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CHICAGO — Give Grant Taylor credit for staying true to his convictions about the White Sox organization when asked if the late reliever ever had a chance to start over the past two seasons.
“I’m enjoying what I’m doing right now,” Taylor told MLB.com during an August interview on the topic. “That’s a conversation I’ll have with the guys in the offseason. I haven’t closed the door on that. But I’m focused on today and helping this team make the playoffs in October.”
Not only did Taylor help the White Sox make their first playoff push since 2021, but the hard-throwing right-hander with a 100 mph fastball was instrumental in Houston’s Wild Card Series victory and eventual five-game Division Series loss to the Guardians.
The talk this offseason came after this breakout season closed, and at age 24, Taylor is moving into the starting rotation. General manager Chris Getz announced the change to reporters during the general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
“We think the time has come,” Getz told reporters of Taylor’s move. “It could be a pitching arm. Generally speaking, pitching arms are more valuable than bull arms.
“You’ve got to have a good bull, too. I understand the question, and time will tell if that’s the right move. We’re thinking about Grant, staying healthy and productive, and that’s the best way for him.”
When asked about Taylor in the summer of ’25, no less than Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes thought his friend and LSU teammate would make the rotation in 2026. Instead, Taylor posted a 2.25 ERA with 10 saves and 106 strikeouts in 60 games.
After 84 regular-season innings and 8 2/3 postseason innings in 2026, Taylor moves into the rotation without much deep innings work at the Major League or Minor League levels. But this pitching-count adjustment is one of several made by Getz in the offseason to bolster his rotation.
Those additions to the rotation could come in free agency. They can come through trade. They can come from the perceived peak of the free agent market. If the White Sox see something they can upgrade or trade in a certain pitcher or give someone a true Major League runway, they can come from those considered low in the free agent order.
“I don’t know where that pitcher is going to fall in the rotation,” Getz said Tuesday. “We have a lot of young arms and we expect guys to get better. We’re certainly targeting guys who can step up in the middle of the rotation.
“There’s a lot of talent in the free agent class. We’re going to continue to find the right fit. It’s not always at the top of the market.”
Sean Burke was the only starter the White Sox actually worked in seven postseason games. That usage followed a starting lineup that ranked last in the Majors with 674 2/3 innings pitched during the regular season. White Sox starters also ranked 28th with 621 strikeouts and 26th with a 4.60 ERA.
Moving Taylor trades a strong suit from the overall White Sox bullpen, though there are still plenty of relief options, as well as some of those starters who could end up in relief. As for the problems with Taylor going into the rotation? The White Sox have a lot of experience making this case.
Mark Buehrle (primarily a reliever in 2000) and especially Chris Sale (reliever only in 2010-11) and Garrett Crochet (reliever in 2020-21, ’23), started in the bullpen and became All-Star starters.