White Sox Could Unveil Creative Bullpen Plan After Trade Deadline
The White Sox could turn to some top pitching prospects to strengthen an already-improving bullpen down the stretch.
Video Transcript
For most of 2026, a bullpen addition has felt like a need for the White Sox at the trade deadline.
One of the main concerns in June, May, was that the White Sox didn't have a real closer.
There was even rumors that Chicago had engaged in conversations with the Boston Red Sox on future Hall of Fame closer Aroldis Chapman, and were close to a deal before Boston's 15-game winning streak got them back in the playoff picture.
But as the dust has settled, and as the deadline is approaching now on August 3rd, the need for a reliever has really diminished for the White Sox.
The primary focus is starting pitching, then probably adding a catcher.
But the bullpen has actually been pretty good, and the Yankees series was a really prime example of that.
The White Sox over the final two games, their bullpen, 11 innings without an earned run.
Two back-to-back clutch performances in extra innings, taking that inherited runner, finding a way to keep the White Sox in it, and they split the series because of how good their bullpen was.
Jordan Hicks, 13 in a third inning since returning from the IL, no earned runs, four hits, 21 strikeouts.
He's been nasty.
You pair that with Grant Taylor, with Brian Hudson, with Sean Newkome, and you have a legitimately solid bullpen.
So could the White Sox make an addition or two?
Yes, of course.
A good team is never gonna turn down an opportunity to get better at the bullpen, but I'm not sure it's a need.
And according to the latest article from Ken Rosenthal, Will Salmon, and Katie Wu over at The Athletic, reports are saying the White Sox could add to their bullpen through internal options.
They're considering a very creative strategy for the rest of the way, and it involves their top pitching prospects.
Hagen Smith, Tanner MacDougall, Mason Adams could all be in Chicago's bullpen down the stretch of 2026.
Smith and MacDougall have already been working out of the bullpen in Triple-A Charlotte for a little bit now.
Mason Adams just did a multi-inning, three-inning outing out of the bullpen in Charlotte this past week.
And so it's a situation to monitor.
If the White Sox wanna get their young pitchers experience in the big leagues, they could do this while adding to the starting rotation as the primary focus at the trade deadline.
Picture this, the White Sox add a starter, okay?
They, could move Erick Fedde to the bullpen.
They go with Sean Burke, their new addition, Davis Martin, n- maybe Noah Schultz, maybe Jos Urquidy, Anthony Kale will be in the mix, David Sandlin will be in the mix.
You fill out your rotation, and it's probably good enough, and now your bullpen gets better because you've got Hagen Smith, Tanner MacDougall, explosive arms that are very different but equally as effective.
You still have Hudson, Newkome, Hicks, Taylor.
And the White Sox pitching could have the arms that it takes to get to the home stretch of 2026.
So a creative plan, albeit one that requires young pitchers to be healthy and actually productive at the MLB level to give this team a boost.
But what I like about it is that it's not something the White Sox are dependent on.
They're not in dire need of relief help and banking on internal additions.
This would almost be just a bonus, an opportunity to help the team to get your young pitchers valuable experience, get them in the good vibes of the clubhouse, experience Major League Baseball, while also maybe making your bullpen that much more formidable and adding innings to a pitching staff that's gonna need them down the stretch.
