Officially, today marks the last day of the White Sox' offseason, as pitchers and catchers and 90 percent of everybody else will report to Camelback Ranch on Wednesday.
Unofficially, the White Sox' offseason won't end until Manny Machado picks a place to play.
As irritating as it may be, it's better that Machado's situation remains unresolved than cemented with another club. Without him, the White Sox made a slew of marginal moves, and most of the players acquired aren't locks to be even average.
To be fair, this still represents automatic improvements at a couple of spots, and Machado would justify two of them if he signs. Yonder Alonso (Machado's brother-in-law) and Jon Jay (Machado's close friend) provide an emotional hook that a relatively anonymous 100-loss season lacks.
Without Machado? The effort will likely be more professional than it was last season, but still with a low ceiling. PECOTA projects the White Sox to finish with 70 wins, and that seems fair.
A recap of the moves for those who went into hibernation:
Signings
James McCann: Signed to back up Welington Castillo on Dec. 14 for one year and $2.5 million.
Kelvin Herrera: Signed on Jan. 7 for two years and $18 million, with a vesting option that could put the total value of the contract to $27 million.
Jon Jay: Signed on Jan. 7 for one year and $4 million.
Trades
Manny Banuelos: Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov. 30 for Justin Yurchak.
Alex Colome: Acquired from the Seattle Mariners on Nov. 30 for Omar Narvaez.
Ivan Nova: Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Yordi Rosario on Dec. 11.
Yonder Alonso: Acquired from Cleveland Indians on Dec. 14 for Alex Call.
40-man additions
The White Sox could have put the cut line above or below Stephens, and they chose to include him. Zach Thompson was the first off, along with Spencer Adams and Danny Mendick, but everybody made it through the Rule 5 draft intact
40-man losses
Kevan Smith: Claimed off waivers by the Angels on Oct. 26.
Ian Clarkin: Claimed off waivers by the Cubs; claimed off waivers by the White Sox; claimed off waivers by the Cubs. The Cubs then passed him through waivers when the White Sox had no open spots on their 40-man roster.
Charlie Tilson: Outrighted by the White Sox after the Jay signing in January.
Free agent departures
Avisail Garcia: Signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in January for $3.5 million guaranteed, with an additional $2.5 million possible in incentives.
Matt Davidson: Non-tendered by the White Sox; signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers, who will give him a chance to pitch.
"He has a good curveball," [Rangers GM Jon] Daniels said. "A lot of [position players] who pitch are more about arm strength. He has a good arm but what stands out is he has unique traits to his curveball. He wants to do it.
"We are going to take it slow with him. You've got to be responsible. He is not going to be on a traditional pitcher's program and a heavy workload. He'll focus primarily on being a position player and as we get comfortable that we have conservatively built him up, you could see him get some innings off the mound."
Danny Farquhar: Outrighted by the White Sox in late October; signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees as he tries to complete his comeback from a brain aneurysm.
Hector Santiago: Elected free agency and signed a minor-league deal with the Mets on Jan. 8.
Jeanmar Gomez: Elected free agency and signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on Jan. 9.
Summary
The White Sox should be better in 2019. Colome and Herrera give a bullpen with decent prospects some name recognition. Alonso brings a sturdier base for DH production, although I'm skeptical of his profile. Jay provides OBP and good defense at a corner spot. Nova gives the Sox a strike-throwing, runner-holding starter. Banuelos comes in with a fifth-stater profile, but the Sox have been talking him up, and he's more intriguing than Dylan Covey regardless.
McCann? He was the one catcher I didn't want to see the White Sox sign to replace Narvaez, but at least he can throw.
But there's only so much excitement to go around, because the Sox spent $40 million for a cast of characters who might top out at 2 WAR. Alonso, Jay, McCann and Nova can be shed after the season, so the Sox aren't that attached to them in either sense of the word. This offseason is a conditional one, with fingers crossed that other developments upstage it. Machado might be one, but if the Sox don't land him, then they'll hope that a bunch of White Sox prospects can bash down the door. The lack of long-term commitments makes promotions easy to accommodate.
