PREAMBLE
Seeing this team completely lack mental and physical strength, I'm trying to increase depth, flexibility, and defense. Trying to think a whole team approach because 2022 taught me that the White Sox have no stars. My goal was also a bit of re-tooling aimed at increasing what has been an unsatisfactory competitive window.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Lucas Giolito: $10.8M - TENDER
Dylan Cease: $5.3M - TENDER
Reynaldo López; $3.3M - TENDER
Adam Engel: $2.3M - NON-TENDER
Michael Kopech: $2.2M - TENDER
Kyle Crick: $1.5M - NON-TENDER
José Ruiz: $1M - TENDER
Danny Mendick: $1M - TENDER
CLUB OPTIONS
Tim Anderson: $12.5M ($1M buyout) - PICK UP AND TRADE
Josh Harrison: $5.625M ($1.5M buyout - BUYOUT
PLAYER OPTIONS
AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) — EXERCISED
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
José Abreu (Made $18M in 2021) LET GO
Johnny Cueto ($4.2M) LET GO
Vince Velasquez ($3M) LET GO
Elvis Andrus ($14.25M) LET GO
MANAGER
I'm an Ozzie guy. I'm going with Ozzie Guillen. I know how it ended, I know you may hate me, but I think he's been humbled a bit and refreshed a lot. I think his style and passion is what this team needs. I also think he'll appreciate my attempt at platoons and depth so he can actively manage.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Willson Contreras (3 yrs, $50 Million). Used Spotrac for the AAV so forgive me if i'm slightly off. I don't love the fa market outside of the 30 mil guys, which we can't afford. I also don't think it makes sense to sell low on our "core" guys. I'd rather choose to add to them. I like Contreras as a way to both improve catcher and salvage whatever value Grandal has left by reducing his time behind the plate for the last year of his deal.
No. 2: Kolten Wong (2 yrs, $15 million). Solid lefty bat to platoon with Mendick at 2nd for me. This assumes Milwaukee declines. I like the idea of a Wong/Mendick platoon, not only because it seems prime for juvenile jokes, but if the Brewers grab the option I wouldn't be upset at Mendick taking it himself or bringing back Harrison.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Tim Anderson and Jake Diekman to the Seattle Mariners for JP Crawford, Jesse Winker, and Matt Brash. I used baseball trade values to try to come back with reasonable trades. This one has the M's getting a slight advantage. I think TA provides them with a solid top of the order bat that could put them over the top. To me, we get 3 players that will contribute at the cost of 1. Salaries about even out with Crawford getting 10 per and Winker getting 8 in 2023. Anderson getting 12.5 and Diekman getting 4 puts us at -1.5. I also think TA is a terrible leadoff hitter and we gain a bit in lineup construction.
No. 2: Trade Liam Hendriks and Jake Burger to the Boston Red Sox for Nick Pivetta, Jarren Duran, and Josh Taylor. Getting younger, deeper, and cheaper. Pivetta's estimate is 6 million, Taylor is 1 and Duran is still pre arb. So we cut 7 million with this trade. I see all 3 players contributing to the team in 2023. I see it as mutually beneficial as we get a competent backend starter and a buy low prospect who could develop. Boston gets a lockdown closer for a bullpen that imploded and a right handed complement to Triston Casas who can also play 3B or DH.
SUMMARY
My salary at this point leaves the smallest amount of wiggle room in the event we need to add a player at the deadline.
In terms of decisions, I'm thinking Pollack is here and I cant change that so maybe get a platoon partner to make him a whole player. The Winker / Pollack team makes 21 million but if you just go with platoon splits on a one year deal they may be able to still earn it. JP Crawford could flourish with a better hitting environment and comes cheaper and more durable than TA. I know signing a catcher on the wrong side of 30 is iffy but I think Contreras is a leader that could benefit from a 90-70 catching split to keep his legs fresh this year. That also maximizes what Grandal could provide by using his catching plus DH to get the most out of his 100 games. Here is my lineup and pitching depth:
Vs. RH
Wong 2B (L)
Vaughn 1B (R)
Moncada 3B (S)
Jimenez DH (R)
Robert CF (R)
Winker RF (L)
Contreras C (R)
Crawford SS (L)
Duran LF (L)
Vs. LH
Pollack RF (R)
Moncada 3B (S)
Jimenez LF (R)
Vaughn 1B (R)
Robert CF (R)
Contreras DH (R)
Grandal C (S)
Mendick 2B (R)
Crawford SS (L)
I like Sheets playing a lot vs. righties in the mix as well. I'm thinking Robert is only good for about 100 games so in the event Robert is out I go Duran in CF, Sheets in LF, Winker in RF. He can also spell Vaughn at first. If Duran doesn't rebound then Colas should be ready to contribute maybe mid-season and Duran is an effective utility OF. These lineups provide defense and balance in my opinion. Speed up the middle if I couldn't add a ton on the corners. I do think the corner defense would be much better. I actually like Leury Garcia to at least rebound to a super utility guy. The bar is low, I'm not expecting great numbers or anything, just a solid hand that can provide depth at many positions. I don't think he is as bad as he was in 2022. Can't get rid of the deal so just trying to forget the cost at this point and make him as successful as he can be.
Rotation
Lynn
Cease
Giolito
Kopech
Pivetta
Bullpen
Closer - Lopez
RH -Gravemen
RH -Kelly
LH -Bummer
LH -Taylor
That leaves Matt Brash, Davis Martin, Jimmy Lambert, Garrett Crochet, Matt Foster, Jose Ruiz for 3 spots. I thought about a hybrid starter where Lambert and Crochet each throw 3 innings as they work Crochet back or Crochet can be a AAA starter. I like Brash as a starter but he could pitch from the pen this year and take over if Gio goes next year.
A lot of money comes off the books in 2024 so as Colas and Sosa enter the lineup, Gio probably exits the rotation for Brash, Lynn may be next out if Crochet is ready. Now we have our shortstop lined up until 2026. Montgomery comes in as the replacement for when Moncada goes. I think we can keep this window open a while longer.
