The bullpen was generally a strong suit for the 2026 Chicago White Sox, but there will be change for the 2027 Chicago White Sox. Bullpens always turn over a bit, and the Sox do have some areas that need addressing. You can see my work with the starting rotation and batting order by clicking the links. Baseball Reference is the source for stats and Spotrac for contract information.
Whether those issues are addressed by free agency or trade, we'll see. There are also some internal reinforcements who are planned to return from injury or are waiting in the wings in the minors.
Here's how this is structured. I figure the Sox will use five starters. Add in nine starting hitters, that's 14. Rosters are limited to 26, with 13 pitchers. So if the Sox carry seven relievers, that's five bench spots for position players, and if they carry eight relievers, that's only four.
I will keep in mind that the number of relievers isn't set in stone -- it could be either seven or eight relievers, or perhaps nine if they only start four guys. Here's how I see this being built -- one or two long/bulk relievers who are meant to work up to four innings in a game, two or three high-leverage bridge guys (setup men in the old days), a closer, a lefty specialist, and two or three guys to fill in the back end.
That's different from how I grew up -- back then, you'd have a long guy, a set-up man, a closer, a lefty specialist, one or two middle relievers you'd trust in high-leverage situations (sometimes called bridge guys), and one or two mop-up guys who generally only pitched in low-leverage situations. Now it's basically split into high-leverage and low-leverage, though most teams still use a closer, and bulk guys and lefty specialists still exist.
Times change.
How the 2027 Chicago White Sox bullpen should be ordered
I've been consistent in suggesting that Erick Fedde should be re-signed and used as a fifth starter or long reliever. If he's not resigned, one could use any of the other pitchers named above -- Sandlin, Smith, and Schultz all pitched in 2026, and Thorpe is knocking at the door. But those four are probably all future starters and, and I think Schultz needs more time at Charlotte. Smith, meanwhile, might be in the rotation.
High-leverage Reliever Number 1 -- Jordan Hicks
Hicks seems poised for this role if he can control his occasional wildness. He throws hard and can miss bats.
High-leverage Reliever Number 2/Lefty Specialist -- Sean Newcomb
I see Newcomb in this role because the lefty was nails at times, and he was particularly successful when inheriting runners on base. He could also be held back from some games so that's available to face lefties, if the next option works the way I hope it does.
High-leverage Reliever Number 3 -- Mike Vasil
I see Mike Vasil moving into a high-leverage role once he returns from injury, which unfortunately might not be until midseason (assuming labor strife doesn't cut the season down). He's started and closed in the past, but I think his best fit on the 2027 team is in middle relief. Combining him, Hicks, and Newcomb gives you strength in the middle of the pen.
Closer -- Grant Taylor
There are rumblings the Sox might move Taylor into the rotation, and he might prefer that. But he was pretty solid as a closer in 2026 and seems to have the necessary mentality. I'd pitch him
Low-leverage Reliever Number One -- Huascar Brazoban
Brazonban was the secondary trade piece when the Sox acquired Luis Castillo, and he was supposed to be an added weapon out of the pen. Instead, he struggled, was sidelined with injury, and pitched well in low-leverage situations upon his return. So let's start him out at the bullpen's back end, and if he ends up being the weapon the Sox wanted him to be, that's just gravy.
Low-leverage Reliever Number Two -- Bryan Hudson
The lefty was just under one WAR, but he never seemed to be in manager Will Venable's circle of trust, at least not fully. Still, he's under team control, so why not have him bolster the back end of the bullpen unless there's an alternative?
In The Mix
By my count, that's six relievers, although Vasil is unlikely to return from injury until mid-season, so there's a little fudging there. Assuming the Sox carry seven or eight, that leaves room for one of the young arms like Sandlin or Schultz, or a couple of outside acquisitions. Lefty Chris Murphy remains part of the organization, as well, but he wasn't particularly effective with a 4.81 ERA in 33.2 innings pitched. He was 3-0, however.
There's also the chance that Castillo could be in the pen if he struggles, so that has to be kept in mind.
Personally, if I am Sox management, I am targeting two or even three solid veteran bullpen arms, but the starting rotation has even more holes, so that's a bigger need. Still, if the Sox can bolster a very good bullpen that nonetheless frustrated at times, Chicago will be in much better position for a future playoff run.
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