PREAMBLE
After 2019, the White Sox have a much clearer picture of their future core and where they need to add. My plan is aimed at taking advantage of the market to add good players on good contracts and put together a competitive team for 2020.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M - Tender
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M - Non-Tender
- James McCann, $4.9M - Tender
- Carlos Rodon, $4.5M - Tender
- Leury García, $4M - Tender
- Evan Marshall, $1.3M - Tender
- Josh Osich, $1M - Non-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) - Try to retain
- 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: Jose Abreu (2 years, $22 million). Not sure this amount gets it done, but Abreu really wants to stay so I could see a so-called “hometown discount” like this potentially working out. May have to add a 3rd year at the same AAV.
No. 2: Yasmani Grandal (3 years, $51 million). I think this would be a steal. If the market is slow for Grandal as it was last offseason, the Sox should take advantage. I have Grandal joining Abreu, McCann and Collins in a C/DH/1B rotation.
No. 3: Zack Wheeler (5 years, $90 million). This is my top SP choice after Cole and Strasburg. The Sox should definitely be in on those guys, but I’m still willing to give up the 2nd rounder for Wheeler if he’s offered the QO.
No. 4: Madison Bumgarner (5 years, $90 million). Again, Sox should be in on Cole and Strasburg, but I’d be thrilled if they could nab both Bumgarner and Wheeler (Actually, just getting one of them would be great too). I have them at identical 5 year/ $90 million contracts, not sure that’s enough, but I could see both guys struggling on the open market due to the QO. Sox should take advantage and sacrifice the draft picks. A rotation with Giolito, Wheeler, and Bumgarner at the top with some combination of Cease, Kopech, Lopez and Rodon looks strong and fairly deep on paper.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Steele Walker, Jonathan Stiever, Carson Fulmer, and Yermin Mercedes to Pittsburgh for Starling Marte. I have no idea if this is realistic, but I was trying to put together a package without giving up any of the top five (Robert, Madrigal, Kopech, Vaughn and Dunning). This gives the Pirates two solid but not great prospects and two cost controlled, MLB ready guys that need an opportunity. In exchange the Sox get two years of a very good OF on a team-friendly contract($11.5 million for 2020, $12.5 million for 2021). I think Marte in RF, Robert in CF once he comes up.
No. 2: Trade Lency Delgado to Baltimore for Tanner Scott. Again, I have no idea if this is realistic, but I was trying to identify a potential breakout bullpen guy that could be had for cheap. Scott, a lefty, had a nice year at AAA posting a 2.81 FIP while striking out 30.8% of batters in 45.1 IP. In 26.1 innings in the majors, he posted a 4.77 FIP while striking out 30.3% of batters. Steamer projects him at 3.42 FIP and about 1 WAR for 2020. The Sox should try to pry him away from the Orioles for a lottery ticket SS prospect. Hard to say if they would go for it, given that he has many years of team control left, and the Orioles can afford to wait it out and see if they can get a better return for him down the line.
SUMMARY
Here’s the 26-man roster once Robert, Madrigal, and Kopech arrive:
Starters:
LF: Eloy Jimenez
CF: Luis Robert
RF: Starling Marte
3B: Yoan Moncada
SS: Tim Anderson
2B: Nick Madrigal
1B: Jose Abreu
C: Yasmani Grandal
DH: Zack Collins
Bench:
C: James McCann
OF/IF: Leury Garcia
IF: Danny Mendick
OF: Adam Engel
Rotation:
SP: Lucas Giolito
SP: Zack Wheeler
SP: Madison Bumgarner
SP: Dylan Cease
SP: Michael Kopech
Bullpen:
RHP: Alex Colome
LHP: Aaron Bummer
LHP: Jace Fry
RHP: Reynaldo Lopez
RHP: Evan Marshall
LHP: Tanner Scott
RHP: Kelvin Herrera
RHP: Jimmy Cordero
2020 Payroll: $124 million
This plan solves SP and RF. If Collins’ late-season AAA success translates to the majors, putting him with Grandal, Abreu and McCann in a 1B/DH/C rotation could solve DH as well. This bullpen has the potential to be excellent, even with the expected regression of Colome. I chose to bump Lopez from the rotation once Kopech is healthy, and think he could be a good late-inning option. Rodon, and to a lesser extent Dunning, serve as potential mid-season pitching reinforcements. The only area of this roster that I’m not sure of is position player depth. That said, with good health and some solid performances by young guys, I think this roster has a shot at a 2020 playoff spot.
