Will Venable spent the second half of 2026 piecing together a pitching staff out of necessity. If the White Sox want a real rotation in 2027, here is how the five spots should line up, starting with the ace they already have.
Stats from Baseball Reference, contract info from Spotrac. Here we go.
The 2027 Chicago White Sox projected starting pitchers
1. Sean Burke, RHP
The Sox's de facto ace in 2026, there's no reason why Burke won't be that in 2027 -- unless a higher-level veteran is signed or traded for. I expect Burke to be the staff ace/leader next season.
2. Free Agent/Trade Acquisition
I considered putting Davis Martin here, because he was one of the best pitchers in baseball early in the 2026 season. But he was one of the worst pitchers in the game during the second half, though he apparently battling a sore leg following an IL stint for a blister issue. I'd like to think that whoever the Sox acquire to add to the starting pitching in 2027, at least of those players would be a top of the rotation guy.
Is Clay Holmes one of those guys? Kris Bubic? We'll see.
3. Davis Martin, RHP
Here's where I'd put Martin. He's unlikely to be as dominant as he was early last year, and unlikely to be as bad as he was late. If he's in the middle, that puts him in line to be a third starter, unless the Sox fail to add starting pitching or only add depth pieces.
4. Anthony Kay, LHP/Acquisition
I am slotting the left-handed Kay here if he can finally start to go deeper in games. He needs to go five innings consistently. If he can't, move him to the five spot or back to the bullpen.
Oh, and he needs to stop plunking hitters.
This could also be a good spot for an outside acquisition if the pitcher is the type that doesn't anchor your rotation but is serviceable.
5. Luis Castillo/Erick Fedde/Stretched-Out Reliever
It's a bummer that Castillo, the main 2026 trade target, is in this place, as opposed to being a top-three rotation guy. But he's under team control with an albatross of a contract. He's going to be on the roster unless the Sox flip him. So, let him start at fifth in the rotation until if/when he shows he can be the pitcher the Sox wanted him to be. He was on the IL at year's end, so maybe he just needs to heal, unless that was a phantom injury because he was bad.
Erick Fedde could be an option here if he's resigned. He was pretty solid as a bulk reliever in 2026.
We've also heard, directly from the Sox, that at least pitcher of the trio of Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Grant Taylor will be stretched out to become a starter. All three were tracking to be starters not long ago. My preference would be to keep Taylor as the closer, let Schultz get more seasoning at Charlotte, and stretch out Smith, who was more reliable the Schultz.
Others in the mix
As mentioned, Fedde, Smith, Schultz, and Taylor could all be potential starters. Shane Smith and Jonathan Cannon could be in the mix, as well, along wit David Sandlin and Drew Thorpe. Still, even with all these young arms (plus the veteran Fedde), the Sox have mentioned going outside the organization for help. I suspect that means there will be one or two new arms in camp next spring, and it's possible that Castillo could get moved if someone takes on that money. But if there aren't new arms in camp next year, a rotation of Burke, Martin, Kay, a fixed Castillo who is back on his game, and Fedde or one of the young guns could be serviceable. Or perhaps it's Burke, Martin, Kay, and two of the young arms. We'll see.
The only thing that's clear is that the Sox need starters to eat innings going forward. Putting together a bandage solution caused the arms to tire during the stretch and caused some issues in the ALDS. Get four or five reliable starters who work deep into games, and the Sox will be much, much better.
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