The White Sox have a young, strong, and inexpensive nucleus moving forward into 2020. With the decline of Cleveland and the uncertainty of Minnesota, the chance to win the division and become an annual World Series contender is very feasible if the right moves are made in the offseason. These are the moves I would recommend.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
• Alex Colomé, $10.3M tender
• Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M non-tender
• James McCann, $4.9M tender
• Carlos Rodon, $4.5M non-tender
• Leury García, $4M tender
• Evan Marshall, $1.3M tender
• Josh Osich, $1M tender
• Ryan Goins, $900K non-tender
CLUB OPTIONS
• Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout decline
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
• Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) retain (2 years 34 million with a mutual 3rd year option
• Iván Nova (made $9,166,167 in 2019) let go
• Jon Jay (made $4M in 2019) let go
• Hector Santiago (made $2M in 2019 on split contract) let go
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: JD Martinez: 4 years 95 million (assuming he opts out)
No. 2: Dallas Keuchel: 3 years 51 million (club option for 4th year).
No. 3 Cole Hamels: 1 year 10 million (mutual option for 2nd year)
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Blake Rutherford and a low level prospect to the Cubs for Jayson Heyward with the Cubs throwing in 30-40 million to cover the 4 year/84 million left on his contract. The Sox need a LH hitter, someone who can take a walk, and improved OF defense. J-Hey checks off all 3 but has a huge contract. However, the Cubs are desperate to unload some payroll and although Heyward may never be a 30 hr guy, but he does get on base, takes walks, (sorely lacking on this team) plays Gold Glove caliber defense in right field (he needs to stay in RF to maximize his defense) and would make a great number 7-8 hitter. Batting 7th in this lineup I think he could bat 260, hit 15-20 hrs, drive in 60-70, have an OBP of 340-350 and play gold glove defense in RF. Giving up some lower level prospects to fix a huge hole makes more sense than spending 20 million a year for the current RF FA options who by the way are poor defenders and right-handed (Ozuna, Castellanos. If the Cubs throw in 30-40 million, Heyward would only cost 11-13.5 million a year for 4 years. If the Sox sign JD and Eloy and Yoan hit 30 plus HRs, you don’t need RF to hit 30hrs.
SUMMARY
The Sox’s offense in 2020 would be one of the most potent in the AL with the signing of JD and resigning Abreu. Madrigal and Robert will become regulars by the end of April, and the team with have a far better OF defense with Robert in CF and Heyward in RF. Projected lineup: Madrigal 2b, Moncada 3b Abreu 1b JD Martinez DH Eloy LF Robert CF, Heyward RF, Anderson SS McCann/Collins C. Heyward is also known as a great clubhouse presence a leader, and a winner, something a young team needs.
Our rotation needs some decent left handers that won’t break the bank but are more than filler. Keuchel can be had without giving up a draft pick and would be a great fit as a number 2/3 SP. Hamels although he finished poorly last year is worth a gamble on a 1 year guaranteed contract as his peripherals and velocity were very positive and would make a good #5. You can trot out a rotation of Giolitto, Keuchell, Kopech, Cease, Hamels, with Lopez moved the bullpen. You also have Dane Dunning waiting in the wings for a potential opening in the rotation. Keuchell pitches deep into games and has a similar game to Buerhle. Keuchell and Hamels won’t tie down the payroll as combined they would probably cost less than say any of Bumgarner, Wheeler, and Ordorizzi (all 3 are 30 or older and will cost more than Keuchell plus have a draft pick attached to their signing).
My projected bullpen would have Colome, Bummer, Marshall, Cordero, Osich, Lopez, Herrera, & Fry with a bench of Leury Garcia, Adam Engel, Zack Collins, Mendick, and the winner of a spring training battle). Projected payroll will be 120 million. The players signed in FA or trades (JD, Keuchell, Heyward) would be free agents right when the Sox would also need to start paying their current young nucleus (Robert, Moncada, Giolitto, Kopech big money for possible extensions.
These moves address a need for more power, improved defense, more OBP, a LH hitter, reliable decent SP’s to mentor our young SP’s and build SP depth. Our 2020 lineup if healthy (and Madrigal and Robert being as good as advertised) would easily be the best in the division and the rotation would rival Cleveland’s and boast the division’s best bullpen.
