It GETZ worse

Well what a funny contention window this turned out to be.  As I’m going to try something a little different as I thank Jim for allowing us a budget of 185 million; however I’m going to try to keep it around 130-135 so I can make a one time investment into White Sox infrastructure.  I find it unacceptable that outside of Lucas, every player the sox either cut or traded got better with their new teams.  Since we all know we are lacking in that department I’m going to make a one time investment of 20 million to fix this issue so the sox can fix other  underperforming players.  I am going to try to get as much pitching so I have chips to use for trades later and I don’t have to rush players to fill holes.

The next thing I’m gonna do, I just looked this up, but Todd Steverson has a job as assistant to the VP of baseball….the sox don’t have a vp anymore.  Nick Hostetler is an assistant to the gm and countless other names I have no idea who any of they are or what they do (but Steverson like Boston is gone).  I’m going to hire 3-5 people from organizations that do what the sox don’t do well (Dodgers, Cleveland, Miami, Tampa, Baltimore, Braves, and Houston).  I going to target the number 3-5 in those organizations and make them all number 2’s.

The next thing I just looked at the 40 man, and holy purging is needed.  18 players don’t need to be in the organization, but I’m only going to get rid 16.  Now 4 are free agents, Clevinger, Shaw, Yaz and Elvis.  But Cronin, Foster, Navarro, Padilla, Peralta, Scholtens, Urena, Romy, Thompson, Frazier and Remillard are all gone.  I’m holding on to Ramsey (only because he pissed off the great Pedro so that made me smile) and Haseley as he does not hit well but is left handed.

So I created a lot of space on the roster and have smart outside people to help me but and the sox need a lot of help.  With an owner that thinks we can contend in 2024 I will do my best to have the sox like the 2022 O’s, overachieving and maybe selling at deadline if things go right.  I just realized a 17 win improvement is only 78 wins.  My team will not be good offensively (it will be terrible) but like the other teams that play in Chicago we will catch the ball.

So my first move is firing Pedro.  I’m doing this for two reasons (1) he is dangerously close to being Terry Bevington bad {honestly, I just can’t have any one worse the Terry} and (2) I can’t have {as Jim was kind enough to confirm what I thought I saw and write about} two sets of rules for the players.  If a rookie can be pulled for losing a ball so can TA.  If Ramsey can be called out for walking the leadoff hitter, then so can Bummer, Lynn and every other vet that did it.  I would offer Counsell the job.  4 years and 32 million.  If he says no, then bench coach is the lame duck manager

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Write “tender,” “non-tender” or “rework/extend” after each player and their projected 2024 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.

• Dylan Cease: $8.8M tender and trade
• Andrew Vaughn: $3.7M tender
• Michael Kopech: $3.6M tender
• Touki Toussaint: $1.7M tender
• Trayce Thompson: $1.7M non-tender
• Garrett Crochet: $900K tender
• Clint Frazier: $900K non-tender
• Matt Foster: $740K non-tender

CLUB OPTIONS

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

• Tim Anderson: $14M ($1M buyout) pick up and trade
• Liam Hendriks: $15M ($15M buyout, paid $1.5M annually over next 10 years) pick up if only cause I can see an scenario where the sox can’t get an actual player in 5 years because of Jerry dumbass contract which he brags about.

MUTUAL OPTIONS

Write “exercised” or “takes buyout.”

• Mike Clevinger: $12M mutual option ($4 million buyout)  take buyout

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

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

• Yasmani Grandal (Made $18.25M in 2023) he gone
• Elvis Andrus ($3M) he gone
• Bryan Shaw ($720K) he gone
• José Ureña ($720K) he gone

FREE AGENTS

No. 1: Austin Hedges 2 years 5 million.  1.5 this year and 3.5 in 2025.  I’m jumping the market and overpaying to get him to sign.  Like Steve Stone says, I want a catcher that can catch.  I’m going to have the worst hitting catchers in the league, but they will catch.  We are going to officer Karko bad (not good Karko 92-95) but .076 hitting Karko with Fisk in left field.  I’m hoping he can show the two young catchers how to stay good defensively and at the very least (since it’s really has not been done this century) just execute offensively.   move runners over when needed, hit fly ball when needed maybe luck out and have a Seby game (shocking he went from sox to 4 wins away to championship.

No. 2  Sign Adam Duvall.  1 year 12 million.  He is older but I need someone not named Luis Robert that can hit homers.  He can play right field and if he produces I can trade at deadline.  He can play all 3 spots and is a veteran that you know runs, so I like players that run.

No. 3  Sign Trevor Bauer.  1 year 8 million  I know most people will not like this, and I understand.  Sox need pitching and in case you have forgot the sox have an owner that just does not care.  He ok jumping the market last year on his former teammate, he hired a drunk and hid the DIU charge from everyone and if anyone remembers history he signed Albert Belle (last time the sox signed a top tier free agent by they way in 1996) and they were first in line to sign Wil Cordero with his issues in Montreal.  Since Jerry could care less I will sign him and take the heat so I can flip him at deadline like yankees did in 2016.

No. 4  Sign Eric Lauer 1 year 5 million.  The Brewers just cut him and the sox need pitching…lots of it.  This is where Bannister will make his money.  He says this is what he does fix pitchers that lost their way.  Not sure what the market is but I may slightly over pay to get him here.  As our number 4 or 5 I’m hoping for a turnaround, if not come July time for the youngters.

No. 5.  Sign Jack Flaherty one year 10 million.   Another 1 year deal and this time I’m hoping Bannister and Katz can work his magic.  He did not do well with Baltimore so I’m hoping we can fix him and flip.

No. 6  Sign Archie Bradley one year 3 million.  We need relievers too.

