White Sox Bullpen Takes Shape After Seranthony Domínguez Signing

It’s remarkable how often one player can change the vibe — and the outlook — of an entire roster.

That feels especially true of the Chicago White Sox bullpen after Seranthony Domínguez agreed to terms on a two-year, $20 million contract.

White Sox fans had been waiting all offseason for the bullpen additions GM Chris Getz promised were coming.

Back at the Winter Meetings, Getz made it clear that Chicago might not bring in a traditional, established closer. Still, the hope was that the team would add a reliever capable of handling high-leverage situations.

Domínguez fits that bill.

He has 40 career MLB saves, with a personal best of 16 as a rookie back in 2018. He recorded 10 saves for the 2024 Baltimore Orioles as well, though he has never truly been a full-time ninth-inning arm. Domínguez has generally been better served as a setup man and eighth-inning option — the role he filled for the AL Champion Toronto Blue Jays after being traded at last year’s deadline.

At an annual salary of $10 million, the White Sox will almost certainly pencil him in as their closer on Opening Day. And that addition alone dramatically changes the outlook of the bullpen.

Let’s dive into the roster, the names I believe will make the team, and the tightest Spring Training battles that will help shape the bullpen on the South Side.

As mentioned, Seranthony Domínguez will open the season as the closer and anchor Chicago’s bullpen.

That allows Jordan Leasure — who I previously believed was destined for the closer role — to slide into a setup job at the back end. Leasure is still a lock to make the roster barring something unforeseen in Spring Training, even though he has minor-league options remaining.

GM Chris Getz has also teased multi-inning relief outings for Grant Taylor in 2026. That could mean more traditional long relief, or high-leverage, multi-inning appearances like six-out saves. Either way, Taylor will be in the mix as a pitcher the White Sox are counting on to take a step forward.

Mike Vasil should return in a role similar to what he filled in 2025 — a long reliever or spot starter who can stretch out to 100 innings and serve as a Swiss Army knife for manager Will Venable at virtually any point in the game.

I’m sticking with my prediction that the White Sox will carry three left-handed relievers on the Opening Day roster.

That appeared to be a preference for Venable in 2025, and it becomes even more important with a projected righty-heavy rotation.

If Sean Newcomb does not make the rotation — and instead settles into a bullpen role, which I would prefer — he’ll be one of those three lefties.

The remaining two spots are still up for grabs, with Brandon Eisert, Chris Murphy, Tyler Gilbert, Ryan Borucki, Jake Palisch, and Bryan Hudson all in the mix.

I’ve leaned toward Murphy, given his strong 2025 season and the fact that the White Sox went out of their way to acquire him earlier this winter. Eisert also has a strong case based on his 2025 production and reliability. That said, Hudson and Gilbert are the two arms without minor-league options.

This decision may ultimately come down to what the White Sox value more: maximizing the bullpen’s immediate talent — even if the margins are thin — or preserving organizational depth.

If the White Sox carry three left-handers and the four right-handers listed above are locks, that leaves just one open spot on the 26-man roster — and it figures to be one of the most competitive battles in Spring Training.

Rule 5 picks Alexander Alberto and Jedixson Páez both bring high ceilings and exciting raw stuff, but each may still be a year away from making the jump from High-A to the big leagues. The White Sox will closely monitor their progress and could consider keeping one of them while using a minor-league option on Jordan Leasure if they’re sufficiently compelled.

Wikelman González also has a case. He appeared in 16 games for the White Sox in 2025 and posted a 2.66 ERA with an impressive 11.1 K/9. However, with one minor-league option remaining, the organization could choose to option him if it helps avoid waiving a Rule 5 arm they want to keep.

Veteran Tyson Miller — who is looking to rediscover his 2024 form from his time with the Chicago Cubs — will also compete for a spot, though it feels more likely he opens the year in Triple-A. The same applies to Jairo Iriarte.

Prelander Berroa will likely begin the season on the injured list as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. Once he returns to game action, he’ll need some time in the minors to ramp back up.

That said, given how explosive his arm is — and how surprisingly effective he was in 2024 — don’t be shocked if Berroa is pushing someone out of the bullpen by June.

The 2026 season for the White Sox bullpen should be all about chasing upside.

Give these high-leverage arms a chance to prove themselves at the big-league level. Identify who has closer potential. Figure out who can be locked into a role for the foreseeable future.

Relief pitcher production is always volatile, but building a core of young, controllable bullpen arms creates maximum flexibility — both for the rest of the roster and for future financial decisions.

Chris Getz and the White Sox have done a solid job accumulating this talent. Now it’s time to see which arms can seize the opportunity and earn a longer runway.