After Rick Hahn’s final press conference of the 2019 season, some White Sox observers were surprised that the normally non-committal GM openly identified three areas he was looking to improve this offseason: right field, designated hitter, and starting pitcher. But Hahn’s startling lack of business-speak obscured the fact that he was only acknowledging the obvious.
White Sox designated hitters put up the fourth worst season in the history of the position. White Sox rightfielders only narrowly escaped an even worse feat thanks to a few decent games from Leury Garcia and Daniel Palka in September. And the team literally ran out of starting pitchers over the last two weeks of the season.
The White Sox need to upgrade those spots. There, feel free to praise MY candid transparency.
With these holes now acknowledged by fans and the front office alike, and in advance of the Sox Machine Offseason Plan Project launching soon, I thought I’d survey the market to see what exactly the Sox’s options are. I’ll start with perhaps the most urgent need, when considering the struggles on both sides of the ball: right field.
IN-HOUSE “OPTIONS”
Garcia, Palka, Ryan Cordell, Charlie Tilson
It would be baseball malpractice if the Sox ran any of these guys out there as the Opening Day rightfielder.
We already spent one season too many talking about those players, so let’s move on to free agents. I’ve separated them into tiers based on the player’s 2019 performance. Obviously one year doesn’t tell the complete story for every guy, but their most recent season is their most instructive, especially considering the Sox are generally a poor bet to turn any veteran signing around.
AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Elite (6+ wins): None
All Stars (4-6 wins): None
Above-Average (2.5-4 wins): Kole Calhoun (2.5 fWAR – team option), Nicholas Castellanos (2.8 fWAR), Brett Gardner (3.6), J.D. Martinez (3.2 – player option), Marcell Ozuna (2.6)
Yup, this is the best of the best.
Each will likely be expensive and each has drawbacks. Castellanos, Martinez, and Ozuna are all butchers in the field who would compound a teamwide lack of defensive skill. Calhoun is a year removed from playing at replacement level and the Angels could very well pick up his $14 million option. Gardner is 36 years old and, while he’s developed more power to offset his declining speed, that’s an age at which we’ve seen multiple Sox acquisitions look completely washed. After 11 years with the Yankees, it’s also hard to see him playing anywhere besides New York.
Despite the flaws, any of these signings would likely be an easy 3-4 win upgrade over what the Sox threw out there last year.
Average (1.5-2.4 wins): Adam Eaton (2.3 – team option), Avisail Garcia (1.8), Cameron Maybin (1.6), Hunter Pence (1.8), Eric Thames (1.9 – team option)
Assuming that there’s no interest in a reunion with Eaton or Garcia, the rest of these players are not particularly inspiring. Thames has a reasonably priced option, but might hit the market anyway because of the Brewers’ lineup depth and generally tight payroll. If he does, he’d be a sneaky good pickup here or as the big half of a DH platoon. Maybin and Pence are oft-injured vets who probably wouldn’t hold up under the rigors of everyday outfield play.
Below Average (under 1.5 wins): Corey Dickerson (1.0), Derek Dietrich (1.1), Jarrod Dyson (1.3), Adam Jones (-0.1), Nick Markakis (0.4 – team option), Gerardo Parra (-0.2), Yasiel Puig (1.2), Ben Zobrist (0.2)
If you’re like me, seeing Jones and Markakis potentially available gives you the chills. Signing either one for their dubious veteran presence would be extremely White Sox.
I’m a big Puig fan, but he’s coming off a pretty disappointing season and at this point he’s a long ways removed from his electric first two seasons, during which he was worth 9.4 wins in 252 games. That said, he remains relatively young (29 in December), the tools are still loud, and trust me when I say – as a Los Angeles resident and part-time Dodgers fan – that he can be hugely fun to watch. Scoff if you like, but the Sox aren’t even minimally fun! They could use some chaotic energy.
Dickerson has an interesting bat, but he can’t hit lefties, doesn’t walk much, and is arguably worse in the field than any player mentioned so far. None of the other guys in this tier are real everyday options, though maybe there’s a world in which Dyson or Dietrich are effective platoon players.
THE TRADE BLOCK
The trade market could feature more exciting options than free agency, but it’s difficult to know who’s really available, as well as who’s realistically acquirable without touching the Sox’s top prospects (Luis Robert, Michael Kopech, Nick Madrigal, and to a lesser extent Andrew Vaughn). That said, I’ll run down some of the more interesting names that might be out there as the offseason unfolds.
