PREAMBLE
The rebuild is finally over. After 3 successful years that saw the White Sox reach #1 in prospect rankings, call up multiple absolute studs, and finish top 10 in profit, the rebuild is finally over.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M - Non-Tender
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M - Tender
- James McCann, $4.9M - Non-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
-Colome is too expensive. Nobody needs to waste that much money on a below average closer.
-Yolmer is beloved by Sox fans. He puts butts in seats.
-We've got better catching options than McCann.
-Rodon is a White Sox draft success story. Can't give up on him now.
-Leury is a White Sox trade success story. Can't give up on him now.
-Marshall is a White Sox farm system success story. Can't give up on him now.
-Just spent all our Arb money on these other guys, can't afford Osich.
-Goins, Goins, Gone.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout - Decline - Frank Thomas was rolling over in his grave when he found out one of our players used PEDs. Time to put Beef out to pasture.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) - 5 years, $55 million plus a guaranteed front office job after he retires
- Iván Nova (made $9,166,167 in 2019) - Nova, more like no mas.
- Jon Jay (made $4M in 2019) - Can't believe he didn't work out.
- Hector Santiago (made $2M in 2019 on split contract) - We'll sign him in July or something.
FREE AGENTS
Failed Target: Gerrit Cole (ten years, $200 million, opt out after years 1 through 9, money escalating each year by $1 million). He's a pitcher. They break. But dammit it all, we still will make this offer. It's such a shame he turned it down, I can't imagine what else he could have wanted.
No. 1: IF Gordon Beckham (1 year, $750,000) Our greatest draft success story in recent memory, Gordo is now a seasoned veteran with more than a decade(!!!) of experience in the majors. He will hold down a middle infield position until we call up Madrigal around August. At that point, he will transition into a player development role alongside Chris Getz.
No. 2: 3B Todd Frazier (2 years, $6 million per year) I feel bad for Todd. Great guy, who fans just didn't give their full support to. Let's bring him back, on a reasonable contract, to hold down third base.
Failed Target No. 2: Marcell Ozuna (3 years, $27 million, plus hiring cousin Pablo as a White Sox ambassador) Look, we tried, ok. It made me nervous offering such a long-term contract to a guy who has been injured, but I love our fans so much, I went for it. I even signed Pablo Ozuna, his cousin, as a White Sox ambassador. Completely unrelated to going after Marcell, but still. I tried everything.
No. 3: LF Alex Gordon (2 years, $8 million per year) Finally, finally, we no longer have to face this monster. Here's a guy who has experience facing AL Central pitching. He has experience winning. He has experience dealing with a rebuild. He has experience being a White Sox free agent target. There's really not much more you could ask for.
No. 4: SP Matt Harvey (1 year, $4 million, team option for $5 million or $500,000 buyout) Great bounceback candidate.
No. 5: SP Shelby Miller (1 year, $4 million, team option for $5 million or $500,000 buyout) Great bounceback candidate.
TRADES
Propose trades that you think sound reasonable for both sides, and the rationale behind them. A good example of a bad idea:
No. 1: Trade Yoan Moncada to Tampa Bay for Wander Franco, Brendan McKay, and Shane Baz. Third Base was one of the few areas where the Rays struggled this year. They also hate spending money on players. Well, the Red Sox spent all the money on Moncada, so the Rays can get him for cheap. Meanwhile, we pick up 3 top 100 prospects to load up the pipeline.
No. 2: Trade Tim Anderson to Oakland for AJ Puk and Sean Murphy. Jurickson Profar was not very good at 2B for Oakland. Give them Anderson, let them teach him how to draw a walk, and either he or Semien can move to 2B, creating a monstrous middle infield, up there with the best in the league. Meanwhile, we grab a top 100 LHP and Catcher, both with MLB experience, ready to slot into the opening day lineup (or we can hold them down a while for service time, whatever).
No. 3: Trade Eloy Jimenez to the Chicago Cubs for Kyle Schwarber and Nico Hoerner. Look, this move rights so many wrongs. The Cubs should have never given up Eloy, and they know that. Their fans want him back desperately. Meanwhile, Schwarber should have always been a DH. He's not light and smooth on his feet out in LF like Eloy; get him into the AL. Hoerner gives us another top 100 prospect with MLB experience too.
No. 4: Trade Lucas Giolito to the Dodgers for Dustin May, Josiah Gray, and Jeter Downs. Lucas pitched like a Cy Young candidate in the AL this year. Imagine what he could do in the NL? The Dodgers need a guy who can stay healthy all year to replace Rich Hill. Meanwhile, we get 3 more top 100 prospects, including that guy with the goofy hair who just pitched in the playoffs. That's great experience to add to a young roster.
SUMMARY
Well would you look at that, we've got the top farm system in baseball again. We're built for long-term sucksess now. The fact that Rick was able to assemble the top farm system twice in 4 years really speaks volumes to his value to this organization.
Meanwhile, Kenny is keeping this team extremely profitable. We've got fan favorites in Yolmer (2B/SS), Abreu (1B/DH), and Palka (RF/Mascot). We've got guys who have come up through our system generating excitement, like Slappy Madrigal, IL-uis Robert, and Zack Collins. And holy shit, Kyle Schwarber is on this team now. Our pitching/defense is going to give up 8 runs per game this year, but I bet we'll make great use of that top 3 pick we'll end up with.
This is the best plan for long-term fiscal success. Congrats to Rick, Kenny, and all 3 of our analytics guys/scouts for a wonderfully successful offseason.
