PREAMBLE
Look at the World Series and see that the two teams have starting pitching and how phenomenal they are. Well we gots to spend some money on the pitching and this is how Chef Eric sees it. I also want to take a kinda different approach to the DH role and probably change it up a lot here for this season.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M - Non-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
Save $17+M just letting two players go. I don't know what to make of Colomé's 2019 season since a lot of the extended stats suggest he overachieved and I can't imagine he'd be able to do the same for 2020 unless there's changes, but I don't think it's enough for me to say he can still be the closer of the future. The price tag is a little high for comfort. Sánchez has a great glove, but not a great bat, and García is more appealing for a super utility role in that respect. Rodon stays for like one more try probably to see if he can actually stay beyond, but realistically he doesn't start til August at the earliest (and that's probably for minor league rehab). I like him to stay for the possibility of picking up closing duties.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Welington Castillo - Decline
lol for good reason. Just move on.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Jose Abreu - 4 year/$60M
- Iván Nova - Let go
- Jon Jay - Let go
- Hector Santiago - Let go
Abreu stays with $15M a year. This would probably be more of a Reinsdorf write off so that'd be cool for him and the rest of the team anyway. I was thinking of having Nova stay for one year because he was pretty okay for the season, but I'm also comparing the past 3 seasons and realized we need to do better. Let Jay and Santiago go so they can retire probably. At this point, this is about winning and not trying not to lose badly...maybe.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Yasmani Grandal (5 years, $92.5 million). With the 26 player roster, I want 3 catchers and Grandal is gonna be the starter-starter. I like the split platoon with him and McCann and then having a switch for DH. You can solve that problem with it so Collins can really move to a 1B/DH/sometimes C role nice and easily. Grandal solves catcher defense issue and also for a reliable bat too. Personally, I don't think they should sacrifice defense too much especially when the 2019 season was not particularly great for defense.
No. 2: Yasiel Puig (4 years, $40 million). I know this is more of a vanity pick cause I like the dude, but man can he fire up a team. He has actually been decent, maybe a bit better than replacement level, but he does provide some things that White Sox lack: some walks, some stolen bases, and bat licks. Puig same amount of walks as the walk leader for the Sox 44 walks last season which tied him with Yolmer Sanchez (White Sox leader in that category). I'll admit this such a White Sox free agent pick up, I like it in some way.
No. 3: Madison Bumgarner (6 years, $105 million). Cole is probably not gonna happen and Wheeler is also on other teams minds. Bumgarner seems reachable though. He's left handed and he can eat innings. I get a bit weary for no good reason when NL pitchers switch to AL, but I think it can work out well. Maybe his old school vibe matches up with Don Cooper and then nirvana happens.
No. 4: Jake Odorizzi (5 years, $90 million). Almost $200M for two pitchers? Yep you better believe it. White Sox don't have the luxury of immediate in-house solutions for pitching and Odorizzi fills in nicely for a 2/3 spot. Again, looking for a innings eater to definitely give the bullpen a lot of nice breaks.
No. 5: Yolmer Sanchez (1 year, $4.5 million). Look at that, Yolmer is back on the Sox. I think his defense is really good and again being able to help with the infield is much needed. I like him a lot better than a lot of the other players on the free agency and probably for sentimental reasons, but hey it's just money and the worst that can happen is that he just bats the same way this season. But this is about his glove
SUMMARY: 26 MAN ROSTER
Starting Lineup (No particular order)
CF – Luis Robert ($550k)
3B – Yoan Moncada ($600k)
C/DH – Yasmani Grandal ($m)
LF – Eloy Jimenez ($2.33m)
1B – Jose Abreu ($15m)
C/DH – James McCann ($4.9m)
SS – Tim Anderson ($4m)
2B – Nick Madrigal ($550k)
RF – Yasiel Puig ($10m)
Bench
UT – Leury Garcia ($4m)
IF – Danny Mendick ($550k)
IF – Yolmer Sánchez ($4.5m)
C/1B/DH – Zach Collins ($550k)
OF – Adam Engel ($570k)
Rotation
LHP – Jake Odorizzi ($18m)
RHP – Lucas Giolito ($600k)
RHP – Madison Bumgarner ($17.5m)
LHP – Dylan Cease ($550k)
RHP – Reynaldo Lopez ($600k)
Bullpen
LHP – Aaron Bummer ($550k)
LHP – Jace Fry ($575k)
RHP – Evan Marshall ($1.3m)
RHP – Kelvin Herrera ($8.5m)
RHP – Jimmy Cordero ($550k)
RHP – Josh Osich ($1m)
LHP – Michael Kopech ($550k)
PAYROLL FOR 26 MAN: $121.28M
CONCLUSION
When the Sox failed to get Machado last season, I realized that kinda huge free agent signings is not just their MO. This plan is one I feel comfortable about, but not without actual criticism (Puig and re-signing Sánchez are probably not the best moves and not getting an actual DH guy may backfire, but I don't care). This is a tiny little over $120M as I know we are overpaying some of these dudes but I hate thinking about money I ain't ever gonna have.
I think the White Sox have a strong chance to get 15 more wins and attempt to get the division at least. Both Tigers and Royals can be solid series wins each time and they did finally get a season series win over Cleveland for 2019. Now's the time to beat up on them. They already have a solid core and it was a pleasant feeling seeing at least 6 guys in the lineup that you can rely on. This whole approach is different, but I think White Sox need to think differently especially since they don't really show that a whole lot.
