A ton of attention has been given to the White Sox offense this season, and rightfully so. The unit leads the American League in runs per game and is a huge part of the team’s strong season. Almost equally important has been the bullpen, which has done an excellent job of making up for an inconsistent starting rotation. Pitchers like Grant Taylor, Sean Newcomb, Bryan Hudson, and Jordan Hicks have helped keep the pitching staff afloat, and most are under control for future seasons. Sean Newcomb is the exception, and the White Sox will need to find a way to replace his production this offseason.
Adrian Morejon's talent and consistency is exactly what the White Sox need
One such option could be Padres lefty Adrian Morejon, who is set to become a free agent following the season. A native of Cuba, Morejon is a former top prospect who used to be a starting pitcher, but has settled in nicely to a relief role over the past few seasons. The 27-year-old has a 2.86 ERA over 78.2 innings this season, marking his third straight year of an ERA below 3.00 and at least 60 innings pitched. His fastball averages nearly 100 MPH and he pairs it with a lethal slider and changeup to create three effective out pitches. The kind of consistency Morejon has brought over the last three years is rare for relievers, so he’ll likely land himself a nice contract in free agency. Fansided has speculated that his contract could look similar to the three-year, $45 million deal his former Padres teammate Robert Suarez signed with Atlanta this past offseason.
Adrian Morejón, Elevated 101mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/CBXcxBZj7s
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 7, 2026
Morejon has similar numbers to Suarez, but is several years younger, so he could even surpass the aforementioned deal. It would undoubtedly be an expensive deal, but the White Sox have a very small payroll next season and should have room to add another dominant lefty to the pen.
Another option is to simply bring back Sean Newcomb. At 33 and coming off two productive seasons, Newcomb may look for an opportunity to start in his next contract, but the White Sox would certainly love to bring him back on a shorter term deal if he’s open to it. The lefty has posted a 2.42 ERA in 81.2 innings so far this season in both opening and late-inning roles. He’s truly been the Swiss Army knife the White Sox bullpen has missed after the injury to Mike Vasil in spring training.
Whether the White Sox pursue Morejon, who is bound to have a competitive market, attempt to re-sign Newcomb, or pivot to another option completely, adding a second dominant lefty behind Bryan Hudson will be one of the key needs this offseason. With Hagen Smith expected to report to camp as a starter, it’s a market I have no doubt the team will be exploring. If they’re willing to open the pocketbook to supplement what should be a competitive core, keep an eye on Adrian Morejon as a fit that makes a ton of sense.
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