There have already been rumblings that the Red Sox could make Mookie Betts (6.6) available, because apparently they’re tired of winning World Series titles. Betts is only 27 and would easily be the best position player moved this winter. He’s only worth giving up Robert+ if he agrees to an immediate extension. Otherwise he only has one year of team control remaining, so he’s not a great choice for the Sox.
One tick down the star-o-meter, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Pirates move on from Starling Marte (3.0) as part of a mini-rebuild. He has two option years left at reasonable salaries, and is solidly above average on both sides of the ball. If it’s possible to get him without touching the top prospect tier (say, in a package built around Dane Dunning and Steele Walker) the Sox should make it happen.
Joc Pederson (3.0) has a been a rumored Sox target for years, and would be an excellent plug-and-play option for the 2020 season before he hits free agency in 2021. His lack of team control should keep the price down, and he’s expendable for a Dodgers club with about 14 qualified everyday outfielders.
Some quick hits: Tommy Pham (3.3) is entering his second arbitration year, which is about the time when good players get too expensive for the Rays. Mitch Haniger (1.1) was excellent in 2018 and has been injured in every other season of his career, so the rebuilding Mariners might want to move him before ’18 is completely in the rearview. Trey Mancini (3.6) broke out in 2019 and the Orioles are a decade away from competitiveness (give or take), but he’s another gloveless slugger. Stephen Piscotty (0.6), generally cromulent when healthy, is on a team-friendly deal through 2023; he didn’t make the A’s postseason roster, so it’s conceivable they could move on. The Yankees seem to hate Clint Frazier (0.1) despite his prospect pedigree and generally decent hitting at the ML-level… he’s also redundant with their other slugging outfielders. Adam Duvall (0.7) spent most of the 2019 season in AAA before coming up big for the Braves in the Division Series; he’s a righty, but otherwise answers the question “What if Daniel Palka could field?” Dexter Fowler (1.5) has two more years on his deal, and might be an actually productive version of Adam Jones if the Cards are willing to offset some salary.
Considering the number of underperforming outfielders who remain in the Sox system, it’s tough to gauge the organization’s long-term ambitions for right. But there’s no shortage of potential upgrades for them to sift through in the coming weeks.
Re-Sign Avi as a stopgap and then give Mookie 300 Million next offseason.
*Sigh*
A man can dream.
I second signing a 2020 stopgap, with Betts as the long-term answer in ’21. But not Avi.
Betts, or Springer, or Peralta, or Brantley, or Pederson, or Marisnick…
Any of those would be a better option than any of the free agents available this year. Plus one of the minor league outfielders might finally wake up or Steele Walker could torch the upper minors, however unlikely.
Stop-gap solution makes the most sense imo rather than being stuck with Puig for $15M/year of below average production.
>Betts, Springer, Peralta, Brantley, Pederson, Marasnick all hitting the FA market together.
How hysterical do you think Agents are gonna be in the 2020 offseason?
Jake Marisnick is a slightly better version of Adam Engel. No way Betts is coming here. But I’d take Springer, Joc or Peralta, in that order.
I think Shin Soo Choo would make an interesting trade target as a one year stop gap, lefty bat, obp,… his 20 mil price tag is something the rangers would probably like to move on the cheap.
Joey Gallo is still my dream scenario but likely would cost Cease and more. He has 3 or 4 years of left on his deal and showed an actual ability to play cf so the move to rf shouldnt be too bad. A fun 3 outcome player why not!
To round out the whole texas outfield nomar mazaro still represents a cheaper stop gap option with some upside, I have been calling him left hand hitting avi for a while.
And cause its not an offseason without a couple cub trade options you know fans are gonna be in on the Jay Heyward or Schwarber talks. Both players come with their pros and cons.
Finding a capable right fielder who defends and hits from the left side is tough but not impossible.
Of the previous mentioned guys in the article I still like Haniger the best, he actually hits for more power vs right hand pitchers and his ave/obp splits on his career are pretty normalized. He could definitely bounce back in 2020, and he is a guy with better road numbers indicating that a move away from Seattle to a place like the Guaranteed rate could really propel his numbers.
I like Choo as well, but for the DH spot (not RF). I feel like I’m going to spoil my whole offseason plan in this thread…
Choo is a very interesting option. Like you said, high obp and could probably be had for next to nothing. His of defense is adequate. Gives the Sox another year to see if any of the AA outfielders can force their way into the picture. If they don’t, then go after Springer of Joc or another outfielder next winter.
