PREAMBLE
The White Sox should be the favorite in the AL Central by a pretty good margin (best guess says around -250 for you betting folks) so I’m going for less of an overhaul and more tweak the team in ways that hopefully mitigate some of their weaknesses namely ground balls.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Lucas Giolito: $7.9M (tender)
- Reynaldo López; $2.8M (tender)
- Evan Marshall: $2.3M (non-tender)
- Adam Engel: $2.2M (tender)
- Brian Goodwin: $1.7M (non-tender)
- Jimmy Cordero: $1.2M (non-tender, minor league deal)
- Jace Fry: $1M (non-tender, minor league deal)
Giolito is obviously a tender, and I know a lot of folks will want to extend him but I for one am pretty skeptical of that getting done so I’ll stick with his Arb number this year.
I think Lopez serves a role that is very valuable in a regular season eating innings out of the bullpen, we’ve seen his fastball tick up a little out of the bullpen and some improved consistency. I think $2.8MM is more than fair for a guy that should be able to get you 60-80 decent innings.
With Evan Marshall undergoing surgery I’ll let him go and hopefully be able to bring him back on a minor league deal, but of course he won’t be cracking any roster this year so I’ll leave him non-tendered.
Adam Engel’s glove alone is worth $2.2MM
Goodwin is a possibility to return likely as a minor league free agent with a big league invite, but I think the Sox should maintain some flexibility early in the offseason so for that reason non-tender.
Cordero and Fry are in a similar boat, albeit for different reasons. Both have pitched well in the past, but Cordero is coming off Tommy John and Fry has had some pretty devastating walk issues (although with a 13.5 K/9 in Charlotte in 2021). I’m going to try to bring both back on minor league deals with a chance for a spot in the pen.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Craig Kimbrel: $16M ($1M buyout) (pick up)
- César Hernández: $6M (decline)
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- Leury García (Made $3.5M in 2021) Let go
- Carlos Rodón ($3M) (extend qualifying offer, he refuses and gets another year or two on the open market)
- Billy Hamilton ($1M) (let go)
- Ryan Tepera ($950K) (retain, 1 year, $4MM)
FREE AGENTS
Chris Taylor 4 years, $45MM Chris Taylor can play just about anywhere and has roughly even L/R splits over the course of his career with a career OPS+ of 110 not to mention a career ground ball rate of 38.2%. His positional versatility will allow TLR play around with the lineup perhaps giving newly acquired Tony Kemp days off against lefties and play some second base or play every day right field. Nothing fancy about the contract with a $11.25MM AAV.
Alex Wood 1 year, $10MM with a $12MM team option that vests with 150 IP Wood has been pretty good through a lot of his career but has gotten a couple injuries as of late, he did have a decent season with the Giants this past year posting a 3.83 ERA. I’m giving the vesting option if he eclipses 150 IP that could take the contract to two years for $22MM
Tucker Barnhart 1 year, $2MM No Zack Collins Seby Zavala spring training competition, need I say more?
TRADES:
No. 1: Trade Yolbert Sanchez and Caberea Weaver to the A’s for Tony Kemp
Over the last two seasons in Oakland Tony Kemp has put up BB% of 13.2 and 13.1, with a K% over those same two years of 12.3% and 12.1%. I mentioned at the top that I want to improve the team in the margins, specifically concerning ground balls and Kemp does just that with 35.4% and 35.0% GB% over the past two seasons. To get him I’m giving up Yolbert Sanchez and Caberea Weaver, a glove first middle infielder that has hit for decent contact in the minors but leaves some to be desired in the power department along with Caberea Weaver, a toolsy OF in the low minors. Kemp is by no means an everyday player, but he should get starts against righty starters and has the ability to play both middle infield positions and all three outfield spots giving TLR some versatility in the everyday lineup, especially against tougher righties. MLBTR estimates Kemp’s Arb number at $2.2MM and is under team control through the 2023 season.
No. 2: Trade Craig Kimbrel and $4MM to the Angels for Arol Vera
The White Sox could really use a little salary relief and paying ¼ of Kimbrel’s salary next season they now create $12MM worth of space. LAA is desperate for anyone that can pitch and with a glut of SS prospects in the low minors they can stand to give one up to help improve their bullpen while they have Ohtani, Trout and Rendon in their lineup. Vera is a 19 year old 50 grade prospect with more or less average tools across the board that would rank pretty highly in the White Sox system.
SUMMARY
This isn’t exactly a sexy offseason, but given the budget I believe the moves made here do improve the team along the margins and give the White Sox more flexible options adding players that can play all over the diamond allowing them to set lineups based on who they’re up against. I went a little over budget at about $177MM (feel free to check my math) mostly in order to add Alex Wood to the rotation. So, as it stands my roster is as follows:
Starting Pitchers (5): Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, Alex Wood, Dallas Keuchel
Bullpen(9): Liam Hendriks, Reynaldo Lopez, Aaron Bummer, Garret Crochet, Jose Ruiz, Ryan Tepera, Jimmy Cordero, Michael Kopech, Jace Fry
Infielders(6): Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, Tony Kemp, Gavin Sheets, Andrew Vaughn
Outfielders(4): Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Adam Engel, Chris Taylor
Catchers(2): Yasmani Grandal, Tucker Barnhart
