PREAMBLE
The White Sox are in the middle of their rebuild, entering full year number 3, to be exact. This team is at the stage where they have the flexibility to sign some bigger-named free agents, but they aren't at the stage where they are a consistent contender, seeing as they only won 62 games last season. They are in that middle ground of said rebuild. I do not see them making the playoffs or winning 97 games, but I could see them surprising and being around .500 with the right signings.
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 - non-tender, OF was a huge issue this season. We need high OBP players with solid gloves
- Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M - tender
- Carlos Rodon, $3.7M - tender
- Matt Davidson, $2.4M - tender
- Leury Garcia, $1.9M - tender
- Danny Farquhar, $1.4M - non-tender
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.
- Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout - decline
- James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout - decline
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, or let go?
- Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018) - let go
FREE AGENTS
List three free-agent targets you’d pursue during the offseason, with a reasonable contract.
No. 1: Dallas Keuchel (three years, $64 million). The White Sox need to sign a big ticket starter. Outside of Rodon, they have no other lefties in their current rotation. We need a front-end starter, and Keuchel is perfect for that. He seemed to have slipped up a little in 2018, but I think Coop can work with him. He's a perfect candidate for this team. Plus, he has a sick beard.
No. 2: Andrew McCutchen (four years, $80 million). As I said already, the White Sox need high OBP players. Cutch fits that mold. Yes, his defensive metrics have been down the last couple years, but I think his solid hitting can outweigh that. You cannot keep trotting out an outfield consisting of Delmonico, Engel, and Garcia, expecting major results. Eloy should be up on April 15. Cutch can fill in RF, instead of Garcia. If they don't win on Cutch, maybe the Dodgers will let go of Puig, and we can snatch him for RF.
No. 3: Nathan Eovaldi (two years, $14 million). Eovaldi is a good back-end starter. He's almost in a long relief role for the Red Sox in the World Series, but he would nicely fit the White Sox rotation. They would probably have to fork over more money than he has received in the past, but I think signing a second starter this off-season increases competition within the rotation. Let's not settle into a rotation that's only halfway proven.
TRADES
Propose trades that you think sound reasonable for both sides, and the rationale behind them.
No. 1: Trade Alec Hansen and Seby Zavala to St. Louis for Dexter Fowler. This may be a little light on the White Sox end, but I think we need to acquire a CF this season. Plus, Fowler was injured for most of 2018. However, he has a career .360 OBP and an ok glove in CF. He's also under control through 2021. At that point, I would expect someone to break through in CF, whether that's Luis Robert, Micker Adolfo, Luis Gonzalez, or Blake Rutherford. I've brought this up before. Those guys are still all in A+, so it could take a bit until they get to the MLB. Fowler can fill in for the time being.
SUMMARY
Below is my 25-man Roster (majority of the season). The league minimum is $555k. I obviously assumed some arbitration numbers and estimated salaries for these free agents:
Daniel Palka, DH/OF - $555k
Matt Davidson, DH/1B/RP - $750k
Jose Abreu, 1B - $16 million
Leury Garcia, Util - $1.5 million
Yolmer Sanchez, 3B - $2.8 million
Tim Anderson, SS - $1.4 million
Yoan Moncada, 2B - $555k
Andrew McCutchen, RF - $20 million
Dexter Fowler, CF - $16.5 million
Eloy Jimenez, LF - $555k
Welington Castillo, C - $7.25 million
Omar Narvaez, C - $560k
Carlos Rodon, SP - $3.4 million
Dallas Keuchel, SP - $21.33 million
Reynaldo Lopez, SP - $555k
Nathan Eovaldi, SP - $7 million
Lucas Giolito, SP - $555k
Jace Fry, CL - $555k
Juan Minaya, RP - $558k
Thyago Vieira, RP - $555k
Ian Hamilton, RP - $555k
Aaron Bummer, RP - $555k
Caleb Frare, RP - $555k
Ryan Burr, RP - $555k
Jordan Stephens, RP - $555k
Given the flexibility to spend, I think this is the year you fill in some important gaps (i.e. starting pitching and the outfield). With the Jones buyout, Shields buyout, and Peavy's $1 million, the total payroll would be at around $110 million. I know the White Sox don't have a tendency to spend much money, but they have to in order to compete. This is the season where they show the fans their mentality of frugality has changed and they sign some bigger, more productive names. The bullpen is still very young, so that could be the shakier part of the team. I do think, however, you would have to wait until you're ready to go for first place to sign bigger-named free agents. That said, building a bullpen of the future from within would be clutch because relievers are volatile. Let's hope for a solid season and off-season!