Yeah, I have Choo on the DH list (coming tomorrow).
The problem with Mazara is that he sucks. The problem with Gallo is I don’t think the Sox have a package that could get him (without including Madrigal, Kopech, or Robert).
There was some rumbling during the season that the Sox were interested in Mazara. Maybe there was nothing to that. Because of his age, there might be hope for upside, but he seems to have settled into a performance level.
You nailed that on the head, Greg. Mazara has underachieved for several years. Do we want another underachieving rf? The Rangers are not trading Gallo. They are going to spend this winter also because of the new stadium. He’s a big part of their future.
Mazara is basically Avi without the 2017 spike.
I think he represents a better platoon option though. He still hits righties.
Again, these are low level ideas, stop gaps, plan C type moves im not out here pining for the sox to go all out for this type of a player these types of players are just the lets not have tilson, cordell, palka be starters at all costs type option.
Nomar Mazara was less valuable than Adam Engel last season. He’s been worth 1.7 fWAR over four seasons in the majors. He’s never posted a 100 wRC+. Dude is… not good.
Agreed on Mazara. I wouldn’t have minded taking a shot on him a couple years ago, but they should be adding players with more certainty at this point.
I’ve no idea what the Rangers’ plans are this offseason, but I wonder if the Sox could get Mazara and Choo just by taking on Choo’s contract.
Another one year stop gap would be Josh Reddick. One year at $13M left on his deal. Decent two way player. Left handed bat and a solid vet. With the emergence of Kyle Tucker the Astros might like to move on. If the Sox take on the entire salary a middling prospect may be all that’s necessary.
I don’t hate Josh Reddick but for 13 Million Dollars + a prospect you would want someone that can easily outdo a free agent.
right, reddick on his own is fine, but as listed above the at or below average free agents all probably come in at or below 13 mil with no prospect needing to be included
We are not far apart. 730 OPS guy who doesn’t strike out. I like his odds to repeat that. Perhaps I should have qualified “middling prospect” as a token player that neither club really thinks will make the majors, but is necessary to mollify the fan base. I agree that $13M is alot. But I really like a solid professional vet who’s been in the thick of the post season as we add more young guys. Plus it’s one year while our minor league outfield shakes out. Hate to block a Micker/Rutherford/Gonzales/Basabe if they finally figure it out. The FA is prbably a longer term investment. Again, I’m OK with an FA, I just don’t like what is available.
none of those minor league outfielders are blocked by anything other then their own inadequacies, all face an uphill battle to even make the bigs let alone be anything more then 4A filler
Yeah I took “middling prospect” as a lottery ticket 40FV guy we won’t miss. But guys like Corey Dickerson and Eric Thames offer good lefty bats similar or even better than Reddick at a lower cost.
And if any of the prospects figure it out, we could always repurpose our new signing as trade bait for something. If the prospects don’t figure it out we have someone penciled in for the next couple of years.
I live in Milw. Thames plays first base. I don’t watch alot of games, but I don’t recall ever seeing him out in RF. PS – He’s a strikeout machine. Also, Dickerson will be a multi year contract. Not interested in that. I’m holding out hope for Rutherford. He trains offseason with Yelich. Yelich has repeatedly stressed the importance of plate discipline and becoming a hitter before tapping into power. Now, before the trolls jump all over me, Rutherford is not Yelich. But he made real progress in the 2nd half of last year. His first full season in AA. Us old guys can dream. GO Go White Sox of 59 is still my favorite White Sox team!!
Thames actually played 60 Innings in RF this year for the Brewers and 200 Inning last year and acquitted himself quite well. I’m not saying he’s good but he plays passable OF defense (I think he was originally an OF before being converted to 1B).
He does strike out a lot but he walks quite a bit as as well. In fact, he has more walks than anyone on the White Sox and his On Base Percentage is a good .346 this season which is second to only Moncada and Timmy.
For what Reddick makes in comparison to his production, Houston would have to throw in a prospect. If they want a prospect in return, they need to throw in 5-6M
The Zobrist idea is an attractive one, in part because he could also be a short-term starter at 2B if the Sox want to delay Madrigal.
