PREAMBLE
I believe the White Sox are ready to contend in 2020, but will need some serious acquisitions to make the playoffs. When you look ahead to 2021 Free Agency, there isn't much beyond Betts, Bauer, Stanton (who probably doesn't opt-out) and Springer. I don't think they will be able to sign Betts, so why not make a big splash this year? They can use this season for the players to gel and get a taste of the playoffs (think 2015 Cubs, but maybe not the getting swept in the playoffs) and make 2021 the year they go all-in with some finishing pieces through deadline trades and a few free agency pickups. When you look at the last several World Series Champions the recipe is very similar. Bring in some top-end truly elite starting pitchers to help bolster an existing core of team grown talent. We have already done this with Giolitto, now they need 1 more elite arm. You need at least 2 all-stars and 2 solidly above-average starters who can occasionally shut teams down. (see 2016 cubs, 2017 Astros, 2018 Bos Sox, 2019 Nationals) Every one of those teams had at least 2 elite front end arms. You also need some veteran all-star level position players to help a young core of homegrown talent. (see 2016 cubs, 2017 Astros, 2018 Bos Sox, 2019 Nationals) I don't think you go outside the organization for elite 30 million a year position players. You need Moncada, Robert and Jimenez to develop into your MLB elite players. You do however need to bring in some mercenaries on short high AAV contracts that don't hamstring you in the future. With that said, let's start constructing a roster that puts fans in the seats and gives old Jerry a reason cheer!
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M Tender, even with a little regression the fact that he can close reliably is worth it.
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M Non- tender - No way, also don't bring him back. I love him but you have to above replacement level to be on this team now.
- James McCann, $4.9M Tender
- Carlos Rodon, $4.5M Tender
- Leury García, $4M Tender
- Evan Marshall, $1.3M Tender
- Josh Osich, $1M Non Tender
- Ryan Goins, $900K Non Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
- Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout Decline
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) Sign 2 years (15 million in 2020) 30 million with a team option of 12 million in 2022
- 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: Madison Bumgarner (four years, $88 million). (24 million in 2020) He is the guy I want. He is a winner and a workhorse. He will be the guy who takes the ball in a wild card elimination game in 2020, and game one of the 2021 world series (yup you heard it here first). If they swing and miss on MadBum I like the upside on Zack Wheeler on a 3 year deal. I don't want Keuchel or Ordorizzi. The Sox need to sign a big name here or I don't believe they will do what needs to be done to win a World Series again.
No. 2: J.D. Martinez (3 years, $75 million). (25 million in 2020) We need a DH badly. He is the best in the game. Why wouldn't you take a position of weakness and make it a strength? We could gain 5-6 WAR here. He provides veteran leadership, a second hitting coach and he isn't a NL player who never has DHed before. Don't get cute, don't try to be smart, pull the trigger and give him the best deal. This should be the first big free agent that lands anywhere. The Sox need to make a statement here.
No. 3: Yasiel Puig (2 years, $25 million, 3rd year team option of 16 million). ($12.5 million in 2020) He is big, he hits for power, and he is actually really fast for a Right Fielder. Defensively he is an average fielder with a cannon arm. That is all you need in RF. On the offensive side Puig's .377 OBP in 50 games with Clevland would have been tops on the White Sox in 2019. When he has been in good lineups he mashes. He is Cuban and would fit right in with the other players on the Sox. He has an edge too. Imagine Puig being ready to back up TA against anyone who throws at him. Imagine Jose being there to mentor and reign in Puig if need be. I think this team needs to play fun hard-nosed baseball to put fans in the seats. Let's take a flyer on a high upside guy here!
No. 4: Gio Gonzales (1 year, $4 million) A former first-rounder for the Sox comes home. He is still able to give you a chance to win every time he goes out. He is a lefty which would help balance the rotation a bit. He is a great vet and a team guy. If need be, he would take a long man role. He is nice insurance to have if Rodon never makes it back in the rotation.
No. 5: Hector Rondon (2 year, $7 million) (3.5 million in 2020) Let's add another high leverage arm to the pen. Maybe coop can fix his control issues or maybe not. The guy throws 97 and has experience on championship teams. He is a good alternative if Colome has some really bad regression too. He can close and has been fine in the past.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Wellington Castillo to the Texas Rangers for a new lawnmower for The Sod Father. Haha Well this one might have already happened by the time I post this. I don't want to trade anyone. I'll circle back to recent World Series winners. You don't trade your top talent in minors until you are a piece or two away from a championship. We have great examples of executing these types of trades just from our Chicago teams. The Eaton and Sale trades are perfect examples of a team that is a piece or two away trading top-end young controllable talent for elite (well Eaton's return was elite) vets. Both the Bos Sox and Nationals have won world series. You have to pay a king's ransom to "get your guy" on a controllable deal or you go one rockstar prospect for an elite rental. The cubs did this with Gleybar for Chapman. If you are the Sox, you need to get to the playoffs in 2020, and then you sign another piece or two in the offseason of 2021. Lastly you wait until the trade deadline of 2021 to sell prospects for any missing pieces on your roster at that point.
SUMMARY
Lineup:
- CF- Luis Robert
- 3B- Yoan Moncada
- DH- JD Martinez
- 1B- Jose Abreu
- LF- Eloy Jimenez
- RF- Yasiel Puig
- SS- Tim Anderson
- C- James McCann
- 2B- Nick Madrigal
Bench:
- Mendick - 2B/3B - Opening day 2B
- Collins - C/1B/DH
- Leury Garcia - OF/SS/2B
- Engel - Defensive replacement for OF
Starting Pitching
- Bumgarner
- Giolito
- Kopech
- Gonzales
- Cease
Bullpen
- Reynaldo Lopez - Long relief/Spot starter
- Cordero - Middle relief
- Fry - Middle relief
- Marshall - Middle relief
- Bummer - Set up/High leverage
- Rodon - Set up/High leverage/Long relief/Spot starter - I'd hope that we can get something out of Rodon this year. He certainly has the stuff to be an awesome late-inning guy or a number 5 starter on a playoff team, and he is a lefty.
- Rondon - Set up/back up closer
- Colome - Closer
Herrera doesn't make this team out of spring training.
The total payroll for this plan is about $125 million, depending on whether the Sox find a taker for Herrera's salary, or part of it anyway. This team has the flexibility and talent that gets you to the playoffs. The lineup 1-7 would strike fear into opponents before they take the field. The rotation is excellent and we have built-in insurance in the bullpen. I hope you like it!
Matt M - Flossmoor, IL
