By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The White Sox plan to move hard-throwing reliever Grant Taylor to the starting rotation in 2027, general manager Chris Getz announced Tuesday at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas.
Taylor, 24, posted a 2.25 ERA with 10 saves and 106 strikeouts in 60 games during the 2026 regular season, throwing 84 innings out of the bullpen. He added 8 2/3 innings in the postseason.
“We think it’s time,” Getz said, according to MLB.com. “He can be a top-of-the-rotation-type arm. Generally speaking, top-of-the-rotation arms are more valuable than bullpen arms.”
The move had been anticipated since Taylor’s former LSU teammate, Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes, predicted the switch would happen after the 2025 season. Taylor had consistently left the door open to starting but said during the 2026 season he was focused on helping the White Sox reach the playoffs.
“I enjoy what I’m doing right now,” Taylor said during an August interview with MLB.com. “That’s a conversation I’ll have with guys in the offseason. I haven’t closed the door on it. But I’m focused on today and helping this team make a playoff push and play in October.”
Taylor’s 100-mph fastball and late-inning dominance were key factors in Chicago’s run to the playoffs, including a Wild Card Series sweep of the Houston Astros and an eventual five-game Division Series loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
“You have to have a good bullpen as well,” Getz said. “I understand the question, and time will tell if it’s the right move. We think about Grant and keeping him healthy and productive, and this is the best route for him.”
The rotation conversion is one piece of a larger offseason effort to address a pitching staff that ranked last in the Majors with 674 2/3 innings from starters during the regular season. White Sox starters finished 28th in strikeouts and 26th with a 4.60 ERA.
Sean Burke was the only starter the White Sox consistently used throughout their seven postseason games. Davis Martin and Luis Castillo are expected to have healthy offseasons after dealing with injuries late in 2026, according to Getz. Anthony Kay also remains in the mix.
Younger options include Noah Schultz, David Sandlin, Shane Smith, Drew Thorpe and Tanner McDougal. Getz said Hagen Smith will remain in the bullpen.
“We are certainly targeting individuals who could pitch in the middle to the top of the rotation,” Getz said. “There’s plenty of talent in the free-agent class on the pitching front. We’ll continue to find guys we feel like match for us. It’s not always at the top of the market.”
The White Sox won 84 games in 2026 after three consecutive 100-loss seasons. Getz said the front office plans to pursue additional starters through free agency and trades.
Taylor transitions to the rotation without extensive deep-inning work at either the Major League or Minor League level, but the White Sox have had success with such conversions in the past.
