open-minded to ” rotation additions, “ knowing that it feels like an area of surplus but also want to be mindful of not eating into that too much since we know we’re going to need real depth to attack the season.” Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, and the returning Pablo Lopez are projected as Minnesota’s top three starters, while Dean Kremer, Zebby Matthews, Bailey Ober, Connor Prielipp, and Mick Abel are in the mix for the final two rotation spots.
In Cleveland, the Guardians are bringing in Alex Burg as their new quality control coach, according to Justice delos Santos of the Bay Area News Group. Burg spent the last five seasons on the Giants’ staff, serving as bullpen coach in 2022-23, catching coach over the last three seasons, and Major League field coordinator this past year. Before joining San Francisco, he also spent three years on the Rangers’ staff after a nine-year minor league playing career ended.
In Other News...
White Sox Fans Get A Rare Shot At Team Treasures This Weekend
White Sox fans looking for a bargain, or just a piece of team history, will get a rare chance this weekend when the Chicago White Sox Charities Fall Garage Sale returns to Rate Field. The free public event is set for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT on the Rate Field Patio, with an expanded layout and an improved checkout process designed to handle the crowd a little more smoothly.
The sale will feature thousands of discounted items, including autographed memorabilia and game-used jerseys, with all proceeds going to Chicago White Sox Charities. Parking opens at 6 a.m., free parking will be available in Lot E, and buyers will need to bring a credit card since all transactions will be cashless. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Fans May Need More Patience With Caleb Bonemer
Caleb Bonemer has kept pushing his way into the conversation with a strong 2026 season, and the White Sox have also been expanding his game by getting him work in the outfield in the Arizona Fall League. Even so, Chris Getz made it clear the organization is not planning to rush its top prospect straight into the majors, with Bonemer set to begin the 2027 season at Triple-A Charlotte instead of breaking camp with the big league club.
There is also a broader wrinkle hanging over the timeline. A potential MLB lockout could alter when Bonemer ultimately reaches Chicago, though his status outside the 40-man roster means he would still be eligible to keep playing in the minors if that happens. For a fan base eager to see the next wave arrive, it is another reminder that the path from prospect to regular is often less direct than it looks. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Have A Sam Antonacci Decision That Could Reshape 2027
Sam Antonacci gave the White Sox plenty to like in 2026, turning in a rookie season that made him one of the more useful young pieces on the roster. He played 140 games, hit .277 with eight home runs and 20 stolen bases, and even drew enough attention to finish ninth in American League Rookie of the Year voting, a strong showing for a player still trying to settle into a long-term defensive home.
The question now is where Chicago wants to use that bat most often in 2027. General manager Chris Getz said Antonacci could see more time in the infield next season, even as he remains in line to start in left field in a possible platoon setup. That kind of flexibility can be a roster asset, but it also speaks to the bigger decision the White Sox have to make about whether Antonaccis future is best served by keeping him in the outfield or moving him closer to the dirt. [Read more 🡒]