By admin 
Though the Chicago White Sox‘s 2026 postseason heartbreakingly ended with a 3-2 American League Division Series loss to their AL Central rival, the Cleveland Guardians, the season as a whole can only be described as a massive success for Chicago.
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The White Sox defied expectations by prognosticators, many of whom picked them to finish in last place in the league, by earning an impressive 84-78 record and taking the third AL Wild Card spot after leading their division for most of the regular season.
When the 2026 MLB awards are officially revealed, White Sox manager Will Venable, who helped take Chicago from worst to nearly first in his second season as the team’s manager, is expected to be named the AL Manager of the Year, and deservingly so.
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But as good as the White Sox were this season, and for as great a story as they were, ultimately, they ended up losing in the postseason, and the biggest reason was a lack of elite starting pitching.
That’s why the White Sox need to make a big splash this offseason and sign the No. 1 SP available, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal.
The White Sox Can Afford Tarik Skubal
There is no doubt that Skubal is going to be paid handsomely this offseason.
He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and these types of aces rarely enter free agency when they are only 29 years old and in the prime of their careers.
Per ESPN, Skubal is projected for an eight-year, $355 million contract, with an annual average value of $44.6 million.
To be honest, I think that is a rather conservative prediction, as I see Skubal commanding 10 years and $400 million, but either way, he’s going to get a massive deal that sets the record for the most guaranteed money to a starting pitcher in MLB history.
The Dodgers are expected to make a big push to retain him, and given the team’s endless payroll and ability to seemingly defer payments decades out, they are certainly the favorites to bring him back next season, although the new baseball CBA could have a salary cap impacting what the Dodgers can spend in the future.
Regardless, Los Angeles is the favorite to sign Skubal, with the New York Yankees also expected to make a big push for him, as well as the Detroit Tigers, his former team.
But why not the White Sox?
According to Spotrac, the White Sox only have $117 million in guaranteed salary in 2027, which is going to be far less than the proposed salary cap floor if there is a salary cap implemented.
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They even have less money committed next year than the notoriously cheap Pittsburgh Pirates, which tells you all you need to know.
But even if there is no salary cap floor, the White Sox can afford to spend way more money than they have been, and after a mostly successful postseason run this year, Chicago owner Jerry Reinsdorf — who is considered frugal by White Sox fans — should open up his pocketbook and help Venable and the rest of the team’s coaching staff out by allowing White Sox GM Chris Getz to sign better players.
The White Sox could give Skubal $40 million to $50 million and still be in good shape as far as payroll goes when compared to other teams around the league.
If the White Sox landed Skubal, not only would they be the favorites to win the AL Central next year, but they’d be one of the favorites to win the league and represent the AL in the World Series next season.
That’s why they need to get it done.
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White Sox Prospective Rotation With Tarik Skubal
If the White Sox signed Skubal, this is what the team’s rotation would look like in 2027:
SP 1: Tarik Skubal
SP 2: Sean Burke
SP 3: Davis Martin
SP 4: Anthony Kay
SP 5: Noah Schultz
This is not only a good starting rotation, but it carries significant upside, as Skubal has won two AL Cy Youngs while pitching the AL Central for the Tigers, Burke had a breakout season, Davis and Kay are both reliable mid-rotation starters, and Schultz is a good prospect with potential.
Even if the White Sox don’t sign Skubal, they’ll probably be a playoff team again next year just because their lineup is so strong.
But if they want to win a World Series — and that should be every team’s goal, after all — then they need to open up the coffers and sign Skubal, giving him a massive contract and becoming one of MLB’s haves after far too many years of being a have-not.
They have the money and the need, so now it’s up to the White Sox to open up the checkbook and write Skubal a blank check to bring him to Chicago and allow the team to take the next step and become a true World Series contender in 2027 and beyond.
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This story was originally published October 11, 2026 at 12:05 PM.