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Sean Newcomb signed a one-year deal with the White Sox.
The Chicago White Sox are having an impressive offseason. After a more promising finish to 2025, Chris Getz and co. were ready to make another stride heading into the new year. The biggest news came when the White Sox signed Japanese Slugger Munetaka Murakami. Hidden in the chaos of Murakami was the signing of Sean Newcomb.
Newcomb was a key reliever for the Athletics and Boston Red Sox in 2025. But the left-hander did make five starts for Boston. With that, the White Sox are going to give him a chance to earn a starting spot in 2026, Manager Will Venable said, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com.
This is a chance Newcomb will not take lately, and he set a lofty goal for himself heading into the new season.
“The goal is to start and get the most innings possible,” Newcomb told AJ Pierzynski on the Foul Territory Podcast. “Just for me, and where I’m at in my career, getting some starts in, hopefully as many as possible — up to 30.”
Sean Newcomb says his goal this season is to start as many games as possible.
“I’m prepared to do whatever it takes.”
30 starts is not an easy feat to accomplish in today’s MLB. Last year, 53 starting pitchers made 30-plus starts. Newcomb is hoping to be one of those pitchers this upcoming season.
White Sox Starting Rotation
GettyShane Smith emerged as Chicago’s ace in 2025.
Chicago does have some younger arms in the rotation who pitched well last season. The ace of the staff turned out to be Shane Smith. He led the team with 29 starts last year. The right-hander threw 146.1 innings, struck out 145 batters, and opponents hit just .214 off him.
The next two pitchers in the rotation were underwhelming. Sean Burke, the opening day starter in 2025, finished with a 4.59 ERA over 22 starts. Davis Martin made the second-most starts (25) and sported a 4.28 ERA. No other pitcher on the White Sox made more than 17 starts last season.
All three of those pitchers will be in the rotation to begin the year. Chicago also signed Anthony Kay. He is predicted to join them in the rotation, as well. Kay has not seen time in the big leagues since pitching for the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs in 2023. But the left-hander saw a lot of success in 2024 while pitching in Japan.
That leaves one starting spot left for Newcomb to claim. He will be the veteran on the pitching staff, and he is ready to take on that role. But if the 32-year-old can have the same success that he saw last year, he will be one of the better pitchers on the White Sox.
Sean Newcomb Is Ready for a Leadership Role
GettySean Newcomb will be the leader in the clubhouse for the White Sox.
“I’ll kind of be one of the older guys on the staff, kind of coming in and being one of those kinds of presences for the younger guys,” Newcomb said, per Merkin.
He is fighting for a starting spot, but he understands his role on the team. The White Sox are in the midst of a rebuild. Although things are improving, the White Sox are not expected to be much better this season. Despite that, Newcomb is still excited to be a part of the organization.
“So it’s an important time for them and the organization. It’s definitely going to be fun to be a part of it,” Newcomb said.
His one-year contract gives the White Sox the option to trade him before the deadline if Newcomb is finding success as a starter. But the team should also take into account the importance of a leader in a young locker room.
That is exactly what Newcomb is hoping to be.
Cam Zunkel Cam Zunkel has been a sports journalist since 2022. He covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Cam also covers multiple MLB teams for On SI – part of the Sports Illustrated Brand. He is a former collegiate baseball player with two stops in the independent Frontier League. More about Cam Zunkel
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