I have two very different candidates to add to the list. The Mets have too many bats and not enough roster spots for them all. Dominic Smith lost weight and looked more mobile in the field before he got hurt. In half a season of plate appearances, he still doubled the Sox RF homer total and put up a 134 OPS+.
Most of his MLB appearances have been in 1B or LF, so he would not be a Gold Glove contender in right. But you know who would? Jackie Bradley Jr. The Red Sox have voiced the desire to reduce payroll, and JBJ’s arb figure is likely to hit eight digits. He’s a below-average bat, yet still would be a massive upgrade over what the Sox got in 2019 at RF or DH. Putting Bradley at DH would be perverse given how much of his value is in his glove. Since the Sox have a weird addiction to putting such players at DH – Alonso, LaRoche, Kotsay – perhaps they should steer clear of Bradley.
Bradley does hit lefty, but he also likely would be a one-season addition given his service time. Getting him makes more sense if you are confident that one of the minor-league outfielders will be ready for service in 2021. Smith has only played in parts of three seasons and comes with more control.
It’s kinda depressing that Bradley would have led the team in walks last year.
dominic smith is a good idea, has some control, has some upside… i like it
I like the idea of trading for him, but is he really an option as a full-time outfielder (honestly asking, I didn’t see him play OF at all). I’m envisioning a ton of triples with him out there. Maybe a better option at DH/1B?
He’s no Gold Glover, but he looked much better in LF this July than he had in 2017 or 2018. The biggest concern I would have with him in the outfield is if his improved conditioning last summer is temporary. He dropped about 45 pounds since his rookie year and even looked….nimble at times in July. The injury combined with the Mets having a lot of good bats in the outfield (Conforto, Nimmo, Davis, McNeil) could make him a very good gamble for the price.
I could get my head around him as a LF/1B/DH rotation guy, but I’m not sure I could handle him as an everyday RF.
JBJ is the perfect “Kenny always gets his man” option out there. Besides one season, he’s slightly above league average bat. Throw him in CF, Leury in RF until Robert passes that magical date, boom, 3-WAR upgrade in RF. Even take on Rusney Castillo and his money. Jameson Fischer and Mitch Roman for JBJ and Rusney. Maybe the Red Sox throw in a little coin.
Why waste a cent on JBJ? His value is CF – Robert’s position – and Engel is just as productive for less than 1M. I’d target Boston as a place to move Leury for a prospect or two after JBJ gets non-tendered.
Also, if Boston does move JBJ, I see the Cubs as a likelier destination.
You and have have very different ideas of what “just as productive” means…
Going to try not to spoil my whole offseason plan here. I was originally on Ozuna for this spot, but I’ve been rethinking that the last couple of weeks. Not that I don’t think they should try to sign him (they should be after virtually everyone at the top of the market), but if I’m stacking my FA targets in terms of my priorities, I think I’d rather invest in a more expensive SP and Grandal (even if catcher doesn’t seem like quite as much of a need after McCann’s surprise season). Feels like Grandal is going to get a similar contract to Ozuna and could be a significantly more productive player (when taking framing into account). I’m starting to like the idea of going hard to fill those two spots and then maybe going with a more modest solution in RF (Piscotty, Joc, Puig, Calhoun, etc.)
I also wouldn’t be opposed to going out and getting Marte depending on what it takes. If they can do it without including any of Robert, Madrigal or Vaughn (and they go hard after other positions of need), that would be awesome. Considering the Pirates seemed to prioritize depth and floor over ceiling in the Cole trade, maybe this is a realistic possibility.
This is why contemplating offseason Sox trades results in dour.
FTFY
There is an article on MLB Trade Rumors about the Rockies potentially looking to move salary. Is Charlie Blackmon a possibility and given the size of his contract and a somewhat diminishing skill set would the trade price be reasonable?
terrible contract, already 33, terrible splits that scream product of colorado… hellz nozzz
The rapid decline and player options are the big flags.
The COL effect is overstated. Home/away splits tend to normalize once players are on another team.
Its a 250 OPS difference for his career thats a monster number and it was an even larger gap for 2019. 100 ops points or less is kind of normal. Even in this thread Haniger has been brought up and represents a guy with better road then home numbers.
Haven’t they proven the whole “Coors Hangover” is a thing? Not that I’m arguing to go get him.
DJ LeMahieu had a sub-.700 road OPS with Colorado. The Yankees didn’t seem to have an issue.
When players go from the Rockies to their new team they typically see a decline in their performance at home but an improvement in their performance on the road. It basically washes out in the laundry barring other concerns.
