PREAMBLE
The White Sox built a "stars and scrubs" roster in 2019, with breakout seasons from Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, and Lucas Giolito wasted by the dreck comprising the back half of the roster. With 3 years of control remaining before Anderson hits free agency and 4 years for Moncada and Giolito, the White Sox need to begin contending in 2020 to have any hope of sustained success assuming the same self-imposed payroll limitations that have characterized Jerry Reinsdorf's ownership reign.
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 - Tender
- Ryan Goins, $900K - Non-tender
Nothing shocking here. I was tempted to non-tender both Colome and Rodon, but I'd probably overpay in free agency for the same caliber reliever to replace Colome and Rodon has too much upside if he can ever stay healthy with another year of control in 2021.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout - Decline
If I never see him again it will be too soon.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) - Retain for 2 years/$30M
- Iván Nova (made $9,166,167 in 2019) - I considered it but there's better options.
- Jon Jay (made $4M in 2019) - He gone. Hopefully the Padres sign him.
- Hector Santiago (made $2M in 2019 on split contract) - He gone
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Zack Wheeler (six years, $120 million) - The White Sox badly need starting pitching. While Cole would be nice, there's no way to fit him in the budget. Wheeler can be a solid #3 starter. I went longer on term to keep the AAV lower. This is still the largest contract in team history by both total value and AAV.
No. 2: Yasmani Grandal (six years, $100 million) - I'm worried I underestimated this contract, but the market wasn't there for him last year so hopefully it stays light this year too. McCann was great in the first half of 2019 but I'm betting the second half numbers are closer to his line going forward.
No. 3: Brett Anderson (two years, $15 million) - The rotation still needs depth, especially left-handed. He can be a solid back-end starter. Gio Gonzalez would also fit here if Anderson comes in above this number.
No. 4: Re-sign Yolmer Sanchez (three years, $12 million) - A good infield defensive specialist and clubhouse presence who was overmatched playing every day. He re-signs for cheaper than his arbitration number to provide bench depth.
TRADES
Trade Dylan Cease, Andrew Vaughn, Blake Rutherford, and Micker Adolfo to the Mets for Noah Syndergaard and Brandon Nimmo.
Even with Wheeler added, the Sox need more high-end starting pitching to compete in 2020. Thor fills that #2 slot at the top of the rotation and gives the Sox a very solid starting staff that has at least a little depth to it. Giving up Cease is tough but Syndergaard seems like a better option for immediate contention. Nimmo, if he can stay healthy, fills the hole in RF and will add some sorely needed on-base potential to the lineup. Both players are also under control through 2021.
ROSTER
Position Players
C: Grandal
1B: Abreu
2B: Madrigal
SS: Anderson
3B: Moncada
LF: Jimenez
CF: Robert
RF: Nimmo
DH: Collins
Bench: McCann, Sanchez, Garcia, Engel
Pitchers
SP1: Giolito
SP2: Syndergaard
SP3: Wheeler
SP4: Kopech
SP5: Anderson
SP/RP: Lopez
RP: Colome
RP: Bummer
RP: Marshall
RP: Osich
RP: Herrera
RP: Hamilton
RP: Burr
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think I've put together a roster that can contend in 2020 and 2021. I'd feel better if Robert and Madrigal had gotten chances to see major league pitching in 2019 since I'm counting on both players to play big roles. The bullpen is also a concern since I ran out of money to make any additions there, so I'm really counting on the Colome/Bummer/Marshall triumvirate to avoid regression. But the lineup now has only 1 week spot (a Collins/McCann platoon at DH) instead the 4 in 2019.
