Hall of Frank’s Plan – A Different Kole
PREAMBLE
My goal here is not to offer my dream scenario, which would most certainly include Gerrit Cole. But Merkin has already said that isn’t happening, and I can’t see it happening with all the suitors Cole will have. These are moves that I think the White Sox can and should make. Moves that are both plausible and preferred.
My goal was to keep the farm-system in tact while making a big push forward. This puts the Sox in the thick of the playoff hunt, I think. And, even if they fall short of that, there should be enough resources to make another push next offseason.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M – TENDER
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M – NON-TENDER (but re-signed below)
- 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
CLUB OPTIONS
- Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout – DECLINE
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) – RETAIN 2 years/$27 mil, + Team 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: J. D. Martinez (3 years, $78 million). He is exactly what the White Sox need, and as a masher who can’t play defense, I’d guess exactly what the White Sox want as well.
No. 2: Yasmani Grandal (3 years, $55 million +player option for 4th). The Sox were interested in him last year, and it makes sense to show that interest again.
No. 3: Kole Calhoun (2 years, $17 million). He’s a lefty and a right-fielder and a 2.0+ WAR player, all of which the White Sox are short on.
No. 4: Dallas Keuchel (3 years, $40 million). See the description of Kole Calhoun but substitute “competent starting pitcher” for “right-fielder.”
No. 5: Tony Cingrani (1 year, $4 million). He’s a lefty reliever who was great in LA last year. If nothing else, he adds depth to the bullpen.
No. 6: Collin McHugh (1 year, $8 million, 2nd year option vests if he pitches in 35 games). McHugh wasn’t great last year, but he was the year before and he’s shown he can pitch out of the bullpen and start. This is the kind of flexibility the Sox need, and I’m giving him the chance to be in the rotation out of camp.
No. 7: Yolmer Sanchez (1 year, $4 million). Sanchez is a gold-glove caliber 2nd basement and a fan favorite. It’s worth it to have him back in Chicago.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade James McCann to Toronto for Gabriel Moreno and Dasan Brown. With Grandal and Martinez in the fold, there’s no room for McCann. Especially if Zach Collins is going to play. The Blue Jays could use a catcher, and the White Sox could use prospect depth.
SUMMARY
This is an aggressive but measured approach to the offseason. I’m opening the wallet, but not emptying the farm system. I’m adding to it, even. It should give us the resources to make another push next offseason to add to weak spots.
Here’s my 26 man roster.
Lineup
SS Tim Anderson, DH JD Martinez, 3B Yoan Moncada, 1B Jose Abreu, C Yasmani Grandal, LF Eloy Jimenez, RF Kole Calhoun, CF Luis Robert, 2B Nick Madrigal
Bench
UTL Leury Garcia, IF Yolmer Sanchez, OF Adam Engel, C/1B Zack Collins
Rotation
RHP Lucas Giolito, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Reynaldo Lopez, RHP Dylan Cease, RHP Michael Kopech
Bullpen
RHP Collin McHugh, RHP Kelvin Herrera, LHP Aaron Bummer, RHP Evan Marshall, RHP Jimmy Cordero, LHP Josh Osich, LHP Tony Cingrani, RHP Carson Fulmer
Author
I think you forgot Colome in your bullpen list since you tendered him. If you are only adding one SP, I don’t know that Keuchel is your guy.
Yes, right you are. I missed that.
To edit: Colome in, Fulmer out.
Nicely done, I like a lot of what you’ve got here! I like the McHugh idea as a swing/depth guy, he should be cheap and would provide nice depth. I think they can do better than Yolmer in that price range. Also not sure Toronto would really want anything to do with McCann given where they’re at with their rebuild. I don’t see the harm in just keeping him around as (hopefully) quality depth, though I guess you probably moved him to free up payroll.
You are probably right on Yolmer, but he has the feel of Jose Abreu-lite to me. He’s a much-loved guy who fans would like to see back, and generally I’m ok with them over-paying a bit to retain him.
You might be right about Toronto. I just see them as a team who have already brought up the top level of their young talent, and so a possible over-performer. I wondered if they might do a sort of mini-buy, taking the chance on a few risky veterans in hopes of making a run if the youth really perform.