White Sox Projected Rotations

[ChiSox59]

I don't really have much interest in adding to the group at the major league level at this point.  Give Martin, Cannon, Thorpe, Burke, Nastrini, Bush, Adams and Iriarte as many starts as possible.  Maybe even sprinkle Carela into that group towards the latter half. Some pretty interesting arms in there, IMO. 

With hopefully top end arms in Schultz and Smith filling in the top of the rotation by mid 2026, I think we can find 3-4 mid rotations arms from that aforementioned group.  

[Bob Sacamano]

17 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

I don't really have much interest in adding to the group at the major league level at this point.  Give Martin, Cannon, Thorpe, Burke, Nastrini, Bush, Adams and Iriarte as many starts as possible.  Maybe even sprinkle Carela into that group towards the latter half. Some pretty interesting arms in there, IMO. 

With hopefully top end arms in Schultz and Smith filling in the top of the rotation by mid 2026, I think we can find 3-4 mid rotations arms from that aforementioned group.  

Yeah if anything add another long-reliever type. I don't think it hurts to have multiple in the pen if your rotation is so young. Granted, Scholtens (when he comes back) and Wilson can be those guys.

[southsider2k5]

32 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

I don't really have much interest in adding to the group at the major league level at this point.  Give Martin, Cannon, Thorpe, Burke, Nastrini, Bush, Adams and Iriarte as many starts as possible.  Maybe even sprinkle Carela into that group towards the latter half. Some pretty interesting arms in there, IMO. 

With hopefully top end arms in Schultz and Smith filling in the top of the rotation by mid 2026, I think we can find 3-4 mid rotations arms from that aforementioned group.  

 Again, looking at this list in terms of 2025, but how many major league starts they have.

Jon Cannon 21

Davis Martin 19

Drew Thorpe 9

Nick Nastrini 8

Ky Bush 4

Sean Burke 3

Jairo Iriarte 0

Mason Adams 0

There is a whole lot of learning curve that has to happen with literally all of those guys.  The most experience you have is 2/3 of a season for 2 guys.  It would be nice to have some guys sitting on the bench next to them who have been in the trenches before, and can lead by example.

 

 

[ChiSox59]

14 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

 Again, looking at this list in terms of 2025, but how many major league starts they have.

Jon Cannon 21

Davis Martin 19

Drew Thorpe 9

Nick Nastrini 8

Ky Bush 4

Sean Burke 3

Jairo Iriarte 0

Mason Adams 0

There is a whole lot of learning curve that has to happen with literally all of those guys.  The most experience you have is 2/3 of a season for 2 guys.  It would be nice to have some guys sitting on the bench next to them who have been in the trenches before, and can lead by example.

 

 

Well, nothing like giving them the punted 2025 season to earn that experience.  There will absolutely be a learning curve.  This team will be awful. May as well let these guys cut their teeth and see how has the potential to be a part of the next meaningful rotation. 

[WestEddy]

16 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

 Again, looking at this list in terms of 2025, but how many major league starts they have.

Jon Cannon 21

Davis Martin 19

Drew Thorpe 9

Nick Nastrini 8

Ky Bush 4

Sean Burke 3

Jairo Iriarte 0

Mason Adams 0

There is a whole lot of learning curve that has to happen with literally all of those guys.  The most experience you have is 2/3 of a season for 2 guys.  It would be nice to have some guys sitting on the bench next to them who have been in the trenches before, and can lead by example.

 

 

This probably proves your point even more, but Bryce Wilson has about 50 starts, and Jared Shuster 11. 

[southsider2k5]

8 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

Well, nothing like giving them the punted 2025 season to earn that experience.  There will absolutely be a learning curve.  This team will be awful. May as well let these guys cut their teeth and see how has the potential to be a part of the next meaningful rotation. 

Sure.  But a portion of these guys will get their asses kicked bad enough that it isn't worth it for them to continue the ass kickings.  It would be nice to have some stability and more predictability for the rest of the staff to depend on.  A Jose Quintana, or similar, pitcher would not only be an outstanding person for these guys to learn and follow by example, but could also generate trade interest to open up a slot later on.

[ChiSox59]

22 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Sure.  But a portion of these guys will get their asses kicked bad enough that it isn't worth it for them to continue the ass kickings.  It would be nice to have some stability and more predictability for the rest of the staff to depend on.  A Jose Quintana, or similar, pitcher would not only be an outstanding person for these guys to learn and follow by example, but could also generate trade interest to open up a slot later on.

I get the stance.  I wouldn't be mad about a Q reunion.

I think Davis, Cannon and Thorpe should hold their own though.  We already have Bryce Wilson around to eat some starts.  I think the group of Burke, Nastrini and Bush should get plenty of chances for starts, but am less confident it would go well.  

[steveno89]

19 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

I get the stance.  I wouldn't be mad about a Q reunion.

I think Davis, Cannon and Thorpe should hold their own though.  We already have Bryce Wilson around to eat some starts.  I think the group of Burke, Nastrini and Bush should get plenty of chances for starts, but am less confident it would go well.  

Would not mind brining in a veteran that can eat innings, along the lines of Flexen. It is not pretty, but you need at least 1-2 arms that can do some dirty work. 

