The Chicago White Sox have vastly improved from where they were sitting at this time last year. With the front office making some intriguing signings and selecting a couple of players in the Rule 5 Draft, it appears the team is close to being a finished product. While there is still more than a full month before pitchers and catchers report for 2026 Spring Training, there is a major question floating around the White Sox organization. Let’s take a closer look at what that question is and how the team could solve it.
The Chicago White Sox need a veteran reliever to join the bullpen
Chris Getz and Will Venable are building the Chicago White Sox’s future – Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
MLB’s Scott Merkin wrote that he believes the White Sox’s biggest question right now is who will be getting the ball in the latter innings of the game. Below is the snippet he added about it:
“The Opening Day location of Luis Robert Jr. seems to be the recent standard for this question amid persistent two-year trade rumors. But general manager Chris Getz spoke at the Winter Meetings on a couple of occasions as to how the plan is for Robert to be the team’s center fielder. So, the focus moves to the bullpen, where the White Sox have talented relievers in Jordan Leasure, Grant Taylor and Mike Vasil but would benefit from a veteran hurler with more high leverage experience. The White Sox won’t necessarily add a true closer, but will add at least one pitcher to build out the bullpen.”
There are still a lot of names that the front office could sign to help be that veteran reliever with end-of-game experience. Names like Jonathan Loaisiga, Scott Barlow, Tommy Kahnle, and Paul Sewald are names that jump to mind. As of this moment, their projected bullpen does not have a player with more than 2.1 years of MLB service time. Only one pitcher (Tyler Gilbert) is more than 28 years old as well, meaning the relievers are young guys with little experience in the majors.
There is also a chance that in a trade involving center fielder Luis Robert Jr, this could be addressed. It will be intriguing to see what the White Sox do with adding another veteran reliever to help the bullpen take that next step.
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