soxon35th
The Chicago White Sox are expected to be aggressive this offseason, with strengthening their starting rotation a top priority. According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the team has already set its sights on right-handed pitcher Dustin May. In a Wednesday post, Morosi revealed the connection, noting that other clubs such as the Cubs, Padres, and Astros are also among a wide group reportedly interested in May.
May is coming off another season of mixed results, similar to his 2025 campaign. He signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with St. Louis and provided some stability to a rotation that had several question marks entering the year. The 29-year-old made 21 starts, recording a 4.38 ERA with 106 strikeouts and a 3.15 FIP over 109 innings.
May was eventually included in a deadline deal that sent him and reliever JoJo Romero to Milwaukee in exchange for outfield prospects Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale. However, his transition with the Brewers didn't go smoothly. May struggled to find consistency over the final two months, posting a 5.65 ERA across 36.2 innings. Those struggles carried into October, where he allowed seven earned runs over 11 innings. Nevertheless, May remained on Milwaukee's postseason roster throughout the team's run to its first World Series championship since 1957.
May finished 2026 with a 4.70 ERA, 144 strikeouts, and 50 walks in 145.2 innings across both stops. While his overall numbers leave something to be desired, there were stretches where he looked like the dependable arm many have hoped he could become. As one of the youngest available starters on the market, he will remain an intriguing option for teams in need of rotation help.
That's where the White Sox enter the mix, although May might not check all the boxes of the dependable starter they'd ideally prefer. General Manager Chris Getz reinforced the need for rotation reinforcements in a SiriusXM interview just a few days earlier, making the reported connection to May relatively unsurprising. "We're going to exhaust the starter market, both free agency—we'll take a look—along with trades," Getz said. "That is our top priority."
Getz highlighted several existing rotation candidates, including Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Anthony Kay, and Noah Schultz, while expressing optimism about the continued development of the organization's younger arms. The team has also confirmed that Grant Taylor will transition out of the bullpen and into a starting role after he saw a significant uptick in usage compared to 2025.
The biggest question now may be how aggressively the White Sox are willing to pursue outside help. When asked about potentially targeting pitchers near the top of the free-agent market, Getz stopped short of committing to a particular level of spending. However, he acknowledged that there are situations where "you've got to get a little bit more aggressive." Getz's comments suggest the Sox, despite the looming lockout, are keeping their options open as they evaluate the available market rather than limiting themselves to lower-cost additions.
Whether May is the pitcher they ultimately land remains to be seen, but their reported interest reinforces just how important adding reliable starting pitching will be this offseason. Expect similar rumors involving other pitchers to swirl leading up to the lockout.
Originally reported by soxon35th.