The Guardians spent most of 2026 leaning on a pitching staff that kept them in just about everything. Even as the arms faded near the end of the postseason run, Cleveland’s rotation and bullpen had already spent seven months proving they could hang with almost anyone, especially inside the division.
That edge may not hold in 2027. The White Sox, who were already a problem for Cleveland in the American League Division Series, could be gearing up to make life even harder. Earlier Tuesday, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden released his offseason predictions, and two of the biggest names on his pitching list - Tarik Skubal and Freddy Peralta - both landed as “best team fits” for Chicago.
For the White Sox, that kind of connection makes plenty of sense. Their rotation struggled badly last season, finishing with a 4.60 staff ERA, and the need for a legitimate upgrade is obvious.
Bowden’s list reflects that market, too: 13 of the 40 pitchers he highlighted were starters, from Skubal and Peralta all the way down to Japanese starter Hiromi Itoh. If a team wants to reshape its rotation, this is the offseason to do it.
Chicago’s interest in starting pitching isn’t exactly a secret, either. White Sox general manager Chris Getz has already said the club plans to pursue it this winter.
The team tried to patch things up at the deadline by adding Luis Castillo and taking on his $22.75 million contract for 2027, but the move didn’t give them the boost they were looking for. Castillo posted an 8.42 ERA in 31 innings for Chicago before landing on the injured list.
The White Sox do have a foundation to work with in Sean Burke and Davis Martin, but they still need another veteran in that room. Skubal would obviously be the splashiest possible addition, though he’s also chasing the largest contract ever for a pitcher. Chicago surprised the sport last winter by signing Munetaka Murakami, but landing Skubal would be another level entirely.
Peralta would come at a different price point, but his value is back up after a strong second half with the Rays, capped by a standout performance against the Guardians in the ALCS.
Cleveland got the final word on Chicago in the ALDS, but the bigger message is clear: the White Sox don’t look ready to sit still.
In Other News...
Guardians May Need To Settle Three Important 2027 Role Questions
With the Guardians already thinking ahead to how their roster might look in 2027, three familiar names could be headed for very different jobs. Cooper Ingle is one of the more intriguing pieces in that mix, because the club may have to decide whether his best value comes as a backup catcher rather than as a bigger part of the day-to-day catching picture. It is the kind of roster sorting that often says as much about depth and versatility as it does about any one player.
Slade Cecconi and Myles Kwan are part of the same conversation for Cleveland, with each projected to be used in a way that better fits the teams needs than a simple continuation of what came before. Cecconi could wind up in the bullpen on a permanent basis, while Kwan may be best deployed in center field to maximize what he brings defensively. None of those decisions is final yet, but they are the sort of role questions the Guardians will likely need to settle as they keep shaping the roster for the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Hedges Just Gave Cleveland Fans A Reason To Worry
Austin Hedges gave Cleveland plenty to think about this past season, and not just because of what he did behind the plate. The veteran catcher turned in his best offensive year in 2026, giving the Guardians a more complete version of a player who has long been valued for his defense, game-calling and presence in the clubhouse.
Now the bigger question is whether Cleveland gets another run with him at all. Hedges is headed toward free agency after the 2026 season, with the market opening Nov. 2, and the Guardians do at least have some organizational depth at catcher in Kody Huff and Cooper Ingle. Even so, a strong season from Hedges could make him appealing to another club, which is exactly why this situation bears watching. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Face Two Offseason Calls That Could Reshape The Roster
The Guardians offseason has already turned to the familiar balancing act of deciding which pieces from a deep run are worth keeping and which ones fit better as the roster keeps evolving. After the ALCS loss, Cleveland has two free agents in Foster Griffin and Nathaniel Lowe, and president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti made clear the club is still in contact with both players. It is the kind of early winter business that can quietly shape the teams next step as much as any splashier move.
Griffins case is especially interesting because his regular season with Cleveland was rocky, but he settled in when the games mattered most, giving the front office something to weigh beyond the full-season line. Lowe brings a different kind of conversation, with his results ranging more unevenly and his path clouded by competition already on the roster. Neither situation is settled yet, which is why these are more than routine free-agent notes for a team trying to build on a postseason that fell just short. [Read more 🡒]