A big part of the Coors Effect isn’t that the park is hitter friendly, it’s that the ball moves differently and hitters get used to that. When they move to another team, they get used to hitting primarily at lower altitudes again.
Other factors include effects from the unbalanced schedule putting a lot of their away games in pitcher parks usually against above averaging pitching.
I’d avoid any FA on the list who gets a qualifying offer – the farm system isn’t deep enough to sacrifice a top 100 pick. I wouldn’t waste 45+FV prospects on another team’s salary dump unless the player is blocked here. That might be Basabe now (and maybe Sheets next year) who Pittsburgh might take for Marte, but I wouldn’t throw in any pitcher more valuable than Spencer Adams. However, there could be prospects that need to be protected from Rule 5 now or next year that might change my mind on parting with them in trade.
But another possibility is signing Rendon and moving Moncada to RF – many scouts were projecting Yoan as a CF and he has the arm for RF.
I would suggest taking a hard look at sox 2nd round draft picks before coming to this conclusion
I really dislike the “they’ve drafted poorly, so who cares about draft picks” argument.
If they don’t start converting on picks, it won’t matter how many FA’s they sign.
Well, I really dislike the, “Why spend money on an established talent when we can get more bonus pool money toward a kid with a 1% chance of reaching the majors?” argument.
That’s not something I’ve ever said, Trooper.
I say I’m hoping for Betts in ’21, above. He’d certainly
cost a draft pick.
To say “I Believe player X is worth the $ and loss of draft pick” is a legitimate argument. Good teams come to that conclusion every year.
That’s not the argument I have a gripe with.
The original comment was that the poster would avoid any FA that gets a QO. I believe that line of thinking is what he has a problem with. If the FA is priced much higher than they think he is worth AND he costs a pick, I don’t think anyone would quibble with not making that signing. But if you’re getting a player you like at a solid contract, it seems silly to scrap the idea because of a 2nd round pick (especially when the pick should be priced into the contract terms as pnoles said below).
**The original comment was that the poster would avoid any FA “on this list” that gets a qualifying offer.
Thus, not thinking any player on the list is worth it.
Arguing what ‘priced into” entails, or whether any of the players on the list actually would be worth it, as additions to the 70 win White Sox, is a conversation worth having.
Again, it’s the “Sox suck at drafting anyway” that I dislike.
You’re right, I did miss that part, my apologies. I still don’t agree with that. I wouldn’t let the pick stop me from signing an Ozuna or JD Mart if the price is right.
I’m sure both will be popular on the SoxMachine ofseason plans.
I’d prefer a stopgap to Ozuna in RF, due to the draft pick and his D.
I’d hate for the Sox to spend the kind of $ JD will command, due to his age, all the resources they’ve put into DH types over the last 5 years- a group that, for me, hasn’t sorted itself out yet- and don’t trust him with even part-time RF duty.
While I agree neither are ideal solutions, I don’t think the Sox are in a position to turn down quality players. I wouldn’t be thrilled with either in a vacuum, but if one of those guys was signed along with Grandal and a Wheeler or something, that sounds like a pretty good offseason.
Even if they drafted better, pick compensation is basically priced into the eventual contract that a player gets, and (especially at this stage of the game) shouldn’t lead down the road of avoiding QO free agents as a strategy.
Is there an amount of lost draft picks that would cause you to pause, PNoles?
This is a 70 win team.
So, if they gave up picks on a Starter and DH this year, then a Closer and RF next year, would the accumulation of potentially declining high cost FA’s and lack of incomming prospect talent and flexibility be concerning?
Or, if it enables to 2 runs at a playoff spot, it’s worth it.
If it’s not a first rounder I basically don’t care.
Well
1. everyone drafts poorly, like trooper states 1% make it
2. The sox have been especially bad, almost nothing changes as they only hire from within so why expect a different result?
3. They have already hit on trades, so actually i do think they can pretty easily buy their way to contention its just a matter of ponying up the money for legit free agents
I was actually toying with the idea of signing Rendon, moving Moncada back to 2nd and then trading a package built around Madrigal for a controllable OF. I couldn’t find the right OF to trade for though (was looking for someone with at least three years of control and couldn’t find the right combination of years and talent).
3 years each of control on Mancini and Gallo… each also have their own pros and cons
I’m not big on Mancini, but I am giving Gallo a hard look now. Now sure the Rangers would move him (as was stated above), but that’s the type of guy I’d be looking to acquire in this scenario.
