GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chicago White Sox are sorting through their pitching options.
“We have a number of guys in competition for a starting-rotation job, and at some point we need to get them information so they can adjust their routines and get geared toward long relief roles or whatever they might be doing,” manager Will Venable said Thursday at Camelback Ranch. “It’s coming here soon. We just have decisions to make.
“You’ve got to give these guys clarity around their roles. It will come shortly.”
The March 26 season opener in Milwaukee is less than three weeks away. Here’s how the 26-man roster could stack up.
Starting pitchers (5)
White Sox starter Davis Martin throws in the bullpen during spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 18, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Projection: RHP Shane Smith, LHP Anthony Kay, RHP Davis Martin, RHP Sean Burke, RHP Erick Fedde
In the mix: LHP Sean Newcomb, LHP Chris Murphy, RHP Jonathan Cannon, RHP Mike Vasil
Smith, Kay and Martin likely will occupy three spots. The other two could go in any number of directions.
Newcomb has major-league experience as a starter and reliever and could give the rotation a little more balance as another left-hander. Murphy and Cannon have had impressive spring outings.
Burke bounced back after a rough four-run first-inning Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians at Camelback Ranch by retiring seven of the final eight batters he faced. Fedde followed with three scoreless innings.
Vasil was dependable in multiple roles last season and is trying to make the most of the opportunity to compete for a starting spot.
Relievers (8)
White Sox pitcher Sean Newcomb delivers during live batting practice at spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 18, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Projection: Newcomb, Murphy, Vasil, Cannon, RHP Grant Taylor, RHP Jordan Leasure, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Seranthony Domínguez
In the mix: LHP Brandon Eisert, LHP Tyler Gilbert, LHP Ryan Borucki, RHP Alexander Alberto, RHP Jedixson Páez, RHP Wikelman González
New additions Domínguez and Hicks join Taylor and Leasure as right-handers the Sox will call on in leverage situations.
Beyond Newcomb and Murphy, left-handers having strong camps include Eisert, Gilbert and Borucki.
All three entered Saturday with similar spring stats, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. Eisert appeared in a staff-leading 72 games last season, while Gilbert had a 3.88 ERA in 46 outings. Borucki, from Mundelein, has dominated left-handed hitters in the past.
The Sox have interesting decisions to make with Alberto and Páez, who were Rule 5 selections in December.
Asked generally on Friday of the importance of a balance between lefties and righties in the bullpen, Venable said: “You want to take your best eight guys. But having guys on each side that can get lefties out and get righties out — especially now with the three-batter minimum — you’ve got to have both handedness, but also guys who can get both sides out. The lefties that we have in our camp are all throwing extremely well.
“It’s going to be tough here down the stretch, figuring out what our bullpen looks like. But it’s a good problem to have.”
Catchers (3)
White Sox designated hitter Kyle Teel (8) waits for a pitch against the Brewers in a Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 22, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Projection: Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Korey Lee
It remains to be seen if the Sox go with two or three catchers.
Last season, the Sox recalled Lee from Triple A in late August to join Teel and Quero. That provided more opportunities to utilize Teel and Quero in the same lineup — one behind the plate and the other as the designated hitter — while still having another catcher available off the bench.
Quero has a team-leading nine RBIs this spring. Teel is participating in the World Baseball Classic with Team Italy. Lee came into Saturday tied for the team lead in walks (five) and stolen bases (three).
Infielders (6)
White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami waits during live batting practice at spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 18, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Projection: Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, Curtis Mead
In the mix: Tanner Murray, LaMonte Wade Jr., Sam Antonacci
The starting infield is shaping up with Murakami at first base, Meidroth at second, Montgomery at shortstop and Vargas at third.
The Sox need to determine the best role for Sosa, who had a team-high 22 home runs in 2025. Mead, who homered for Team Australia in a WBC game against the Czech Republic on Friday, has seen time at third and first base since being acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays in July.
Antonacci, who is playing with Team Italy in the WBC, has been one of the standouts this spring. He and Murray have both homered twice.
The veteran Wade has contributed in several ways. He entered Saturday with a .294 average, one home run, six RBIs and five walks.
Outfielders (4)
White Sox outfielder Luisangel Acuña sits in the dugout during spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 18, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Projection: Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Brooks Baldwin, Luisangel Acuña
In the mix: Derek Hill, Jarred Kelenic, Everson Pereira, Tristan Peters
The Sox will utilize Benintendi in left field and as a designated hitter. That could factor in if the team emphasizes outfield depth.
Pereira continues to work his way back from tightness on his right side. He could return to game action next week. Before the setback, Pereira was having an impressive camp. A healthy Pereira creates an intriguing roster situation.
Kelenic, a nonroster invitee, has hit the ball hard. And Friday, that resulted in a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kelenic also made a nice running catch in right field Friday. Speaking of defense, that is an area in which Hill excels.
Hays will be starting at the corner outfield spots. Baldwin has been concentrating on the outfield. Acuña has spent a majority of his time this spring in center but is also getting some work in the infield.
“It’s huge,” Venable said Friday of Acuña’s flexibility. “We’re going to ask him to play multiple positions, center field and shortstop, second base. The same thing with a lot of these (position players), we’re going to ask them to play multiple positions as we figure out what the lineup looks like each day.
“We want to optimize our defense, that’s going to require guys to play multiple positions.”