With just one final series to go until the 2026 MLB offseason begins, it’s not too early to look ahead to the upcoming offseason and prepare for the free agent frenzy. An impending lockout is likely to complicate things, but I expect a very busy November for all 30 MLB teams once free agency has opened. For the White Sox, improvements to a starting rotation that struggled down the stretch are certain to be on the docket, and they’ll have a chance to watch a few possible candidates in the World Series this week. Here are 3 players in the 2026 World Series that the White Sox should plan a pursuit of this winter.
RHP Freddy Peralta
Freddy Peralta entered the 2026 season as one of the hottest names on the pitching market. The Brewers traded him to the Mets as he began the final year of his contract, and for the first four months of the season, things looked bleak. Peralta posted a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts with New York, accruing -0.5 bWAR and easily the worst numbers of his career in that span. Then, a deadline deal sent him to the Tampa Bay Rays, and everything changed. Over his final ten starts with Tampa, his ERA was just 3.25, and he posted 43 strikeouts and just 15 walks. In the Postseason, he’s taken his game to another level, allowing just two runs in 16.2 innings and taking home the ALCS MVP award. He’ll look to cash in on his strong finish with a big free agent contract, and I think he’d be a perfect fit alongside Sean Burke at the top of the White Sox rotation. It would likely be pricey, but a worthwhile investment for the team.
RHP Drew Rasmussen*
Drew Rasmussen has an asterisk on this list because there’s no guarantee he’ll be available this offseason, but he should move straight to the top of the White Sox priority list if he is. The 31 year-old right hander set his career-high with 172 innings in 2026 and dominated with a 2.67 ERA. His strong season comes on the heels of another strong campaign in 2025, where he posted a 2.76 ERA in 31 starts. In over 160 career appearances, Rasmussen has a 2.83 ERA. He’s been a starter since joining the Rays in 2022 and has always been effective, but struggled with injuries early on in his Rays tenure. After back-to-back healthy seasons, Rasmussen has firmly entrenched himself as one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. He has a $20 million club option for 2027, which would increase his salary by $15 million. For most teams, it would be a no-brainer, but for a budget-conscious team like the Rays, bringing him back isn’t a guarantee. Should he hit the open market, the White Sox should be willing to pay a pretty penny for his services.
Drew Rasmussen is through 6 no-hit innings at Tropicana Field 👀 pic.twitter.com/cAEjuUFk5v
— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2026
RHP Dustin May
I’ll admit, I’m not as excited about this one as the other two, but Dustin May had a solid 2026 season between the Cardinals and Brewers. His fastball velocity jumped nearly 2 MPH from 2025, and his xERA of 4.45 is slightly better than his actual mark. May increased the usage of his cutter and moved away from his sweeper this season and saw some results. The White Sox were reportedly interested in May last offseason as a reliever, and they could show interest in him again as he hits the open market for the second straight offseason. May has plenty of experience as a starter but could also slot into the White Sox bullpen, performing in a swingman role if needed. At 29, he should still have a few productive seasons in the tank.
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