White Sox Move Grant Taylor Into Starting Rotation

GM Chris Getz said the club will prioritize adding established starting pitchers on the open market to address a rotation that lacks a clear top-end arm.

Overview

Getz announced on Tuesday that hard-throwing reliever Grant Taylor will shift from the bullpen into the White Sox rotation for 2027.
Taylor struck out 106 batters in 84 innings with a 2.25 ERA in 2026 and will make the move despite a past Tommy John surgery and a limited history of starter workloads.
The projected rotation currently features Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Anthony Kay and Luis Castillo but Getz said the team will “exhaust” free agency and trade options to add higher-end starting depth.
Left-hander Hagen Smith will remain in relief, which creates a high-leverage bullpen vacancy the Sox must fill before or during the offseason.
With roughly $108 million projected payroll flexibility and most players under team control for years, the Sox are positioned to pursue mid-to-high tier free agents or trades to accelerate a rapid rise from 2024 futility to contender status.