Uncle Jano’s Offseason Plan: The Path Back to Relevance

6:15 PM CDT on October 22, 2019

PREAMBLE

It's been so long since the White Sox were last in the postseason, many of us don't even really remember what that feels like. More like a dream state that you an only vaguely remember when you wake up in the morning: you know that it was awesome, but when you focus real hard on the details they just drift away.

This year is the chance for Kenny to get out of the way, and allow Mr. Hahn to spend a lot of Uncle Jerry's money. For one season Jerry stops being an owner and runs this team like a fan. With that shift in mindset, the business side of things will take care of themselves because if you think like one of us, and build the team like one of us would, we guarantee that we will return in droves to the ballpark to reward your investment.

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. Good relievers don't grow on trees, and even as trade bait a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M - non-tender. As a glove only utility infielder, he has priced himself out of use on this team.
James McCann, $4.9M - tender. Even with the inevitable regression from 2019, James was still a revelation from what we have come to expect from the catching position.
Carlos Rodon, $4.5M - tender. Injury history not with standing, he still has potential. Picking up his arb salary gives the Sox control to trade him and get back some value for their efforts.
Leury García, $4M - tender. Swiss army knife across the entire diamond. Can play anywhere and does enough hitting so that he can provide insurance or a day off to any of the position regulars.
Evan Marshall, $1.3M - tender. Came out of no where to have an incredible 2019. Relievers are a fickle bunch, but there will be use for him in the bullpen.
Josh Osich, $1M - non-tender. Will need the 40 man roster spot elsewhere.
Ryan Goins, $900K - non-tender. Not getting any younger and will need the roster spot elsewhere.

CLUB OPTIONS

Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.

Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout. - Would pay three times the buyout amount to get him off this team. See Ya Beef.

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

Try to retain, or let go?

Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) - Retain. 2 Years 25 million with a 3rd year club option.
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.

FREE AGENTS

No. 1: Anthony Rendon (six years, $200 million). Chances are he is not leaving Washington, but there is no other player that would have a greater impact on the 2020 team than Rendon. This would instantly become the largest free agent contract that the White Sox have ever given out, but would make everyone forget about the mess of the 2018 offseason and some guy named Manny. Given Rendon's comments about not wanting to play forever, a shorter duration contract at higher average value could get the job done. His bat, glove and quiet leadership would be a tremendous gain for the south siders.

No. 2: Yasmani Grandal (five years, $90 million). Switch hitting catcher would make for a great platoon mate with McCann.

No. 3: Dallas Keuchel (three years, $57 million). Has the experience to be a great mentor to the young pitchers on this staff and his left handedness will provide some rotation balance. After a solid year with Atlanta, Dallas should be open to a return to the AL Central where he dominated for so many years.

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 Nick Madrigal, Blake Rutherford and Dane Dunning to Pittsburgh for Starling Marte. Pittsburgh is floundering at the bottom of a tough division and realizes their best course of action is a rebuild. With two years of team control left, now is the time to move Marte who is an under appreciated bat and a very good glove. Marte can play center, but Sox would move him into left primarily to get Jimenez's glove off the field.

No. 2: Trade Zack Collins, Carlos Rodon, Kelvin Herrera and Jonathan Stiever to Chicago Cubs for Jason Heyward and Jose Quintana (and cash). Cubs are looking for their new identity and part of that is turning the page on some underperforming stars and bloated salaries. They hold a team option on Quintana for this year, but would probably look to pick up that option if only to get something of value for him (same way the Sox currently view Rodon). Jason Heyward is a solid player, but is being paid like a superstar. Cubs provide some cash in this trade to pay down his remaining salary, but are able to infuse some young pitching to their team and free up cash for impending extensions. Sox bring back an old friend in Jose, but are able to put much lower expectations (and hopefully run support) on him this time around.

SUMMARY

What the White Sox are left with is a lineup with some balance that can also flash the leather. Jimenez becomes our primary DH, however he plays enough defense that Ricky Renteria can be creative with how he uses the DH slot to keep everyone fresh. Moncada slides back to 2B, but can rotate through third with Rendon playing some 1B to give Abreu days off. Versatility is the name of the game here.

This would blow past the 120 million threshold for the exercise, but Uncle Jerry is thinking like a fan here so he is willing to open his wallet wide to go all in for another championship. Assuming we get 5 million a year from the Cubs to offset some of Heyward's salary, we are looking in the range of 160 million which would put us just inside the top 10 for MLB payrolls.

LINEUP

CF Robert

SS Anderson

2b Moncada

3b Rendon

C Grandal

1b Abreu

LF Marte

DH Jimenez

RF Heyward

bench – L. Garcia
bench – McCann
bench – Engel
bench – Mendick

Sp – Giolito
Sp – Cease
Sp – Keuchel
Sp – Kopech
Sp – Quintana