Chris Getz’s latest White Sox declaration confirms Guardians huge pitching advantage over Chicago 

There’s no denying the White Sox’s 2026 season was a roaring success. Although they bowed out to the Guardians in the ALDS after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead, they completed one of the greatest comebacks in MLB history by making the postseason after recording three straight 100-plus-loss seasons. 

But a lot can change season to season in MLB. Just because the White Sox did well this year doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed anything for the 2027 season. And, to his credit, White Sox general manager Chris Getz admitted as much earlier this week in his post-mortem press conference, as he touched on a variety of topics while admitting the White Sox weren’t good enough in some areas. 

And the biggest area he admitted they needed improvement in was their starting rotation, which finished the year with the fewest innings in MLB. 

Even if Getz ends up grabbing some starting pitching help this offseason (which is by no means a guarantee given the impending lockout), it’s an upgrade the Guardians aren’t going to need to make thanks to a strong rotation led by plenty of young, controllable starters. 

The White Sox's rotation is nowhere near the level of the Guardians'

Getz already made one attempt at upgrading his team’s rotation at the trade deadline when he traded away three players (including Nolan Jones) to the Mariners in exchange for Luis Castillo. But Castillo put together an absolute stinker with Chicago (8.42 ERA in 31 innings) and was left off the postseason roster. 

Getz shined a bit of light on that situation when he said that Castillo was injured down the stretch, but it doesn’t change the fact he’s owed $24 million next season and by no means a lock to make the rotation. 

When it comes to locks, the White Sox’s 2027 rotation will for sure consist of Sean Burke, Noah Schultz and David Sandlin, while relievers Grant Taylor and Hagen Smith seem destined to get some kind of shot in the rotation. 

Meanwhile the Guardians have two bonafide aces at the start of their rotation in Parker Messick and Gavin Wiliams along with some solid depth options in Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo. 

No team is ever going to truly have enough starting pitching, but the Guardians’ 2027 rotation is in as good of a spot as any team’s in baseball. 

All that sets up what will be an interesting American League Central race in 2027. The Guardians are going to be right in the middle of that (and could be coming off a World Series championship), but the White Sox, Tigers and Royals could all be on the periphery of that should they make the necessary upgrades in the offseason. 

The White Sox have already made their intentions known; we’ll have to wait and see how things shake out in the rest of the offseason.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow