6 free-agent starting pitchers the Chicago White Sox should pursue

Hopefully, Austin Slater will not be the Chicago White Sox's top free-agent signing.

It was bad enough that Slater said the team told him he was their top free-agent target. It would be really bad if the Sox do not make any other free-agent moves, even if they are minor.

The White Sox do not plan to be heavy spenders this offseason. It is one of many reasons why the team will likely trade ace Garrett Crochet since he is one of the few assets the team has to add impactful players (even if they will be prospects).

That motivation to trade Crochet is likely why general manager Chris Getz would like to sign another starting pitcher in free agency.

Otherwise, it does not make sense to add a veteran arm, as it would clog the developmental runway for young, talented arms such as Drew Thorpe and Sean Burke. You can already pencil in Jonathan Cannon and Davis Martin into the rotation. You would like to see Thorpe and Burke get a spot in the 2025 rotation.

The Sox should also give top-10 prospect Ky Bush another crack at landing a rotation spot since he got a cup of coffee with the team this past season. Plus, he is a big left-handed pitcher that the club likes. Also, other top-10 prospects such as Jairo Iriate and Mason Adams knocking on the big-league door.

Adding a veteran could take away precious developmental innings, much like having Chris Flexen, Brad Keller, and Mike Clevinger did last season.

However, if you do not have Crochet taking the ball every fifth day, it cannot hurt to have a veteran in the rotation to help tutor the young arms. Also, it would make sense to have a potential trade chip at next year's trade deadline.

That is why if the Sox are going to sign a veteran starter, it has to be another Erick Fedde-like move and not of the Chris Flexen variety.

Here are six starting pitching options the Sox should pursue in free agency...

Jose Quintana

He is the one consensus top-50 free agent that most outlets have tied to the White Sox. A reunion with the team's former No. 2 pitcher last decade makes sense since he is still productive. Plus, he is a lefty that can eat innings if Crochet is dealt.

He did have a 3.75 ERA last season, but that might have been because of a good defense behind him since he had 4.56 FIP for the New York Mets this season.

Spotrac.com projects he will get a two-year deal for $8 million per season.

Kyle Hart

This would be another Erick Fedde-like signing as Hart had to go to Korea to possibly revive his big-league career. The only difference is Hart made just three career starts and another bullpen appearance for the Boston Red Sox.

He posted a 15.55 ERA in 2020 during his brief time in the bigs. Otherwise, he was a career minor leaguer. However, he battled Lyme disease during the COVID-19 pandemic shortened season.

Hart went to Korea this season and pitched for the NC Dinos. He nearly won the KBO's pitching triple crown. The southpaw posted a 2.69 ERA and struck out a KBO single-season record 182 hitters.

The Sox's success with Fedde is one reason the Athletic has tied Hart possibly coming to the Southside (a subscription is required to access content).

Jakob Junis

Junis has been more of a long reliever these days. However, he did make five starts for the Cincinnati Reds at the end of the season.

He excelled during those five outings. He allowed just four earned runs with 20 strikeouts in 25 innings.

Junis would provide excellent value for the White Sox in either role, as the team could use bullpen help too. He was valuable enough for the Reds to request him in the trade return from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Frankie Montas trade.

Junis also was a starter for the Kansas City Royals when he started his MLB career. While it would it be bringing in another former Royal, Junis crossed paths with the Sox's current pitching czar, Brian Bannister, when they were both in San Francisco. That negates his time with the Royals when they were just as bad as the White Sox.

Also, Junis spent some time with the Brewers and their excellent pitching lab. Spotrac projects he will cost a two-year deal for $8.6 million total.

Colin Rea

His career got so bad that he had to go to Japan. He looks like he has been fixed by pitching overseas and the Brewers' pitch lab.

Rea posted a 1.29 WHIP and 135 strikeouts for the Brewers last season. His ERA was 4.29 last season, but that is better production than what Flexen provided in 2024. Chris had a 4.95 ERA and 1.52 WHIP.

Spotrac projects a two-year, $23 million deal. However, his salary comps might be a bit too high, considering they are using Chris Sale and Seth Lugo.

Michael Lorenzen

The White Sox should have signed him during spring training instead of Mike Clevinger or Brad Keller. He at least fetched the Texas Rangers something at the trade deadline when he was moved to Kansas City.

At least he has ties to manager Will Venable as both were together for a bit in Texas. The Sox must highly consider players who have ties to Venable or Bannister when it comes to pitchers, especially since it is better than tapping into former manager Pedro Grifol's ties.

Lorenzen posted a 3.81 ERA in 18 starts for the Rangers and a 1.57 ERA in six starts for the Royals. Spotrac projects him getting a two-year, $15.5 million deal.

Cal Quantrill

The White Sox could sign another pitcher the Colorado Rockies gave up on. Quantrill could be the innings-eater like Flexen was last season.

He pitched 186.1 innings for Cleveland in 2022 where he posted a 3.38 ERA. He has had productive seasons.

However, he his seen that decline in 2023 and then posted a 4.98 ERA along with 5.32 FIP for the Rockies after the Guardians traded him to Colorado.

That poor 2024 season earned him getting non-tender. Although, he did post a 1.7 bWAR

If he continues to struggle as a starter, he does have experience out of the bullpen. He will be 30 next season, so there still might be some effective innings left in his arm.