The White Sox showed significant improvement from 2024-2025, as they won 19 more games this past season. This was solid progress, as they looked like a much more competent baseball team. This improvement was due to a lot of factors, but most importantly, contributions from their top prospects.
This sets the White Sox up for continued improvement throughout the organization in 2026, as they will have the number one draft pick come July, as well as the flexibility to add players from outside the organization. After already adding Munetaka Murakami, Anthony Kay, and Sean Newcomb in free agency, the White Sox have filled some of the bigger holes on the roster. However, there is still some work to be done, as they could use another outfielder and a few more arms.
Thankfully for the White Sox, there are a still a lot of free agents still available as we approach the new year. I am not sure if the White Sox have another big free agent up their sleeve, but I can certainly see them adding a few more solid players. One of the players they should look into signing is relief pitcher Evan Phillips, most recently of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Phillips only pitched in 5.2 innings last year, as he had right forearm discomfort that essentially made him miss the whole season. However, Phillips was extremely effective in those 5 innings, as he did not give up a run, struck out six batters, and recorded one save. This was good for .4 WAR according to Baseball Reference.
Evan Phillips, 2Ks in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/aXBmfUoiy5
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 3, 2025
Phillips would bring closer experience to the White Sox bullpen, as there are no pitchers on the roster with more than 10 career saves. Jordan Leasure is currently the career saves leader on the roster, as he has nine in his short MLB career.
Phillips would immediately fix that, as he has 46 saves, including 18 in 2024 and 24 in 2023, both with the Los Angeles Dodgers. On top of that, Phillips has been a very effective reliever in his career outside of the saves, as he owns a 3.36 ERA and a 1.1 WHIP over 252 career major league innings. He is only 31, so he certainly has more in the tank.
Phillips could see the White Sox as an appealing destination, as they are a team that is on the rise and have no established closer. He would likely get the first shot at the closer role and could rebuild his value on a one year deal, letting him test free agency next year for a more lucrative deal. Additionally, he could see value in potentially being traded to a contender at the deadline, instead of guessing what team will be in the hunt during the offseason.
If the White Sox are looking to add another relief pitcher, they should try and sign Phillips, as he could be the perfect player to add to the bullpen on a one year deal. He would help win the White Sox a few more games, as they have blown way too many games in the late innings over the last few seasons.
