soxLIFER’s 2022 Offseason Plan

PREAMBLE

While it’s been enjoyable watching our Sox transition from rebuilding mode to a contender, I think we all feel that it’s time to take the next step.  This plan not only addresses our glaring weaknesses, it will surprise you in a couple places that you may feel we were already pretty good on paper.  This second edition of “Go Big or Go Home” stays within budget constraints, and on paper is next year’s favorite in Vegas.  Rick please DM me in regards to an Assistant GM position:)

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Write “tender,” “non-tender” or “rework/extend” after each player and their projected 2022 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.

  • Lucas Giolito: $7.9M:TENDER, While this isn’t part of my plan I’m hopeful that Jerry digs up a little extra cash in his backyard and looks to extend for in the ballpark of 4yrs 72M.
  • Reynaldo López; $2.8M:TENDER
  • Evan Marshall: $2.3M:Non-tender, offer minor league deal
  • Adam Engel: $2.2M:TENDER and trade
  • Brian Goodwin: $1.7M:Non-tender
  • Jimmy Cordero: $1.2M:Non-tender, offer minor league deal
  • Jace Fry: $1M:Non-tender

CLUB OPTIONS

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

  • Craig Kimbrel: $16M ($1M buyout):Pick up and trade.  I’m not sure why people don’t feel that he has value.  While expensive, there are teams out there that are not worried about money.  He struggled with the Sox, but is a top-flight closer.  Their will be a market.
  • César Hernández: $6M:Decline

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?

  • Leury García (Made $3.5M in 2021):Retain 1yr 4M
  • Carlos Rodón ($3M):Extend QO.  I look for Rodon to sign multi-year deal elsewhere.
  • Billy Hamilton ($1M):Let go
  • Ryan Tepera ($950K):Retain 2 yr 8M

FREE AGENTS

RP: Kendall Graveman (2 yrs 16M): Takes Kimbrel’s set up job.  Pen has a chance to be very good, although that’s what we thought last year.

C: Manny Pina (2 yrs 5M):  Great veteran, defensive catcher.  Obviously a need.

TRADES: GO BIG OR GO HOME

Start by freeing up some cash to give Rick a little room to make things happen!

Trade 1: Trade Dallas Keuchel, 5M, and prospect Yolbert Sanchez to Rangers for a young bullpen arm.  Rangers have been a good trade partner, and rebuilding teams are looking for guys like this to bounce back and have value for them at the deadline.

Trade 2:  Kimbrel and Zach Collins to the Dodgers for Cody Bellinger.  You talking about MVP Cody Bellinger?  You’re off your rocker!  Actually, I’m talking about the Belly that got benched against lefties at the end of the year.  The guy that hit .175.  There have been rumors that after making 16M last year in arb, the Dodgers may non-tender.  He’s in the same boat as Kimbrel.  Kimbrel is one of the best all-time closers.  He sucked for us, and many Sox fans are ready to non-tender.  Both guys have value, but probably need a change of venue.  Money doesn’t matter to the Dodgers.  The way things generally work out for the Dodgers, Kimbrel would be lights out again, and throw in Collins, winds up their DH vs righties(if adpoted by NL) and hits 30 bombs.  This is basically a money swap.  Instead of going to arb 2 years with Belly.  I say we try to buy out, 2 yrs 30M.  If he stays healthy, if gives us great outfield D in right, another guy that can play first, and provide serious left handed pop.

No 3: Go BIG BABY: Sox trade Adam Engel, Jake Burger, Jose Rodriguez, Jared Kelley, and Andrew Dalquist to D-Backs for Ketel Marte and Zac Gallen.  D-backs are destined for tear down in that division.   I hear both sides screaming at their screen right now.  First off, the people that say, that’s not enough.  It’ll take Kopech, Vaughn, Crochet.  I agree that it may take one of those guys, but I’m offering quantity over those guys. They get back immediate starters in CF and 3B, and 3  very young, highly regarded prospects.   There is the other side that says, “That’s way too much!  That’s 4 of our top 10!  We tore down to build up our farm.”  To that I say, we’re getting a switch-hitting stud at 2nd (also CF) that finished 4th in the MVP vote a couple years back.  He has 3 years of control. 8M this year.  Gallen was a Cy candidate a couple years ago, but is coming off a tough year.  He has 4 years of control left.  While this does hurt our farm, these are young guys that are controlled and cheap! Gallen 575K.

No. 4: Getting a little nuts here.  3 team trade.  White Sox trade Gavin Sheets to Indians and Yoan Moncada to SF Giants.  Indians also get 3 prospects (2 top 100) from SF. We get freakin JOSE RAMIREZ!  I’m not a Yo hater at all.  He’s a very good player.  Great at 3b, and a very high ob guy.  His contract creeps up to nearly 14M this year and will be in the mid 20s soon.  Without big run-producing and power numbers, I don’t think we’ll want to pay that.  Giants are looking for long term 3B.  Hoping they love the former top-prospect in the game, and his remaining 4 years.  Ramirez is down to 2 years left.  Makes 12M next season.  I definitely think that the Indians will try to move Ramirez.  They won’t spend the $ to resign him.  I’m not very confident that they’ll want to trade him to us.  I also wouldn’t have predicted them trading Hernandez to us when still being somewhat in the hunt last year tho either.

SUMMARY:  Here’s my roster.  Are you kidding me Smalls!  World Champs the next 2 years, and we hung on to the young stars currently on the roster, as well as top prospects (Cespedes, Colas, Montgomery, Wes Kath) that may be in line to fill spots 2-3 years from now (1B, 3B, RF).  The window didn’t get squashed due to this plan.  I will agree that we aren’t as deep.   However, look at the positional flexibility of a large number of these guys.  That helps to bandaid things when guys inevitably end up on the IL.  Here you go.  Enjoy!

Lineup:

  1. TA (SS, rh): 9.5M
  2. Jose Ramirez (3B, switch): 12M
  3. L.  Robert (CF, rh): 6M
  4. Eloy Jiminez (LF/DH, rh): 7.3M
  5. Y. Grandal (C, switch): 18.25M
  6. Jose Abreu (1B/DH, rh): 19.7M
  7. Cody Bellinger (RF, lh): 15M
  8. Ketel Marte (2B, switch): 8M
  9. Andrew Vaughn (LF, RF, 1B, DH, rh): 575

Bench: Leury G (switch, 4M), Many Pina (rh, 2.5M), Romy Gonzales/Mendick (settle this spring) 575K, Adolpho (rh, 575K).  Micker either makes the team or gets traded w/o any options.  I hope he can give us some pop off the bench and help us with his good outfield D.  If he doesn’t cut it, we look to young guys on the farm or add to bench at the deadline.  Hahn did a nice job finding diamond in the rough guys to our bench last year.

Starters: Giolito (7.9M), Lynn (18.5M), Gallen (575K), Cease (575K), Kopech (575K)

Pen: Hendricks (13.3), Graveman (8), Bummer (2.5), Tepera (4), Lopez (2.8), Crochet, Ruiz, Burr all 575K

 161.95 + 5M buyout=$166.95M (May need to spend a little more on 2 bullpen guys)

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