Right, he would be a tough get, I said Cease plus something and that may even be light depending on the rangers immediate plans.
Lefty? Check.
Hits dingers? Check.
Walks a lot? Check.
Chance of becoming Adam Dunn 2.0? Check.
Judging by the metrics, he’s the anti-Dunn in the OF.
Wasn’t Haniger’s 2019 injury something of a fluke? Fouled a ball off his balls or something? I didn’t get the impression he was necessarily injury-prone so much as snake bitten.
Yeah, 2019 was somewhat fluky. But two DL stints in 2017 plus missed time in the minors in 2014 and 2015, which is partly why the Dbacks were ok trading him.
Also, I just realized that Haniger’s first rehab stint from the ruptured testicle this year was with the Modesto Nuts. The world is funny sometimes.
Okay, I’m still including him in my offseason plan, and with the depth to cope with any potential injury.
When i consider RF and DH options for 2020 and beyond, I tend to get tunnel vision towards only considering left handed hitters. A couple days ago I was looking at the rosters of all four LCS teams and none of them had what I would call an ideal balance of hitters. I guess I worry about shit like that too much. So… Castellanos, or preferably, JDM if they choose to address it this year.
I wasn’t considering a one year stop-gap, since subconsciously I see that as a further delay in the rebuild, but the reasoning given by many of you that kicked off these comments has changed my mind. I’m cool w/ that too.
“the money will be spent”
I, too, have been zeroing in on left-handed answers. But I’d rather have 9 good right-handed hitters than 5 good right-handed hitters and 4 so-so lefties. I guess you take improvements where you can find them.
I’m more concerned about the ability to actually play defense than handedness for the OF, since they already have Eloy out there.
Adding Robert, and Madrigal, to Eloy, Abreu, McCann, and Anderson gets you most of the way to 9 good right handers.
That’s why mentally I’ve been looking for lefties. I should probably be looking for fielders who can hit.
Does the three batter minimum change the equation on the value of a balanced lineup?
It probably makes it a bit more important since your lineup can’t get shut down by a LOOGY.
The Whitesox need to make a deal with the Dodgers. Its gonna cost Stiever who will probably be an ace for them because Dodgers gonna Dodger. but the Dodgers have Joc and Verdugo potentially available, and both plug our glaring holes in the most desperate way.
The Free agent options are just simply bad. I’m a fan of Castellanos but hes not a right fielder. Ozuna is not a right fielder and seems like a decline candidate in my opinion. JD Martinez does not even merit a spot on this post, hes not a RF option in any way shape or form. He was legitimately incapable of playing the field in back to back days for Boston last year without flaring up his back pain.
Eric Thames could make a great amount of sense on the right deal, thats an interesting name.
The deal for two years of Pederson was Bummer,(before he was good) Fulmer and Bryce Bush. Now there’s one year, and they made him a platoon player.
Verdugo is only available in your dreams, because Joc is getting the ticket out of town. That will be for much less than Stiever.
Why wasn’t that deal made?
it was made. the deal was leaked, and LA got happy feet.
I wouldn’t rule out verdugo. The Dodgers are always a forward thinkign organization. And look at their pitching staff. Ryu is a free agent, and is aging with an injury history. Rich hill is a free agent, and he’ll be 40. Maeda is above average but also aging with injury concerns. Buehler/kershaw are good, of course.
Behind Dustin May they dont have a lot of reinforcements coming on the pitching side.
If the Dodgers are keen on Stiever’s periphreals, a package of Dunning + Stiever is a pretty darn good one. In fact that is a package that Is hard to justify the Whitesox making. But with a desperate need at RF/DH and lefty power – Verdugo and his team control checks every box.
I would genuinely consider trading Cease+ For him.
I wouldn’t consider Cease for Verdugo out of the question or a gross overpay, but that would leave Sox in a spot where they would need to really kick butt in the FA market for starting pitchers. I’m not confident in their ability to do that.
If Cease can reduce his walks, which i’m confident he can, he will be a good SP. I’d be in favor of a different package to get Verdugo that doesn’t involve parts of the major league roster.
No team is going to give up their 4th best prospect for one year of a platoon outfielder. I could see a flyer on a high pick who hasn’t torn it up like Sheets or Gonzalez.
