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...
Kody Clemens Put Twins Fans In A Spotlight They Didn't Expect
The Twins have already found themselves in the Silver Slugger conversation as a team finalist in the American League, but Kody Clemens is pulling a little extra attention into the mix. He has landed among the finalists at second base, putting his name next to Chase Meidroth of the White Sox in a race that reflects more than just one hot stretch at the plate. Clemens also spent time moving around the diamond this season, which only adds to the sense that his value for Minnesota went beyond a single spot on the field.
For Twins fans, the interesting part is how this award race frames the season from an offensive angle, especially with Clemens among the two names left standing at second. The comparison with Meidroth comes down to production, and the broader team nomination gives Minnesota a chance to see its lineup recognized in a national spotlight. Whether Clemens finishes with the hardware or not, his presence in the final round is a reminder that the Twins got contributions from some unexpected places. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Need The Trade Market For A Real First Base Fix
The Twins are already looking ahead to 2027 with offense and bullpen help on the shopping list, and the search for a real answer at first base could push them beyond the free-agent market. Jake Bauers signing elsewhere only sharpens the need, especially for a club trying to position itself to contend in the AL Central rather than patch the spot with another short-term stopgap.
One name that fits the conversation is Astros first baseman Christian Walker, whose situation in Houston could make him available if the infield picture keeps getting crowded. His 2026 performance and contract status give Minnesota a potential trade target with more certainty than a typical winter fallback, but the Twins would still need to decide how aggressively to pursue a deal and what price they are willing to pay. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Use Rotation Depth To Fix A Bullpen Question
The Twins are weighing a familiar kind of roster shuffle this winter, one that could help them solve a bullpen issue without chasing the usual high-priced relief market. General manager Jeremy Zoll said the club values its current starting pitchers, but is open to adding another starter in free agency if it creates more flexibility elsewhere on the staff.
Minnesota has long preferred to build its bullpen through trades, internal conversions and minor-league signings rather than handing out big contracts to relievers, and this approach fits that pattern. The idea would be to deepen the rotation, then potentially shift one of those starters into a relief role, giving the Twins more options as they try to piece together the back end of games. [Read more 🡒]