PREAMBLE
The Sox 2022 season was a disaster. The roster still has plenty of upside, but it will definitely need some adjustments to get the team back to the playoffs.
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: $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 - Non-Tender
- Danny Mendick: $1M - Non-Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Tim Anderson: $12.5M ($1M buyout) - Pick up
- Josh Harrison: $5.625M ($1.5M buyout - Decline
PLAYER OPTIONS
Write “exercised” or “takes buyout.”
- AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) — Takes buyout (unlikely, but in a perfect world, he takes the buyout and finds a job for $8+M.)
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- José Abreu (Made $18M in 2021) - Retain (Two Years, 25 million)
- Johnny Cueto ($4.2M) - Let go
- Vince Velasquez ($3M)- Let go
- Elvis Andrus ($14.25M)- Let go
MANAGER
Kevin Long. The biggest issue for the Sox in 2022, among other things, was the offense. Long would bring a fresh offensive approach that the team desperately needs. Also, he’s reached the World Series with his last two franchises (Phillies and Nationals), so he’s got a track record of success, despite his also managerial experience being in the Minor Leagues.
FREE AGENTS
Rick Hahn has already said that trades will likely be more fruitful for the Sox than free agency, so I’ll be pretty limited after resigning Abreu.
No. 1: Ben Gamel (one year, $3 million). This feels like a very Sox-type guy. He'd be a good lefty OF until Colas is ready to take the job. When Colas is up, he'd be a great option off the bench.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Andrew Vaughn, Garrett Crochet, Yolbert Sanchez, and Wes Kath to Miami for Jazz Chisolm and Richard Bleier. This trade would hurt, but it would provide a long-term solution to 2B. Who knows if the Marlins would even make Jazz available in a trade, but it was reported last season that there was friction between him and some veterans on the club, due to his style and personality. If he was made available, his style and left-handed power bat would fit perfectly on the Southside.
No. 2: Trade Liam Hendriks to Seattle for Matt Brash, Taylor Trammell, and Luis Torrens. This trade would provide some salary relief for the Sox, while bringing us a starting pitcher with massive potential. We’d also receive a former top-100 prospect in Taylor Trammell and a solid backup catcher in Torrens. For Seattle, they tried a few different guys in the closer role in 2022, and acquiring Hendriks would give them the lock-down guy they need. Graveman would slide into the closer role for the Sox.
No. 3: Trade Norge Vera and Lenyn Sosa to San Fransisco for Mike Yastrzemski.
The Giants just came off of a disappointing 2022 season and might be looking to shake up their roster. Yastrzemski would fill the crater-sized hole in RF for a few years.
SUMMARY
Starting Lineup:
SS - Tim Anderson
2B - Jazz Chisolm
CF - Luis Robert
DH - Eloy Jimenez
1B - Jose Abreu
RF - Mike Yastrzemski
3B - Yoan Moncada
C - Yasmani Grandal
LF - Ben Gamel (Colas in May)
Bench:
C - Luis Torrens
OF - Taylor Trammell
3B - Jake Burger
UTIL - Leury Garcia
Rotation:
Dylan Cease
Lance Lynn
Lucas Giolito
Michael Kopech
Matt Brash
Bullpen:
Kendall Graveman (CL)
Joe Kelly
Aaron Bummer
Richard Bleier
Jake Diekman
Reynaldo Lopez
Jimmy Lambert
Davis Martin