Based on the new hitting coach, Palka will be in right( bad dream). Palka,Tilson,Cordell and Engel should be dad or traded asap, maybe Engel for Almora Jr. This would allow movement for the other outfielder through out the system. Just don’t hold the talent back based on age. Please don’t commit more than three years to anyone. Focus on another closer and 7th and 8th set up man to go with what you have, since starter are having a hard time going 5.
I was also a big fan of this idea after someone that writes for the Trib mentioned it a couple weeks ago. It’s certainly bold, and I have a feeling they could strike a deal for a relatively low price. I was even going to include it in my offseason plan. However, taking a step back and looking at it again, he wouldn’t be too different than signing Kole Calhoun for much less money. Heyward probably has a higher ceiling, but far more money risk. Heyward has 5 Gold Gloves, but Calhoun is no slouch and has one himself, albeit four years ago. He can handle himself out there.
I’d rather see the Sox sign Calhoun and spend some of the money saved on Gerrit Cole. Kole and Cole! That, of course, is assuming….
The money will be spent”
i replied to the wrong comment. This is for southsidecossack.
White Sox Offseason Options: RF
Thinking outside the box, we need a RF who bats left handed (as this team is sorely lacking in LH hitters). I suggest this bold move, make a trade with the Cubs for Jason Heyward with the Cubs throwing 30-40 million and the Sox trading one of either Ruterford, Basabe, or Adolfo. Heyward has 84 million and 4 years remaining on his contract. Yes he is sorely overpaid BUT the Cubs are desperate to unload some bad contracts. If Arizona was willing to throw in 30 million for Houston to take a former Cy Young pitcher who was still pitching at a high level, I can’t see why the Cubs wouldn’t throw in 30-40 million for the Sox to take Jay-Hey. My logic is this: The Sox have 30 HR hitters in Moncada, Eloy, TA, Abreu (assuming he comes back) and potentially Robert. What they are lacking is 1: Good OF defense, OBP skills, ability to take a walk, LH hitters. Heyward has all 3. If the Cubs throw in 30-40 million, that means Sox would only be paying him 11-13.5 million a year for 4 years. I think at that level he is definitely worth it and he would make a good either number 2 or number 7 hitter. I would project him to bat 260, 15-20 hrs, 60 RBI’s OBP around 340-350 and play Gold Glove defense in RF.
The Cubs want to dump payroll, so he probably available. I don’t think they would eat that much, since it defeats the purpose.
He certainly fits our need. He might return to his old self, once he leaves that shithole.
Well the D-back threw in 24 million to Houston for Greinke and he was still pitching at a Cy Young level. They receieved some B prospects in the deal. If the D-backs paid Houston to take at the a time a 10-4 pitcher w a 2.90 ERA and 135 strikeouts in a 145 innings, I think the Cubs could/should pay 30-40 million for a 260 hitter while still saving themselves 44-54 million.
The talent they received in return was high quality. The only reason the Cubs make a deal is salary relief.
Don’t you think they may be looking to replenish their farm system? There’s all of the talk about dealing Bryant, but I can’t imagine that a team looking to acquire him would want to trade any pieces from their big league roster.
I mistakenly posted this just above on a different comment.
I was also a big fan of this idea after someone that writes for the Trib mentioned it a couple weeks ago. It’s certainly bold, and I have a feeling they could strike a deal for a relatively low price. I was even going to include it in my offseason plan. However, taking a step back and looking at it again, he wouldn’t be too different than signing Kole Calhoun for much less money. Heyward probably has a higher ceiling, but far more money risk. Heyward has 5 Gold Gloves, but Calhoun is no slouch and has one himself, albeit four years ago. He can handle himself out there.
I’d bet that they would both OPS around 750. I’d rather see the Sox sign Calhoun and spend some of the money saved on Gerrit Cole. Kole and Cole! That, of course, is assuming….
The money will be spent”
This^
If you want a middling RF solution, save years, prospects and $30mil and sign Kole.
I too think Calhoun would be an interesting acquisition. I feel there’s a fair chance he doesn’t get a QO. Jo Adell is raking in the AFL and if Angels decline Calhoun’s $14MM team option, it seems unlikely that they’ll make a $17.8MM qualifying offer. A 2 year/$30MM (Adam LaRoche money)would probably land him. If the Sox also add JD Mart or Grandal they will have taken care of RF and DH for around $40MM AAV. That leaves a decent amount of money to also add starting and relief pitching.