A vet can help the younger arms as well and show good professionalism 

[southsider2k5]

6 minutes ago, steveno89 said:

Would not mind brining in a veteran that can eat innings, along the lines of Flexen. It is not pretty, but you need at least 1-2 arms that can do some dirty work. 

A vet can help the younger arms as well and show good professionalism 

It also gives you a guy who can eat s%*# innings, without worrying about their development

[Chicago White Sox]

Who are people bouncing from the major league bullpen to sign another long-man to a major league deal?  This is simply a math problem at this point.  IMO, we have seven dudes who should have OD bullpen roles in Anderson, Ellard, Berroa, Wilson, Varland, Booser, & Smith.  Shane is the defacto long-man to start because he’s the only one who has to be the major league roster.  That leaves one spot open and if you want a second long-man go with Schuster.  And beyond that, you still have veteran arms like Scholtens & Dunn at AAA.  By all means some another AAAA type to a minor league deal, but I don’t think we should give a long reliever a guaranteed deel.  I’d rather commit a 26 man roster spot to a guy who can slot into the closer role that might be able to extract some value at the deadline.

[southsider2k5]

16 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Who are people bouncing from the major league bullpen to sign another long-man to a major league deal?  This is simply a math problem at this point.  IMO, we have seven dudes who should have OD bullpen roles in Anderson, Ellard, Berroa, Wilson, Varland, Booser, & Smith.  Shane is the defacto long-man to start because he’s the only one who has to be the major league roster.  That leaves one spot open and if you want a second long-man go with Schuster.  And beyond that, you still have veteran arms like Scholtens & Dunn at AAA.  By all means some another AAAA type to a minor league deal, but I don’t think we should give a long reliever a guaranteed deel.  I’d rather commit a 26 man roster spot to a guy who can slot into the closer role that might be able to extract some value at the deadline.

Any time you make a list of guys with that little experience and ceiling, stating they all should be ready on Day 1 is a nearly impossible statement to make happen in reality.  Injuries and subpar performance will make sure of that.

[WestEddy]

28 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Who are people bouncing from the major league bullpen to sign another long-man to a major league deal?  This is simply a math problem at this point.  IMO, we have seven dudes who should have OD bullpen roles in Anderson, Ellard, Berroa, Wilson, Varland, Booser, & Smith.  Shane is the defacto long-man to start because he’s the only one who has to be the major league roster.  That leaves one spot open and if you want a second long-man go with Schuster.  And beyond that, you still have veteran arms like Scholtens & Dunn at AAA.  By all means some another AAAA type to a minor league deal, but I don’t think we should give a long reliever a guaranteed deel.  I’d rather commit a 26 man roster spot to a guy who can slot into the closer role that might be able to extract some value at the deadline.

You also have Ron Marinaccio, who should probably challenge for closer. 

[Chicago White Sox]

8 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Any time you make a list of guys with that little experience and ceiling, stating they all should be ready on Day 1 is a nearly impossible statement to make happen in reality.  Injuries and subpar performance will make sure of that.

Which is why you add some NRI’s to spring training.  Again, at some point the 40 man roster is filled up.  Shewmake is the only guy who is a clear cut to me, but he’s just holding that spot for Meidroth or Montgomery.  The handful of fringe relievers on the 40 man at least have options and are likely placeholders for other pitchers in the system who will eventually need to be added.  As bad as this team will be next year, the 40 man should be mostly filled by the halfway point of the season.  The obvious fat is finally starting to dwindle.

[southsider2k5]

6 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Which is why you add some NRI’s to spring training.  Again, at some point the 40 man roster is filled up.  Shewmake is the only guy who is a clear cut to me, but he’s just holding that spot for Meidroth or Montgomery.  The handful of fringe relievers on the 40 man at least have options and are likely placeholders for other pitchers in the system who will eventually need to be added.  As bad as this team will be next year, the 40 man should be mostly filled by the halfway point of the season.  The obvious fat is finally starting to dwindle.

A lot of these guys will end up as obvious fat in short order.

[caulfield12]

No matter how you slice it...two studs and MAYBE MAYBE Taylor leaves very little margin for error as the top three of a future playoff rotation.

[Boopa1219]

18 hours ago, ChiSox59 said:

I don't really have much interest in adding to the group at the major league level at this point.  Give Martin, Cannon, Thorpe, Burke, Nastrini, Bush, Adams and Iriarte as many starts as possible.  Maybe even sprinkle Carela into that group towards the latter half. Some pretty interesting arms in there, IMO. 

With hopefully top end arms in Schultz and Smith filling in the top of the rotation by mid 2026, I think we can find 3-4 mid rotations arms from that aforementioned group.  

Schultz and Smith are probably both with the big league club this year. Schultz for sure. 

[ChiSox59]

2 hours ago, Boopa1219 said:

Schultz and Smith are probably both with the big league club this year. Schultz for sure. 

I think that is dumb.  Guy threw 88 innings last year, and 115 in his pro career.  He's not ready for an every 5th day spot on a major league rotation.  Get him up to 120-130 this year in the minors, then call him up in May 2026.  But yah, you're probably right - if this regime is anything like the previous, we'll see him before he's ready. 

