PREAMBLE
The White Sox enter this season at a turning point as they hopefully emerge into contenders. Obvious holes include starting pitching, RF, DH ,relief pitching and left handed hitting. My plan tries to address all of these holes while trying to offer realistic contracts/possibilities to improve the team. Most of my free agent contracts will be slightly over what is expected since in my opinion the White Sox usually have to overpay a bit for a guy to sign here.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Alex Colomé, $10.3M- Tender
This is a lot for a pitcher who is ripe for regression but this speaks to the dearth of relief options for the team.
Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M-Non tender
Too much for a glove only utility player
James McCann, $4.9M- Tender
Offensive regression as in the 2nd half seems likely but he is a solid catcher.
Carlos Rodon, $4.5M-Tender
The oft injured and underperforming pitcher is worth a tender in my opinion. Can provide some long relief duties when back from TJ.
Leury García, $4M-Tender
Decent enough salary for a play anywhere platoon player
Evan Marshall, $1.3M- Tender
Had a solid season and is worth the risk.
Josh Osich, $1M-Non tender
White Sox can do better
Ryan Goins, $900K- Non tender
Besides being able to bat left handed, go with the slightly cheaper Mendick
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.
Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout - Buyout
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019)
Re-sign: 2 year, $36 million (w/ mutual 3rd year option). This one was tougher than expected but I think Abreu’s production and leadership make him worth it. I also believe his presence could possibly help with pre-arb deals for Moncada and Robert
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
According to my calculations, these above moves plus the current payroll leaves me at around 59.83 million; around 60 million to maneuver with...
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Dallas Keuchel P-4 years, $88 million
Keuchel is usually a durable pitcher who still induces a lot of ground ball contact. He’s a lefty and can provide solid leadership to the younger pitchers.
No. 2. Mike Moustakas DH/IF - 3 years, $42 million
Gives the White Sox left handed power. Moustakas could be interesting with the short porch in right at GR field and provide solid utility infielder
No. 3. Will Smith RF/OF -3 years, 36 million
A great lefty who is more than just a LOOGY specialist.
TRADES
No. 1: Steele Walker, Jonathan Stiever, Dane Dunning, Ian Hamilton to Pirates for Gregory Polanco, Joe Musgrove, Michael Feliz, Keone Kela and $5 million
The Pirates look to be rebuilding and would probably like to rid themselves of Polanco’s contract. While an injury risk and coming off a poor season only playing 42 games, Polanco could provide a left handed hitting right fielder who can play adequate defense. Musgrove is a good pitcher who could project as a solid 3,4 and whom the White Sox had interest in years before and would have to be included for the White Sox to take on Polanco’s contract. Feliz provides swing and miss stuff out of the pen and Kela provides extra relief help. The Pirates provide a little salary relief to the White Sox for Polanco and to help my OPP stay within budget. Thanks Pirates!
I’d like getting Marte better, but figure Polanco is much more realistic to acquire while trying to address both starting and relief pitching with this trade.
The Pirates would be getting players under club control for more years than they have so including Musgrove who will soon be much more expensive seems reasonable to me.
This move would trigger about an additional $11.6 million in salary after the Pirates throw in $5 million.
SUMMARY
With these moves the White Sox Roster would look as follows for most of the season:
Lineup:
2B- Nick Madrigal
CF- Luis Robert
3B- Yoan Moncada
1B- Jose Abreu
DH- Mike Moustakas
LF- Eloy Jimenez
RF- Gregory Polanco
SS- Tim Anderson
C- James McCann
Bench:
Mendick
Collins
Leury Garcia
Engel
Zavala
Starting Pitching
Giolito
Musgrove
Keuchel
Kopech
Cease
Bullpen
Reynaldo Lopez
Cordero
Fry
Bummer
Feliz
Kela
Will Smith
Rodon
Colome
Marshall
The total payroll for this plan is about $119.6 million if the Pirates were to throw in $5 million. While RF is still a big question mark with Polanco with this plan, I believe the rest of the trade makes the risk for Polanco worth it for the team.
