TooFrank’s stop being redundant Offseason Plan
PREAMBLE
The Chicago White Sox 2022 roster was redundant. Many players who either played the same position or profiled as the same hitter. Sheets and Vaughn playing the outfield, although they are first basemen. A right handed dominant team who couldn’t hit league average right handed pitchers. I forget who showed this stat on twitter, but at one point of the season, the average of the ENTIRE team’s slashline was profiled as Josh Harrison. So, for the purpose of this exercise, let’s trade from the little depth we have, become a more balanced team, and acquire some farm system pieces.
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 -Let go
- Michael Kopech: $2.2M -Tender
- Kyle Crick: $1.5M Let Go
- José Ruiz: $1M – Tender
- Danny Mendick: $1M – 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)- Buyout
PLAYER OPTIONS
- AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) — EXERCISED
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- 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
Pedro Grifol because that is what happened.
FREE AGENTS
List three free-agent targets you’d pursue during the offseason, with a reasonable contract. A good example of a bad idea:
No. 1: Joc Pederson (2 year, $18,million) This is like a 9 Million a year with a mutual agreement for year 2. It’s the Hahn Way
No 2. Kolten Wong (2 Year 20 million) Same situation as above.
No3. José Quintana (3 Year 30 Million)
We need some more arms and Cueto trying to duplicate next year doesn’t seem smart. So sign the 4 WAR pitcher. Who received a 2 Million dollar contract in 21.
TRADES
Propose trades that you think sound reasonable for both sides, and the rationale behind them. A good example of a bad idea:
No. 1: Trade Liam Hendriks to the St. Louis Cardinals for Matthew Libertore and Michael McGreevy
Liam is awesome, but he is a luxury. Because the White Sox don’t operate as a major market team, they will try to allocate his salary somewhere else. And this trade would help the farm system and pitching depth which is non-existent. As much as I love Martin coming out of nowhere I don’t trust the Sox of duplicating it. We need arms in the system. I know Libertore is missing a plus pitch, so hopefully KATZ Magic works out.
There are many more possible better trades, then this see Josh Nelson’s trade, but I think Liam is gone, and anyway to stock up arms is for the best.
No 2. Trade Sheets to the Chicago Cubs for LP Luke Little
It is time to get rid of the 1B only types. Also Sheets didn’t show power, and if Vaughn can’t hit righties, well we are in trouble. Luke Little has a high K/9, and we know the Sox love that. I would have included Burger, but they already have a 3B who can’t field.
No 3. Trade Jake Burger and Jared Kelly to the Texas Rangers for OF Aaron Zavala
The Rangers have a solid first baseman, but he bats left-handed. Using Burger against righties creates a deeper lineup for them. He had a 186 WRC+ against righties, albeit in a small sample size. I think he could be used in a platoon, and for the White Sox, they receive a young athletic outfielder. I think his stock has risen, so I’m not confident the trade simulator is accurate to his current value. But this provides a possible left fielder for 2024. .
SUMMARY
The team should hit right handed pitchers and the 40 man roster isn’t first baseman heavy and at ~ 183 Million dollars there is a pay cut for ol’ bastard Jerry Resinsdorf. Defense gets marginally better with not having Vaughn out there and Colas emerging as a solid outfielder. Kolten Wong had a 135 WRC + against right handed and Joc Pederson had a 149 WRC + against right handed pitchers. The line-up immediately becomes more balanced. Second base can be platooned with Romy, Sosa, Mendick whomever has the hottest spring training. The “depth” of first base is gone, but we drafted one with a top 3 pick so he needs to perform if this team is going anywhere. Trading away Hendriks, Burger, and Sheets is part of the business, if the White Sox want to have sustained success.
Line Up Against RHP’s
- Tim Anderson SS
- Joc Pederson LF
- Luis Robert CF
- Eloy Jiménez DH
- Yoán Moncada 3B
- Andrew Vaughn 1B
- Kolten Wong 2B
- Yasmani Grandal C
- Oscar Colas/AJ Pollock RF
Bench:
Zavala
García
Mendick/González
Starting Pitchers:
Cease
Lynn
Quintana
Kopech
Giolito
Relievers:
López CL
Graveman
Kelly
Bummer
Lambert
Ruiz
Martin
Author
Corner the market on Zavalas!
Didn’t proofread, but I meant to say Burger had a 186 WRC+ against lefties****
Matthew Liberatore is a good target. He turns 23 in two days (Birthday is Nov. 6). I know he didn’t have the best audition with St. Louis, but he’s something that can enter 2023 as the White Sox 6th SP and further develop in Charlotte until the time comes.
Nice job.