PREAMBLE:
State of the White Sox
Like many of you, I see the Sox in a similar way as I did before the rebuild. Young, impressive core surrounded by bums. The lack of minor league depth after Madrigal, Vaughn, and Robert is just as concerning.
About my plan
My plan is to make the core bigger by adding young controllable players. I use the White Sox financial flexibility to take on bad contracts in trades and offer veterans 1 year contracts with hefty value. With this plan the Sox can remain competitive next offseason and be able to afford Arbitration raises and hopefully a contract extension or two.
I used Spotrac and baseball trade value simulator in free agency and trades.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Alex Colome, 10.3M- Tender- Ugh.
Yolmer- 6.2- Non-Tender. (Anyone else think we should have at least tried to see if he can play shortstop? He was a top end defensive 3rd and 2nd basemen)
James McCann- 4.9M- Tender
Carlos Rodon- 4.9M- Tender
Leury Garcia- 4M- Tender
Evan Marshall- 1.3M- Tender
Josh Osich- 1M- Tender
Ryan Goins- .9M Tender
CLUB OPTIONS:
Welington Castillo: Buyout for .500,000
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS:
Jose Abreu (3yrs 42M)
He wants to be around when the team is good. I'm not seeing a 2 yr deal here. May even have to add a 4th, as long as the AAV is greatly reduced.
FREE AGENTS:
Didi Gregorius (4yrs 60M)
Shortstops can play just about anywhere on the diamond. Get a good one and figure the rest out later. Spend spring training moving him, Tim, and Madrigal around the diamond and see if something sticks. At worst, Didi is an above average defender and average hitter. At best, he can be one of the best players on the team.
Hamels (1yr 10-15M)
I honestly have no clue if this is realistic, or if Hamels has interest in the Southside. Regardless, I would like to add a veteran to a 1 year contract at the expense of paying a higher salary.
Will Smith- (3yrs 30M)
Need bullpen help.
Brad Brach- (1yr 4m)
He is a body
TRADES:
No. 1:
- Trade- Vaughn, Basabe
- Get- Haniger
- I'd love to try and add Mancini for less, but I don't think the O's are going to deal him
No. 2:
- Trade- Stiever (I don't want to, but I'm not sure we have anyone else that interests other teams)
- Get- Ellsbury's 1 yr 25M, Miguel one of Andujar/Clint Frazier/Luke Voit
- Ellsbury has one more year left on his contract. The Yankees want Cole, this will help. The finally get a Designated Hitter that can be actually Designated to Hit. Yankees pay the entire 5M buyout next offseason.
No. 3:
- Trade- Reynaldo Lopez, whoever they want from Rutherford/Walker/Gonzalez
- Get- Jon Gray, Garrett Hampson
- Rockies get a cheaper pitcher, in Reylo, with two more years of control. The Sox get a more proven starter controllable through 2021. Garrett Hampson was a 50 value prospect and has 70 grade speed. Add in his versatility, and he seems like a great fit for the 26th man.
SUMMARY:
Lineup:
CF- Robert- .5M
SS- Anderson- 4M
RF- Haniger- 3M
3B- Moncada- .6M
1B- Abreu- 13.5M
LF- Eloy- 7M
DH- Andujar/Frazier/Voit- .6M
2B- Gregorius- 15M
C- McCann/Collins- 5M combined
Bench:
Inf/OF- Leury- 4M
Inf/OF- Hampson- .5M
Inf Goins- .9M
C/1B- McCann/Collins
OF- Ellsbury- 25M
Total Offense Salary- 69Mish
Starting Pitching-
Giolito- .6M
Gray- 3M
Kopech- .6M
Cease- .6M
Hamels- 10-15M
Rodon- 4.5M
SP Salary: 20/25M
Relief Pitching:
Colome- 10M
Bummer- .6M
Smith- 10M
Marshall- 1.3M
Osich- 1M
Brach- 4M
?- .6M
RP Total 27M
Total Payroll: 115-120ish- With 40-50 Million coming off the books after the season.
OVERALL:
The lineup will rake. The pitching will be thin again, but had upside with Kopech and Cease. Rodon and Dunning can be reinforcements at some point.
Madrigal starts the year in Charlotte, can be called up after someone gets injured. I don't think he necessarily HAS to be up in the MLB just yet.
