The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $4.5 million contract with veteran lefty Sean Newcomb.
Just as general manager Chris Getz promised, the Chicago White Sox have added another piece to their pitching staff.
Chicago agreed to terms with left-handed reliever Sean Newcomb on a one-year, $4.5 million contract, continuing an offseason focused on adding more experienced arms to provide valuable innings.
Newcomb, 32, is a former starting pitcher who once looked like one of the better young left-handers in baseball with the Atlanta Braves. Over time, however, persistent command issues forced a transition to the bullpen and made it difficult for him to stick in the majors.
From 2020–2024, Newcomb struggled mightily, posting a 6.66 ERA largely due to those control problems—walking 6.3 batters per nine innings over that span. But in 2025, working as a long reliever and spot starter with the Boston Red Sox and Athletics, Newcomb finally found consistency.
The result was his most effective season in years. He posted a 2.73 ERA across 92.1 innings, providing length, stability, and reliable left-handed innings when called upon.
Newcomb now arrives in Chicago with a clearly defined role. According to Will Sammon of The Atheltic, Newcomb "will at least get the chance to start."
The White Sox do have a rotation spot up for grabs at the moment, but if the club ends up converting on the mid-tier starting pitching target they covet, it's hard to imagine how Newcomb works his way in that that mix.
It's not a bad backup plan, though, should the White Sox need more innings down the stretch.
I like Newcomb more as a long-relief option, a role that already features some internal competition. Mike Vasil is coming off an impressive rookie season, while Grant Taylor is expected to handle more multi-inning work now that he’s settled at the major-league level.
Both Vasil and Taylor are right-handers, though. Think of Newcomb's role similar to what Tyler Alexander did in Chicago after joining them midseason.
If the White Sox stick with three left-handed relievers—a common approach under manager Will Venable in 2025—Newcomb and Chris Murphy, acquired earlier in a trade with Boston, are the most likely to claim two of those spots.
Left-hander Ryan Rolison was designated for assignment to clear room for Newcomb on the 40-man roster. Chicago also still has Brandon Eisert, Tyler Gilbert, and Bryan Hudson in the mix, giving the team several left-handed options competing for the jobs.
This move likely doesn’t signal the end of Chicago’s pitching additions. The White Sox could still use help on the back end of the bullpen, particularly a pitcher capable of handling high-leverage situations. Newcomb doesn’t project as that type of arm.
The White Sox are also "aggressive" in the market for a mid-tier starting pitcher.
At the very least, this signing strengthens the pitching staff and reinforces Getz’s competitive approach to addressing roster needs as the White Sox continue shaping their 2026 outlook.