Going into Spring Training, the White Sox had plenty of intriguing roster battles. Perhaps the most intriguing battle was the one for the rotation spots, as there were 10+ guys competing for just five spots. However, Will Venable made it very clear who will be getting starts today.
White Sox top four starters, per manager Venable:
Martín Pérez
Jonathan Cannon
Davis Martin
Sean Burke pic.twitter.com/FNtAzvbBIN— Underdog MLB (@Underdog__MLB) March 14, 2025
According to Will Venable, the rotation will include Jonathan Cannon, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, and Martin Perez. While there isn’t an “ace” per se, this is a solid rotation that will keep the White Sox in plenty of games. The main question will be whether the White Sox will score enough runs to get these guys some wins.
It was a given that Martin Perez was going to be in the rotation, as he has had a solid Spring Training and signed a major league deal with the club. Jonathan Cannon and Davis Martin were also pretty much penciled in due to their performances at the end of last year.
Sean Burke was a leading candidate for one of the rotation spots, but it nice to know that he is locked into a spot. He had a phenomenal start to his major league career and has looked very solid in Spring Training to this point.
Now, the mystery is who will fill the final spot, but that spot may not be necessary for a bit, as the White Sox, as is usually the case at the beginning of each season, will not need a fifth starter for the first few weeks, as there are enough breaks to go around for four starters.
Shane Smith should get a shot, as he has been absolutely dominant this spring. Bryse Wilson will also get a shot to prove he belongs in the rotation, as he has had a solid spring and was brought in on a major league deal.
While people thought Jared Shuster had a chance to crack the rotation, he was sent down today, eliminating that possibility.
It will likely be a two man competition between Wilson and Smith, with the winner going to whoever pitches the best in the bullpen the first few weeks. However, if the White Sox want to prioritize youth, Smith is the man to go with.
This was the first roster domino to fall for the White Sox, as they will have some tough decisions to make for the infield and the bullpen.
