cpwbaseball402’s offseason plan

PREAMBLE

The 2019 White Sox’s dreams went out of the window with Michael Kopech’s elbow and the lack of progress from Giolito/Yoan/Avi. There is just absolutely no way the Sox have the current pieces within the franchise to compete in 2019. Changes need to be made to the roster to put forth a reasonable product, but I’m not signing any huge long term deals when the first year would be a total waste.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Write “tender” or “non-tender” after each player. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.

  • Jose Abreu, $16M- tender
  • Avisail Garcia, $8M- tender
  • Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M- tender
  • Carlos Rodon, $3.7M- tender
  • Matt Davidson, $2.4M- non-tender
  • Leury Garcia, $1.9M- tender
  • Danny Farquhar, $1.4M- non-tender

I don’t think Avi is earning his $8M, but it ain’t my money, and I don’t believe in Nicky Delmonico or anything so I have room for one final run of Avi before we actually try to win next year. Matt Davidson, even if he is the American Ohtani, is not good, and has no real place on the team long term. Chris Carter isn’t in the majors for a reason. Leury is oft hurt but its $2M and he can play anywhere, and I’m not committing a long term resources to Marwin Gonzalez. We are star chasing with Jerry’s lean wallet, not signing utility guys. Also I am offering Jose Abreu an extension.

CLUB OPTIONS

Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.

  • Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout- PICK UP.
  • James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout- Padres send him $2M

I’ll gamble the 3.5M on Nate’s elbow. Lotto ticket.

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

Try to retain, or let go?

  • Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018)- Let Go
  • Hector Santiago (made $2 million in 2018 — added)- Let Go

Pretty obvious

FREE AGENTS

List three free-agent targets you’d pursue during the offseason, with a reasonable contract. A good example of a bad idea:

No. 1: Brian Dozier (1 yr, $12M)

No. 2: Lance Lynn (1 yr, $11M)

No. 3: Gio Gonzalez (2 yrs, $20M)

No. 4: James Shields (1 yr, $5M)

I’m not clogging any long term spots from any marquee prospects, but I also have zero interest in watching Yolmer play everyday when he is clearly a bench guy and Dylan Covey get starts. So we spend around 40M on some proven veterans who will be professionals and at least play mediocre baseball. All 4 of these guys bring some sort of dependability, and hopefully a combined 300 innings+ from the pitchers. With Dozier, I am moving Moncada to 3B and hoping Dozier plays well enough to get moved in July, and Yolmer can get AB”s until hopefully Nick Madrigal shows up in September.

TRADES

No. 1: Trade Jose Rondon and Jimmy Lambert to the Yankees for Sonny Gray

I have seen this one on other fan posts but basically taking the Yankees trash for Jose Rondon, a capable SS on a minimum deal who can sit in for Didi, makes a ton of sense to me. Probably need to toss in a prospect, so we give the Yankees an interesting arm in Jimmy Lambert. For the White Sox coop gets a chance to fix Sonny and then we can flip him in July or try to extend him as he is young enough to be a piece of this core.

No. 2: Carlos Rodon to the San Diego Padres for Manny Margot. 

Here is my biggest deal and a move I really hope the White Sox consider. Carlos Rodon is three things right now;

  1. Talented
  2. Oft-Injured
  3. Getting increasingly expensive

While I love his talent, he is only under control for 3 more arb years, and is already getting pricey. Couple that with the fact that pitching 200 innings or so seems like a long shot for him at this point, and I am a little more ok trading him for some future value. However, I don’t want to move him for more prospects, as I’ve said I think the window opens next year. I want a similarly, young, talented player with a little more TC. Enter Manny Margot. Margot has 4 years of TC left, is a former top prospect, and plays an awesome CF. His bat hasn’t quite caught fire in the MLB, but there is absolutely talent there. The Padres have a plethora of young OFs and are hoping to contend soon (See Eric Hosmer deal) despite the fact all their young talented pitching prospects are in the minors. Therefore there should be some intersted in acquiring the young and talented Rodon who could be their ace right now. Meanwhile the White Sox get back a real starting CF, one who had a WRC+ 13 points higher than Engel last year and was always lauded as a legitimate hitting prospect coming up. Worth the gamble for me.

SUMMARY

I enter 2019 with the following 25 man roster

  1. Brian Dozier, 2B
  2. Avi Garcia, RF
  3. Jose Abreu, 1B
  4. Eloy Jimenez, LF
  5. Daniel Palka, DH
  6. Yoan Moncada, 3B
  7. Wellington Castillo, C
  8. Tim Anderson, SS
  9. Manny Margot, CF

Bench: Omar Narvaez, Nicky Delmonico, Leurey Garcia OR Adam Engel (We will see if he emerges from Spring healthy), Yolmer Sanchez.

  1. Reynaldo Lopez
  2. Lance Lynn
  3. Gio Gonzalez
  4. Sonny Gray
  5. James Shields
  6. Lucas Giolito (If he looks worth it after Spring, if not send him to AAA and Minaya or someone breaks with the team)

Bullpen:

  • Jace Fry
  • Ian Hamilton
  • Ryan Burr
  • Caleb Frare
  • Aaron Bummer
  • Carson Fulmer

I simply do not care about a closer on a team designed to win 7o games. We are getting that third straight top 5 pick and then vaulting into our contention window.

My goals for the year are progress from the MLB guys, a trade for Dozier and one of the FA starters, Madrigal/Cease/Burdi/Adams/Stephens/Zavala/Collins/Dunning getting called up, and a top 5 pick. And only one devastating injury.

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Jer-in-Az

I like the thought of Manuel Margot, I feel like the Padres would have to add more to the trade also. Not sure what their SP’s look like, but a BOTR guy would be nice to have added in. 

Jer-in-Az

Yea, fair enough.  

Josh Nelson

I could see that Carlos Rodon trade going down. Rumor has it that the Padres want to trade an outfielder for a pitcher.