White Sox starting rotation is long way from settled
White Sox general manager Chris Getz thinks there's more talent on the South Side than there was a year ago.
That might be true when considering the organization top to bottom. But on the major-league level, it might be another tough season.
Just look at the starting pitchers. Last year, the White Sox had a legitimate all-star in Garrett Crochet, followed by veterans Erick Fedde and Chris Flexen at the top of the rotation. None of them remain with the team.
Left-hander Ky Bush, who debuted late last season, was lost to Tommy John surgery while second-year righty Drew Thorpe has been slowed by injuries. Thorpe is fairly certain to be in the rotation when healthy, though his low velocity is still a bit of a concern.
Monday's exhibition loss to Texas wasn't much of a confidence boost, since Shane Smith and Chris Rodriguez combined to allow 9 earned runs in the first inning.
The right-handed Smith was acquired in the Rule 5 draft from Milwaukee this winter and Getz has mentioned him as someone who might be able to help this year. However, the former Wake Forest star has yet to make his major league debut and has thrown fewer than 7 innings in Triple A.
Rodriguez, 26, signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox in January. The right-hander pitched briefly in the majors in 2021 with the Angels.
So what will the rotation looks like? Well, the top two slots can be written in ink, most likely. The Sox added Martin Perez to serve as sort of a veteran mentor, while right-hander Jonathan Cannon is hoping to build on a promising rookie season.
Perez, 33, is heading into his 14th big-league campaign, was an all-star once in 2022 and has been more reliable than spectacular. He's also on the low end of the velocity scale, but was enthusiastic about his role with the Sox when he spoke to reporters before camp.
“First of all, I believe in that team,” Perez said. “I know the organization has a lot of younger guys. I know I have a (big) job to do, but I know I'm going to enjoy that as a veteran. I like to help guys and teach them the process.”
The 6-foot-6 Cannon was the White Sox's third-round draft pick in 2022 out of Georgia. He posted a 4.49 ERA in 21 big-league starts last season. He has yet to take the mound in a spring game.
There was more promising news in Tuesday's exhibition, even though the Sox eventually lost to Colorado 14-3. Right-hander Davis Martin opened the game with 2 scoreless innings. Martin, 28, has produced a 4.61 ERA in 19 big-league starts and certainly has a chance to earn a rotation spot.
Wednesday will be interesting for the Sox. They'll host the Padres and plan to start Sean Burke on the mound, followed by the two prized left-handed prospects, Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith.
Burke, a 6-foot-6 right-hander, had a promising finish to 2024. In his first big-league action, he posted a 1.42 ERA in 4 games. So there's another pitcher with a chance to claim a spot this spring.
Will we see Schultz or Smith at the Rate this year? Possibly, but both seem certain to start in the minors. The White Sox's plan for both is to get used to more of a major-league workload, taking the mound every five days. If all goes well, they should be regulars in '26.
Who else? Right-hander Nick Nastrini is well-regarded as a prospect, but was tagged with a 7.07 ERA in eight big-league starts last year.
Right-hander Jairo Iriarte, acquired in the Dylan Cease trade, had success in his Sox debut, with a 1.50 ERA in six relief appearances. He was a starter for most of his minor-league career, and gave up a 2-run homer to Colorado's Kris Bryant on Tuesday.
Lefty Jake Eder appeared in one Sox game last year and has an elevated minor-league ERA, but is in big-league camp. Lefty Jared Shuster started 11 games as a rookie with Atlanta, then was used mostly in relief with the Sox in 2024. Former Brewers right-hander Bryce Wilson, 27, is another possibility.
In other words, the latter half of the rotation is wide open, and it's possible the White Sox experiment with the popular trend of doing more “bullpen games” rather than use five set starters.
“I'm excited to see how our rotation takes shape,” Getz said when spring training began. “You look at what Sean Burke was able to do at the end of the year, the season Jonathan Cannon was able to accomplish, and getting Davis Martin back. We've got some others that are very versatile, guys that can pitch multiple innings, but also have some situational ability.”
Teel shocks Dodgers
In kind of an odd turn of events, new Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki threw a live bullpen against select White Sox prospects Tuesday. Those teams share a facility in Glendale, Ariz.
White Sox catcher Kyle Teel blasted the second pitch he saw over the right-field fence for a home run. Teel was acquired from Boston in the Garrett Crochet trade, while Sasaki is MLB's most hyped addition from Japan.