PREAMBLE
Im not sure where I fall in all of the expectations for this team next year amongst the fan base, but I think this team is a few solid veterans away from a division title, and yes I know the twins had 100 whatever wins and the Indians have great pitching depth, but this sox team with a few additions can give both of those teams trouble next season. so without further ado, here is what I would do under the $120 million payroll restriction for the sox this offseason
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Write “tender” or “non-tender” after each player and their projected 2020 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.
Alex Colomé, $10.3M Tender
Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M Non-tender
James McCann, $4.9M Tender
Carlos Rodon, $4.5M Non-tender
Leury García, $4M Tender
Evan Marshall, $1.3M Tender
Josh Osich, $1M Tender
Ryan Goins, $900K Non Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.
Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout Decline
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) Retain 2 years/ $24 Million
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
I have decided to part ways with carlos rodon on this one, but no doubt would resign him for something around $1-2 million considering he will most of the season. I was at his last start if the 2019 season against the orioles, he was throwing 87-88 MPH and looked uncomfortable, I wish him the best and would like to think the sox would extend him sort of offer that isn't $4.5 million. everything else is pretty standard with my arb eligible decisions I believe. with Abreu I don't see him making much more then $24-30 million on the market, as we all know slugging first baseman haven't been doing well on the market, and Abreu has already said he would do whatever it takes to stay here, so more leverage for Hahn in negotiations.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: J.D. Martinez (3 years $69 Million $23 per) Looks like he is going to opt out of his Boston deal, and is the perfect fit for our sox. It is honestly a match made in heaven, he is a DH only and we are the only team that is looking to compete next season that needs a DH beside Oakland and Tampa Bay (and if we get outbid by them we might as well lose hope in signing anyone of value) I really see this a legitimate possibility this offseason, hopefully we can real him in.
No.2: Yasmani Grandal (3 years/$48 million, $16 million player opt 4th year) I think Hahn will go after Grandal, as many sox fans do as well. Where I think everyone is missing the mark is on how much he will make. lets dig in a little here, he was offered a 4 year/ $ 50 million deal last season by the mets, which if I am not mistaken was his highest offer. now one can argue that it was the draft pick attached to him that brought his value down, which will not be attached this go around, but lets take into account his 2019 season wasn't as good as his 2018 season, and he is now a 31 year old catcher. I think offering him a three year deal with a year 4 option is something that very few teams would match for him, and should get a deal done.
No.3: Jake Odorizzi (4 years/$60 million $15 per) he is the perfect target for Hahn, he is an Illinois native, veteran, and can give you 6-7 solid innings as we all know to well after seeing him in Minnesota this offseason. I value him at this price for a few reasons. For one, he is injury prone (did not qualify for ERA in 2019 and was one of his longer seasons) and can be inconsistent at times. with that being said, one he is on his game there is no touching his ball, he can get movement on his pitches on certain days like very few. Adding onto that he knows the division well as he has been in it the past two seasons with Minnesota. For me personally, I sign him not only to get another solid starter, but stealing one of the twins top arms would be a pretty nice.
No.4: Will Harris (2 years/ $12 Million $6 per) I know one of the stipulations was three free agents I would target, but I think these next two additions are justified. Harris was a top set up man in the league this past season, but he is also in his mid thirties, I think the sox can snag him for something around this amount.
No.5: Daniel Hudson (3 years/$ 18 Million $6 per) Another veteran arm that I hope flies under the radar but with the Nats in the world series I wont be holding my breath. He is a upper 90s guy and has shown down the stretch that he can make pitches when it matters, the sox should go after their former top prospect to add another veteran to the pen.
TRADES
No. 1: White Sox Acquire Marco Gonzalez ($1 Million) From the Mariners for Kelvin Herrera, Seby Zavala, Bernardo Flores, and Codi Heuer. This deal makes sense for the sox as we are getting a quality innings guy in Marco Gonzalez who I personally believe is very undervalued on the market because he is a lefty and throws slow. he is the kind of guy that would fit with our budget and he can give us good quality innings while we try to compete and wait for kopech and dunning to get healthy. the Mariners are going to take on the rest of Herrera's salary, power hitting catcher Zavala, pitching prospect bernardo Flores who should make starts for them next season, and codi Heuer who looks like he will become a very nice bullpen piece in the future. I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt to trade him away as he looks like he can be good, but u need to give to get.
No.2: White sox acquire Michael Conforto ($9.2 million) from Mets for Zack Collins, Blake Rutherford, Konnor Pilkington We are giving up three of our top 30 organizational prospects for two years of Michael conforto, which some might be for and some might be against. he gives us a lefty outfielder and he also has some pop which is what we really, really need. The mets do this trade as they have very many lefty outfielders and have had a problem with catchers recently. Collins gives them someone that can catch a solid chunk of games, while Pilkington and Rutherford give them two solid prospects to add to their thin system.
SUMMARY
I believe that these moves will not only help the sox make it to the postseason, but they all have a very realistic possibility of happening. here is a rundown of my 2020 roster. (lineup should have Robert and madrigal in it by end of april)
Starting Lineup
1.) Luis Robert CF
2.)Yoan Moncada 3B
3.)Eloy Jimenez LF
4.) J.D. Martinez DH
5.)Michael Conforto RF
6.)Jose Abreu 1B
7.)Yasmani Grandal C
8.)Tim Anderson SS
9.)Nick Madrigal 2B
Bench
Leury Garcia
Yermin Mercedes
James McCann
Danny Mendick
Starting Rotation
Lucas Giolito
Jake Odorizzi
Marco Gonzalez
Dylan Cease
Reynaldo Lopez
Bullpen
Aaron Bummer
Jace Fry
Josh Osich
Evan Marshall
Jimmy Cordero
Daniel Hudson
Will Harris
Alex Colome
Payroll=$122 Million
Using spotrac to find the remaining player salaries, the payroll ended up being around the $120 million budget. There are a few things that will result as "good problem" at some point during the season with this roster. One that we hopefully will see sooner rather then later is how they will manage the rotation once kopech and dunning return from their injuries. In the end, I hope Hahn doesn't fail the fanbase this offseason, after last offseason its hard for us to get our hopes up about signing a big name guy, but if there was ever was a time its now, everyone in the fanbase knows that, lets hope they get some stuff done!
