PREAMBLE
This is it. The #RebuildTrain is pulling into Competition Junction and it’s time to disembark. I’m not going to outright say this plan has to happen in order for me to be satisfied that the Sox have finally decided to step out of the wading pool and prove they can start shopping away from the Clearance Section. But this is truly the last time I’m giving Rick Hahn and Co. the slimmest of benefits of doubts. He’s the master of the 1-for-3 trade. He can sign talented youngsters to contracts well below market value. But this plan, should he choose to accept it would go a lot towards making up for the last 3 years worth of tanking. Time to do this thing and fucking show up White Sox....
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 - Non-tender (I feel his magic will run out quickly into 2020, it probably already did based on his 2nd half)
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M - Non Tender (Time to move on. Thanks for the Gatorade baths... but Chuck Garfien can finally stay dry for a broadcast now)
- James McCann, $4.9M - Tender (Good price for a backup...)
- Carlos Rodon, $4.5M - Tender (One of the Half Season starters the Sox will have this season, I’m not ready to dump the guy just yet.)
- Leury García, $4M - Tender (Leury Legend will always have a roster spot on my team. Also helps that a young, Panther-like outfielder will be up to put him in an appropriate utility knife bench role)
- Evan Marshall, $1.3M Tender (Don’t Forget about... oh that joke is done? Sorry!)
- Josh Osich, $1M Tender (Pastor Joel Ostrich is on the team for next year)
- Ryan Goins, $900K Non-Tender (Not worth the bad pun)
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.
- Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout - Decline (Mr. Mercedes can do the same thing for much less while also running down people in a car... it’s ok y’all, just a Stephen King novel.. go read it!)
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, or let go?
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) Retain (2 years/$2) Let’s see if he’ll truly be Mr. White Sox playing for pennies... oh fine, (2 years/$32M; 3rd year Club option $20M - $5M buyout)
- Iván Nova (made $9,166,167 in 2019) - Let Go
- Jon Jay (made $4M in 2019) Let Go (Parents... try to get your kids on an MLB roster...it worked for Jon!)
- Hector Santiago (made $2M in 2019 on split contract) Like a boomerang, the Sox will Let him go, only to watch Hector crash to the ground 2 seconds later and forgotten in a bush.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: JD Martinez (DH/OF - (4 yrs/$88 million). He’s Cuban, he just hits wherever he plays, and Hahn just got his #5 hitter in the lineup to back up Eloy for the contention window.
No. 2: Yasmani Grandal (C - 5 yrs/$96M (opt out after yr 3; $54M 1-3; opt in for $42M 4-5)
Now Compensation Draft Pick Free! Also, puts McCann in his proper backup/handsome face bench role.
No. 3: Gerrit Co... ok fine... Jake Odorizzi (4yr/$44M); Since this exercise has to be somewhat believable... I’ll “settle” for Odorizzi who performed quite well against the AL Central (but he also got to avoid pitching against his own hitters so...)
No. 4: Drew Pomeranz (P) (2yrs/$18M; $8M 2020) Bolster that bullpen, spot starter in a pinch.
No 5: Will Harris (RP) 3 yrs/$30M ($9M, $10M, $11M) - Add another trusted veteran reliever to take over Colome’s vacated spot.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Andrew Vaughn & Alec Hansen to Texas for Nomar Mazara. The Sox solve their Lefty Right Fielder deficiency by obtaining Mazara and plugging him into the line up. Since he still has two years of affordable control, I had to put Vaughn in for Gavin Sheets to sweeten this pot.
SUMMARY
Your (God-willing) 2020 Playoff earning roster:
CF: Robert - $555K
3B: Moncada - $555K
1B: Abreu - $16M
C: Grandal - $18M
LF: Eloy - $2.33M
DH: Martinez - $22M
RF: Mazarra - $5.7M
SS: Anderson - $4M
2B: Madrigal - $555K
Bench:
Leury - $4M
McCann - $4.9M
Collins - $555K
Mendick - $555K
Rotation:
Giolito - $573K
Odorizzi - $11M
Cease - $555K
Kopech - $555K
Lopez - $580K
Bullpen:
Bummer - $555K
Osich - $1M
Harris - $9M
Pomeranz - $8M
Rodon* (2nd half) - $4.5M
Cordero - $555K
Marshall - $1.3M
Herrera - $8.5M
Total amount of Jerry’s Money spent:
$126.4 Million
Technically 27 players but I anticipate a release/demotion of a current roster spot when Rodon comes back. I count the $6M overages a rounding error.
My batting order does it’s best with the R-L splits and I’m as shocked as you are to have the reigning AL Batting Champ hitting 8th but with NeverMiss Madrigal as the anchor with the supernatural ability to turn the order over to Robert more often than... well whatever Ryan Cordell was doing, La Pantera will have a surprisingly high RBI total for a Leadoff hitter.
The pitchers... well I’m taking a real leap of faith only bringing in Odorizzi, and relying on 2 Tommy John recoveries to be serviceable starters. But if Jerry ain’t spending 9 figures for a pitcher in this reality, I had to skimp somewhere!
I hope and pray that some of our trade bait fatten themselves up for the July trade deadline. That’s likely where the Sox will add their stretch run starter for the 2nd half.
Alright. This will be mostly wrong of course, but again, just spend the money like you said you would Rick.
2020 or Bust!
