The Chicago White Sox are in dire need of pitching help in both their rotation and bullpen, with the trade deadline now just three days away.
However, the White Sox may not rely solely on external additions. According to Ken Rosenthal, Katie Woo and Will Sammon of The Athletic, Chicago is "considering at least three of their top prospects as potential reinforcements in the bullpen."
The three prospects are left-hander Hagen Smith (the organization's No. 2 prospect), right-hander Tanner McDougal (No. 4) and right-hander Mason Adams (No. 8).
The report doesn't mean Chicago will back off its search for pitching help. Instead, it gives the White Sox another avenue to strengthen a staff that has become their biggest concern.
Chicago possesses one of the best young offensive cores in baseball, headlined by All-Star Munetaka Murakami, who has helped the club build a two-game lead in the American League Central entering play Friday.
The pitching staff, however, is filled with uncertainty. Outside of a few bright spots, there are questions throughout both the rotation and bullpen, making it difficult to know what the group will provide over the final two months.
After looking like an AL Cy Young candidate early in the season, Davis Martin has posted a 5.84 ERA over his last 10 starts. Meanwhile, Seranthony Dominguez struggled to a 4.10 ERA and lost his job as the team's closer.
Those struggles have only increased Chicago's urgency to add pitching. Despite leading the division, the White Sox still have 54 games remaining and little margin for error. Clay Holmes and Reid Detmers are among the pitchers most frequently connected to the club.
If Smith, McDougal and Adams all reach the majors this season, it would represent a significant shift in Chicago's pitching plans down the stretch. Nearly half of the bullpen could suddenly feature new faces.
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Still, Rosenthal and his colleagues made it clear that the White Sox are not expected to change their deadline approach because of those internal options. Nor should they.
Reinforcements from both outside the organization and within could completely reshape Chicago's pitching staff and give its talented lineup a much better chance to carry the club through the final two months.
