The White Sox are likely going to be pretty thin in the bullpen in 2012. If Jake Peavy is ready to roll when the 2012 season begins, righties Zach Stewart and Dylan Axelrod could work out of the pen in 2012. Here is a look at how the bullpen stands as of right now:

Closer: Matt Thornton: 35-year old lefty Matt Thornton has a big time arm and he will be the White Sox’ closer when spring training opens up. Thornton pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 2-5 with 3 saves, a 3.32 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 398 games (0 starts) in his first six years with the Pale Hose and he is 27-22 with 20 saves, a 3.21 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Thornton has pitched in 472 games (1 start) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 28-28 with 20 saves, a 3.52 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. I have a feeling that Thornton is going to step up and be a good closer for the White Sox in 2012.

Set-Up Man: Jesse Crain: 30-year old righty Jesse Crain is going to be the set-up man for the White Sox in 2012. He pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 8-3 with 1 save, a 2.62 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Crain has now pitched in 443 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 41-24 with 4 saves, a 3.30 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Crain should be pretty solid in setting up Matt Thornton in 2012.

Righties: Addison Reed: 23-year old Addison Reed is a hot prospect for the White Sox and he is likely going to have a big role in the pen in 2012. He pitched in 6 games (0 starts) in his first taste of the majors with the White Sox last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Reed also pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 2-1 with 5 saves, a 1.26 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP. He only gave up 43 hits in 78 1/3 innings in the minors last year while whiffing 111 batters and walking only 14 batters. Those are some pretty darn impressive numbers.

Brian Bruney: 29-year old Brian Bruney pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 1-0 with a 6.86 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP. He has now pitched in 272 games (1 start) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 18-12 with 13 saves, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. If Bruney can start throwing strikes, he could be an asset to the White Sox as he still has good stuff.

Jhan Marinez: 23-year old Jhan Marinez came to the White Sox as part of the return for Ozzie Guillen. He pitched in 56 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 3-8 with 3 saves, a 3.57 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Marinez also pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP.

Lefties: Will Ohman: 34-year old Will Ohman pitched in 59 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 1-3 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has now pitched in 451 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 12-14 with 3 saves, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Ohman will likely pitch a little better than he did in 2011 for the White Sox in 2012. Call it a hunch.

Donnie Veal: 27-year old Donnie Veal pitched in 19 games (5 starts) last year in four levels of the minors and he was 0-2 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. His only major league experience came back in 2009 with the Pirates. He pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Pirates that year and he was 1-0 with a 7.16 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: C-