No. 7  Sign Isiah Kiner-Falefa one year 6 million.  He is not much with the bat, but can catch.  He can be my utility guy if Montgomery is ready by August.  I want Colson in AAA for most of the year, unless he is hitting and catching, bur Frank stayed in minors till August so can Colson. Isiah won’t hit much will just ask to play smart and catch the ball.

TRADES

No. 1: Cole Wilcox for Jarred Kelley.  Tampa has a 40 man crunch and I have liked Wilcox since his Georgia days.  I have room to add to my 40 man and Tampa just fixes arms.  I think they see Kelley velo and figure they can fix him and he can be a bullpen arm for 4 years for us. Trade was accepted on the simulator (it also accepted Wilcox for Sheets) but I think this is fair for both sides.  Gets me a starter I can slow play in the minors at AA and hope he is either ready by middle of 2025 or trade bait.

No .2:  Anderson for Anderson.  This trade was accepted on the simulator when I thought of it a month ago; however today TA is not even listed.  With the Braves first round exit and no real short stop I think TA is perfect for them.  Ron Washington will help with his D and he can hit 6 or 7 and not be the guy in Atlanta.  He is closer to home and motivated for a big pay day.  Sox get Ian Anderson coming of TJ that I can build up in AAA and he can be first man up when injury’s happen.  It is a risk, but I like Anderson’s arm and I just got rid of 14 million.

No. 3:  Cease for Bruns, Busch, Lux and Pepiot.  With the Dodgers, like the Braves, losing in the first round I believe they realize they need pitching.  Cease did not have a good year, but put him with a good team that plays D and has a catcher that can catch and I think we see at least 1 run of the ERA.  Cease also has started 30 games the last 3 years, how many Dodgers have?  Dodgers need a starter and factor in his 8.8 millions salary (his bad year helps with this) he is a bargain and the Dodgers can have Cease and Ohtani  headline the 2025 rotation.  For the sox, I’m sure the O’s can offer a better package but my thinking is more is better (like Pittsburgh with Cole).  I’ve wanted Lux for years and I am trading for him again.  He is my 2nd baseman.  Bruns, a lefty and you can never have too many lefties.  I put him in AA to build up our depth.  Busch, I’m not in love with him as I fear he may be a dh or first base, but if the lefty power if for real I will find a spot for him.  Maybe he wins the DH spot, but I start him in AAA at 3rd and when Yoan gets hurt call him up.  Pepiot is my 3 or 4 starter.

No. 4:  Eloy to SF for Reggie Crawford and Hayden Wynja.  I did not run this through the simulator and Eloy is negative.  I think this is a fair trade as everyone believes in Eloy’s power and the Giants need offense.  I’m not sure what Eloy’s market is but at this point I just want the 11 million off the books.  I understand as soon as he is not on the white sox he will be a 40 homer guy, but that is not happening here (remember he hurt himself in 2020 celebrating a walk off win and did not play in the first two playoff games–which cost the sox).  I’m trusting Bannister here as I like Crawford has is is a lefty pitcher, but being is being used as a 2 way player.  I’m hoping to get him to be a pitcher, but at least we got options.  And he plays 1st /dh so as sox fans know you can never have to much.  Wynja is a lefty reliever lottery ticket.

No. 5:  Gavin Sheets to Miami for some 18 year old that throws fast.  Nothing against Sheets, I just don’t want to see him in the OF.  I figure Miami fix Burger they can fix Sheets with Bell most likely leaving.  We get a lottery ticket

No. 6:  Codi Heuer for some youngster I never heard off.  The Northside baseball team has some interesting moves/decisions to make.  I heard they are close to the luxury tax and I’m not even sure if they tender Heuer a contract.  If they don’t I sign him but for this I think they tender him but are willing to trade him.  We send a hard throwing pitcher to them (they also get minor salary relief) and we get more bullpen help

SUMMARY

There is a lot of work to do with the sox to turn them into anything other than a complete joke of an organization.  While I doubt the sox can win in 2024 (as the Tigers and Cleveland are coming) they could luck out if the division is bad like the last two years.  Maybe they win but if the players I sign are good I can flip for more prospects.  With the new rules (hey Josh do we root for a lottery pick this year or out of the top 6 so we may get it next year?) in place about the draft and the lottery if the sox pick in the top 6 they will pick 10 in 2025; so tanking is not really an option so I’m going for average.  As average is better than whatever the 2023 sox are.  I think I have some nice depth on the pitching side to withstand injuries and hopefully develop for trades and replacements.  AAA is Anderson, Eder, Mena and Nicky; AA Bruns, Wilcox and the guy we got from the Yankess; A Paulette and Shultz  (hopefully) and low A the pitchers from this years draft.  I have Kopech/Lauer as 4/5, Bauer as my ace, Flaherty as my 2 and Petiot as my 3.   I have Lux at 2nd and Isiah at SS with Hedges as my catcher so I’m good up the middle.  Busch, if power is for real is my 3rd of the future (if he can play it) or I move to 1st and figure out what to do with Vaughn.  The offense is, well, bad.  However, the offense has been bad for the last 2 years so it will be different bad, but still bad.  Maybe they peek out and win 82-83 games but thinking 75 would be realistic; however, if we are out of it and players have trade value I will send them as it will be another sellers market.  I have a payroll of around 130 million I think which Jerry will like, as payroll went down from last year. I also plan on offering Soto a contract next year, if for no other reason to shock the owner as my first offer is 10 years 350 million.  I’m sure with 2025 being the 2005 20 yr anniversary Soxfest will be back.  What a better way to celebrate the 05 sox with Soto being part of Soxfest.

#itGETZworse

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