The Chicago White Sox are building a very good bullpen

The Chicago White Sox are coming off, regardless of how it ended, a very successful season. They lost to a much better Houston Astros team in the ALDS who ended up making it to the World Series. It was clear that they were not on that level yet but they were very good in the regular season. This offseason, the goal is to patch the holes that they had during the 2021 season.

It isn’t their biggest issue but it is clear that they need some bullpen help. Every team in Major League Baseball needs bullpen help. The White Sox, however, adding arms makes their bullpen go from great to elite. That is why the addition of Kendall Graveman to the group is amazing.

They are adding a player who had an ERA in 2021 under two and a WHIP under one. He was outstanding in his strange season split between the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros. If he can bring some of that to the White Sox pen in 2022, they will be even better than we thought.

They are probably going to trade Craig Kimbrel as that acquisition really didn’t go their way. Graveman will probably directly replace him as the proper arm in the setup man role. Liam Hendriks, who might be the best closer in baseball, is there to handle the ninth innings after Graveman gets the White Sox there.

There are a lot of very good pitchers at the disposal of the Chicago White Sox.

Hendriks and Graveman will be accompanied by Garrett Crochet and Aaron Bummer who are both studs. This group could form one of the best bullpens in Major League Baseball. With a bit more depth, they should have a really good year.

Some of that depth could come from players that we know as starters. Reynaldo Lopez and Dallas Keuchel each started games for the White Sox in 2021 but could come out of the bullpen in 2022. It all depends on what the White Sox do in free agency but their status for next season remains interesting. Bringing back Ryan Tepera would be a good idea as well but that is not likely.

You might notice that Michael Kopech’s name hasn’t been mentioned. He was one of Chicago’s best relievers in 2021. He has nasty stuff that can carry him through some of the highest leverage innings imaginable. However, the plan is for him to transition back to being a starter in 2022 which is very exciting but also creates a hole in the bullpen.

If the White Sox sign one more pitcher and everyone plays to their strength, this could be a very solid group pitching late in games for them. With the starters that they have, expect the staff to continue playing well as a whole.