[Balta1701]

9 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

I think that is dumb.  Guy threw 88 innings last year, and 115 in his pro career.  He's not ready for an every 5th day spot on a major league rotation.  Get him up to 120-130 this year in the minors, then call him up in May 2026.  But yah, you're probably right - if this regime is anything like the previous, we'll see him before he's ready. 

This is referring to Schultz right?

If they’re at least thoughtful about it I’m ok with seeing him up this year - I think there’s a great blueprint last year in Skenes, although he did have a season with more work.

Start him off slow at AA with an innings limit for the first 2-3 months then call him up if healthy and let him have half a season, again being conservative with his innings and occasionally skipping a start? I’m ok with that. 130-140 innings or so with 70-80 in the big leagues? Good setup.

The Crochet “let er rip and hope for the best” plan, which we will probably see, I’m less ok with.

[oldsox]

45 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

I think that is dumb.  Guy threw 88 innings last year, and 115 in his pro career.  He's not ready for an every 5th day spot on a major league rotation.  Get him up to 120-130 this year in the minors, then call him up in May 2026.  But yah, you're probably right - if this regime is anything like the previous, we'll see him before he's ready. 

Schultz prob threw that many innings in High School.

[steveno89]

20 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Who are people bouncing from the major league bullpen to sign another long-man to a major league deal?  This is simply a math problem at this point.  IMO, we have seven dudes who should have OD bullpen roles in Anderson, Ellard, Berroa, Wilson, Varland, Booser, & Smith.  Shane is the defacto long-man to start because he’s the only one who has to be the major league roster.  That leaves one spot open and if you want a second long-man go with Schuster.  And beyond that, you still have veteran arms like Scholtens & Dunn at AAA.  By all means some another AAAA type to a minor league deal, but I don’t think we should give a long reliever a guaranteed deel.  I’d rather commit a 26 man roster spot to a guy who can slot into the closer role that might be able to extract some value at the deadline.

Has anybody in that pen solidified themselves as an actual MLB player yet? I would not be worried about bouncing any of them right now

Plus, some will remove themselves soon enough due to poor performance 

[steveno89]

1 hour ago, ChiSox59 said:

I think that is dumb.  Guy threw 88 innings last year, and 115 in his pro career.  He's not ready for an every 5th day spot on a major league rotation.  Get him up to 120-130 this year in the minors, then call him up in May 2026.  But yah, you're probably right - if this regime is anything like the previous, we'll see him before he's ready. 

I would prefer to keep Schultz and Smith in the minors for most, if not all of this season as well 

Perhaps a call up late in the year, but I agree both should build up innings and minor league experience before being brought up to the majors. 

[Timmy U]

31 minutes ago, steveno89 said:

I would prefer to keep Schultz and Smith in the minors for most, if not all of this season as well 

Perhaps a call up late in the year, but I agree both should build up innings and minor league experience before being brought up to the majors. 

Both of those guys have the stuff to force the issue. If they dominate higher levels, the Sox won’t have much choice. Gotta challenge them to improve. I would start Schultz at AA and Smith at A+ to make it difficult on them to Zoom right up though.

[PaleAleSox]

1 hour ago, Timmy U said:

Both of those guys have the stuff to force the issue. If they dominate higher levels, the Sox won’t have much choice. Gotta challenge them to improve. I would start Schultz at AA and Smith at A+ to make it difficult on them to Zoom right up though.

Yeah I think that's the play. Basically guarantees they can have a ton of success but you can still slow play. In that situation you'd see Schultz in back half of the year and Smith MAYBE make a couple starts for Charlotte. 

[WestEddy]

I would think the Sox continue to ramp up Schultz as they've been doing. He had one game where he threw more than 65 pitches this last season. He can't just throw 4 innings on Saturdays in the bigs. Same goes for the ramping up of Hagen Smith. I would think each has a good 5 months in the minors before we start talking about them. 

[southsider2k5]

I can see a realistic path for Hagen Smith.  He is a highly polished and nearly finished product.  He has pitched a lot of high pressure innings in college and other leagues.  He still has some ramping to do, but not so low of a number that you worry about pushing him into that 140-150 range too much.  Hopefully they don't Carlos Rodon him where they push him through the levels too quickly without really giving him any minor league experience.  While Rodon had the stuff, much like Smith, it took him years to figure out pitching at the major league level.  If Smith is ready he will show you, then move him.  If it takes a year or two, so what, this team doesn't need to start his clock any earlier than they have to anyway.  No need to rush him into a historical shitshow.

Schultz on the other hand should be more deliberate.  He's clocked pitching once a week, for a small IP total each start, and a small pitch count.  Even if he is highly effective, the conditioning deficit for him alone is enough to say already that he should be in the minors for all of 2025 at least.  Get him up into the 120-130 inning range, and get him pushing to 100 pitches in a single start.  Get a feel for pitching deep and how to manage his stuff for that 100 pitches, because his mental approach will be different than when he knew he was only going 50-60 pitches.  He should be a time line for mid to late 2026 if EVERYTHING goes right.