Yoyo’s Offseason Plan Project
PREAMBLE
With the injuries occurring throughout the minors, I feel the Sox timeline was pushed back and making a couple short term acquisitions is necessary. I don’t feel signing anyone that will cost draft compensation is the right thing to do but there are some quality veterans to be had that could help the team transition to a +.500 record.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
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 NON TENDER
Danny Farquhar, $1.4M NON TENDER
CLUB OPTIONS
Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout PICKUP
James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout DECLINE
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018) LET GO
Hector Santiago (made $2 million in 2018 — added) LET GO
FREE AGENTS
Josh Donaldson (3yr./$66m) Injury risk aside, Sox get a 3B who is still a MVP caliber player in my mind. At 3 years, the contract length won’t prohibit locking up any long term assets in the future.
Andrew McCutcheon (3yr/$51m) I am taking a hit on defense and putting Cutch in center. Comiskey is a smaller park and he will manage…for better or worse. Engel can be a late inning defensive replacement but I can’t stand watching him at the plate.
Daniel Murphy (2yr/$20m)  I’ll take a professional hitter as my DH. Davidson is gone and Palka isn’t far behind once Eloy arrives. Murphy can get some starts at 1B or even 2B on off days.
Lance Lynn (1yr/@9m +team option) Innings eater and hopefully more. 29 or more starts every year since 2012 except for one (2016). He posted a 2.17 FIP, 10.0 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 once moving to New York this past year.
Cody Allen (2yr/$16m) I like Allen as a bounce back candidate and he had a nice track record previous to this past year. I’m rolling the dice with him as my closer.
Brad Bach (2yr/$12m)Â Another veteran to stabilize the pen.
TRADES
I like several ideas but generally have no idea to evaluate a fair deal for both sides. Would Matz/Wheeler fit into the rotation, sure….Would I take a flier on Sonny Gray, possibly…..Could Senzel be pried away from the Reds, I wish. I’ll leave the trades empty for now and go with basic free agent signings.
SUMMARY
CÂ Castillo, 1BÂ Abreu, 2BÂ Moncada, SSÂ Anderson, 3BÂ Donaldson, LFÂ Palka, CFÂ McCutcheon, RFÂ Garcia, DH Murphy, Bench Narvaez/Sanchez/Engel
SP – Rodon, Lopez, Lynn, Giolito, Covey (Cease)
RP – Allen, Brach, Jones, Fry, Minaya, Hamilton, Ruiz, Frare, Banuelos
LINEUP:
CF Cutch (R)
DH Murphy (L)
1B Abreu (R)
3B Donaldson (L)
RF Garcia (R)
LF Palka (Eloy) (L/R)
2B Moncada (S)
C Castillo/Narvaez (R/L)
SS Anderson (R)
Sox add about $72 mil in payroll (hilarious I know, right?) with NO long term commitments and NO signings tied to qualifying offers. They have a puncher’s chance at winning a weak AL Central with an improved offense or can turn ship and sell off pieces at the deadline (Abreu, Donaldson, McCutcheon, Murphy, Garcia, Castillo, Lynn, Allen, Brach, Jones).
Bottom line, this team has a better chance at moving above .500 and playing more winning baseball while continuing to integrate core pieces into the lineup (Eloy, Cease). Upgrading Engel, Sanchez, Davidson, and Covey does ZERO harm to the rebuild plan and puts a better product on the field for season ticket holders. If some Sox fans are that worried about draft position in 2020 maybe the argument should be made for improved scouting/development rather than a shittier team to watch in 2019.