The Chicago White Sox keep circling the same need, and it’s the one that matters most: starting pitching. They’ve already been linked to free agents Kaima Taira and Dustin May, and now another arm has entered the conversation.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers added Nick Pivetta to the list while appearing on the CHSN White Sox Podcast hosted by Chuck Garfien.
Another name to monitor in the Chicago #WhiteSox SP search: Nick Pivetta“They are talking to Pivetta, I believe,” @JesseRogersESPN said on the @CHSN__ White Sox Podcast with @ChuckGarfien https://t.co/oqu3wFXuEy pic.twitter.com/JIKu2egHZq
Pivetta’s path to this point has been a long one. The Nationals took him in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of New Mexico Junior College, and he later went to the Phillies in the Jonathan Papelbon trade in 2015.
His first run in Philadelphia was rough. In 26 starts and 133 innings in 2017, he posted a 6.02 ERA, and his overall numbers with the Phillies across parts of four seasons sat at 5.50.
Boston got him in 2020, sending Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman to Philadelphia in a deal that also included Connor Seabold. Over parts of five seasons with the Red Sox, Pivetta was more steady than spectacular, logging a 4.29 ERA in 131 games and 107 starts.
Then came the breakout. After signing with the San Diego Padres in 2025, Pivetta took off and delivered the best season of his career: 31 starts, 181.2 innings, a 2.87 ERA and 190 strikeouts.
That performance earned him sixth place in Cy Young voting. His 2026 season was interrupted by a flexor strain, limiting him to eight games, but he still posted a 2.86 ERA.
The Padres declined their club option on him, pushing him back into free agency despite the four-year deal they had given him.
The injury history doesn’t appear to be a dealbreaker. Pivetta returned for the playoffs and made two starts, allowing three runs in 7.2 innings.
For Chicago, he wouldn’t be the headline-grabbing addition some fans are hoping for, but he would give the rotation a real boost. The bigger picture still suggests the White Sox would need at least one more quality starter through a trade or another signing.
At age 34, Pivetta looks like a pitcher who has found the right formula. If the price lines up, he fits what Chicago needs.
And with Grant Taylor now moving into a starting role, the White Sox are starting to look a little more complete on the mound. Sean Burke, Taylor, Pivetta, another outside addition, and one internal option - Luis Castillo, Davis Martin, Noah Schultz, David Sandlin or Drew Thorpe - would give the club a rotation that signals it’s ready to take a step forward.
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White Sox May Be Eyeing Another Pitching Move Fans Should Watch
The White Sox have already shown they are willing to keep an eye on the Japanese market, and it makes sense given how much attention that path has gotten around the league. After the clubs interest in Munetaka Murakami, Chicago also sent scouts to take a look at right-handed pitcher Kaima Taira, another name drawing notice in Japans Pacific League.
For a team still trying to build out its pitching depth, the possibility of adding help from overseas is the part worth watching. Taira is one target, but he may not be the only one on the White Sox radar, with Shota Imanaga also mentioned as a free-agent possibility if Chicago decides to keep pressing in that direction. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Rotation Search Just Added Another Intriguing Free Agent
The White Sox are still combing the free-agent market for starting pitching, and the list of names tied to their rotation search keeps growing. Chicago has been connected to several arms as it looks to add a starter who can help stabilize the group, with the club clearly aiming higher than a simple stopgap and hoping to find someone who can fit near the top or middle of the staff.
One more intriguing possibility is Dustin May, a right-hander with recent postseason experience who would bring a different look to the mix. For the White Sox, though, he appears to be more of a depth target than the headline move, which leaves the bigger question of which arm ultimately becomes the priority as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Linked To A Rotation Gamble Fans Will Debate
The White Sox are being mentioned in the market for another arm, with MLB Networks Jon Morosi reporting that free-agent right-hander Dustin May has drawn interest from Chicago along with the Astros, Cubs and Padres. It is the kind of move that fits a team still sorting out its rotation picture, especially with several clubs around the league looking for innings and hoping a change of scenery can unlock something more.
Mays path to free agency has already been a winding one, beginning with a one-year deal with the Cardinals before he was dealt to the Brewers during the season. His time in Milwaukee was uneven, and the appeal for interested teams will come down to whether they believe there is more to tap into than what showed up on the stat sheet, a debate that figures to be part of any White Sox discussion if they decide to push further. [Read more 🡒]