The Aloha Victory Plan

PREAMBLE

The time is NOW. The window, in Rick Hahn’s own words is open. Now is the time to strike. The market conditions can work in favor of the White Sox. It is time for the White Sox to MAKE their own luck, not hope for it.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Nomar Mazara: $5.6M | $5.9M | $5.7M – Non-Tender

Carlos Rodón: $4.5M | $4.5M | $4.5M – Non-Tender (Was a huge fan but think maybe the arm is shot. He may also be the classic new scenery guy)

Lucas Giolito: $2.5M | $5.3M | $2.5M – Tender (Look to extend)

Reynaldo López: $1.7M | $2.2M | $1.7M – Tender (Explained below in the Free Agent section)

Evan Marshall: $1.3M | $1.9M | $1.4M – Tender

Adam Engel: $1M | $1.4M | $1M – Tender

Jace Fry: $800K | $1M | $800K – Tender

Yolmer Sánchez: Uncertain – Non-Tender and blast into the moon. He is a remnant of a lost and losing decade that needs to never be heard from again.

CLUB OPTIONS

Edwin Encarnación: $12M – Decline

Gio González: $7M ($500K buyout) – Decline

Leury García: $3.5M ($250K buyout) – Pick Up (I think this is a no-brainer because of the flexibility and the questions around Madrigal to start the season).

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

Alex Colomé (Made $10,532,500 in 2020) – Let go

James McCann (Made $5.4M in 2020) – Let Go

Jarrod Dyson (Made $2M in 2020) – Let Go

While I would like to see McCann stay, I think he wants his payday and the ability to start every day. He will be hotly sought once Realmuto signs. I also believe there is a better option than Colome available.

COACHING STAFF

Manager: Aloha Mr. Hand, if not me then Bochy

Pitching coach: Matt Zalewski or Chris Fetter (Great analysis by Josh on the 108 podcast)

I do not believe Jerry will sign off on Hinch or Cora. This is the guy who voted against Steve Cohen owning the Mets because of issues that his company, SAC Capital, ran into several years back. I just do not see it.

FREE AGENTS

No.1: Trevor Bauer (2 X 25 million) – Says he wants short term deals so that is assumption being used.

No.2: Liam Hendricks (3 X 10 million) – I think this would be an upgrade of Colome.

No. 3: Jackie Bradley Jr. (3 X 9) – I am not the biggest fan, but I believe he provides some flexibility. He can also play CF so you can give Robert the occasional day off without losing much on D.

I believe that the 2020 season will lead the smaller contracts. This should be a field day for the White Sox. With that said I am concerned that the White Sox have another Machado fiasco with Bauer. Once this happens, I see them going after Quintana. This is a GIANT MISTAKE. Anyone who sat and watched him pitch, not looking at his WAR, knows this. Throws too many pitches and has mental blocks after he gets 2 outs in an inning. This is EXACTLY why I kept Reynaldo Lopez. I think a new voice may help him unlock the potential that we have seen. I know several people want George Springer or Michael Brantley. I think JBJ fills a need and frees up the money needed to address what is needed, pitching.

TRADES

No. 1: I do not know if this is necessarily a trade or a free agent, depends on what happens. Gary Sanchez. (He may be non-tendered by the Yankees). Think he would be a great change of scenery guy who could fit in with the clubhouse. A DH who can occasionally catch to let Grandal either have a day off or play 1B.

SUMMARY

I think this allows for the most pressing issues, P and RF to be addressed. Bauer gives a great 1 – 2 – 3 punch with Giolito and Keuchel and JBJ provides a steady GG OF’er who can play in RF and CF on days when Robert needs a rest. Sanchez is a DH first who can provide an occasional (KEY WORD) start to give Grandal a rest. The key is making the weaknesses strengths to enhance the overall roster.

C – Grandal

1B – Abreu

2B – Madrigal

SS – TA

3B – Yo Yo

LF – Eloy

CF – La Pantera

RF – JBJ

B – Garcia

B – Engel

B – Sanchez (DH)

B – Collins (Will be needed to DH / C occasionally especially if using the bats of Sanchez and Grandal in the lineup)

B – Mendick

P – Giolito

P – Bauer

P – Keuchel

P – Dunning

P – Crochett

P – Lopez

P – Cease

P – Kopech

P – Marshall

P – Fry

P – Heuer

P – Jimmy Guns

P – Hendricks

Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon