Rotofool’s Offseason Budget Plan (worst to first)

PREAMBLE

It’s a rebuild that’s also a contender! Maybe that’s a stretch, but this 2025 roster seems vastly improved over the 2024 roster. To get there, Getz uses some of the depth of pitching prospects to add young hitters. While it may take half a season until the highly rated Schultz and Smith arrive, the SOX can cycle young starters & relievers until they find a core that performs.  Expect lots of major league debuts.

MANAGER

Will Venable was their best hire in decades, best possible choice imo.  Son of an MLB player growing up around the game, very smart having attended Princeton, multi-sport athlete, solid MLB career, played for years with SD & LAD under Bud Black. Well liked with an great temperament & communication skills.  Top notch front office and clubhouse apprenticeship with Theo & Maddon with the Cubs, Dave Dombrowski & Joey Cora with the Red Sox, and Chris Young & Botche with Rangers.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

• Andrew Vaughn: $6.4M — Tender
• Garrett Crochet: $2.9M — Tender
• Nicky Lopez: $5.1M — Non-tender
• Gavin Sheets: $2.6M — Non-tender
• Enyel De Los Santos: $1.7M — Non-tender
• Justin Anderson: $1.1M — Non-tender
• Steven Wilson: $1M — Non-tender
• Jimmy Lambert: $1.2M — Non-tender
• Matt Foster: $900K — Non-tender

Vaughn makes for an interesting project for the new management to salvage some of his original projected draft value. Vaughn’s problems at this point in his career seem to exist between the ears, so perhaps the new manager Venable can reach him where TLR & Grifol could not. Crochet the only other arbitration player kept, soon to be traded, with the rest jettisoned because who wants a bunch of all-time losers.

CLUB OPTIONS

• Yoán Moncada: $25M ($5M buyout) — Decline(d)
• Max Stassi: $7M ($500K buyout) — Decline(d)

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

• Michael Soroka ($3M) — Move on
• Mike Clevinger ($3M) — Move on
• Chris Flexen ($1.75) — Move on

FREE AGENTS increase $29.5 M

Kyle Higashioka RHP (two years, $7 million).  Going with a veteran 2nd catcher with power to complement young Edgar Quero, while youngsters Hackenberg & Turner play regularly in the minors.

Shane Bieber RHP (two years, $34 million). Admittedly an overpay would be required to add this potential ace to anchor the rotation and provide some veteran leadership. Great trade bait at the deadline that could yield a bluechip prospect.

Paul Sewald RHP (two years, $16 million). Up & down closer with arm talent takes highest offer from the SOX to lead their bullpen for a half season. A deal to a contender if Bannister can fix him could bring back a decent prospect.

Rule 5 pickup Christian Franklin OF. SOX need a RH speed OF that can cover all three outfield positions to platoon with its left-handed corner OFs. They have none down on the farm so take one from their crosstown rival.

TRADES decrease $3.0 M

Garrett Crochet to Mets for Jett Williams (SS/OF), Ryan Clifford (1B/OF), Carson Benge (OF), & Jonah Tong (RHP). Getz gets package of young position players that fit his vision of plate disciplined, plus fielding multi-position hitters. Williams (MLB #52) struggled with injuries in ’24 but profiles as a little speedy CF/IF leadoff type. Clifford (#87) had 24HR as a 19yo, and Benge (#99) adds a high ceiling left handed bat in the OF. Tong provides a young, high ceiling prospect arm to add value from Mets thin stock of position prospects.

Jonathan Cannon (RHP), Gus Varland (RHP) & Riley Gowens (RHP) to Cubs for Michael Busch (1B). Getz gets a solid young bat for young controllable arms that will soon be passed by higher upside prospects. Cannon is sacrificed for the rebuild, giving the Cubs much needed RH starting depth a basement price.

Jairo Iriarte (RHP), Jake Eder (LHP), Gil Luna (LHP) & Korey Lee (C) to Reds for Matt McClain (2B). Getz gets a solid young positional prospect for a trio of upside arms & young complementary catcher lacking in Cincy.

International Money ($800K) to Dodgers for Ching-Hsien Ko (OF). Getz gets a prospect lottery ticket bat for International money they weren’t going to spend so Dodgers can sign Sasaki.

SUMMARY

This lineup adds solid young bats to improve upon 2024. Montgomery & Quero make the opening day roster to give the SOX a shot at a supplemental #1 should either contend for ROY, with the latter a darkhorse. Young hitters that struggled in 2024 like Vargas & Amaya start off in Charlotte. Young right handed, defensive OF picked up on rule 5 to complement their lefty bat OFs. Overall spend is less than the $113M threshold.  RF is again intentionally ignored to keep up their streak!

Projected Lineup:

1. LF: Andrew Benintendi ($16.5M)
2. CF: Luis Robert ($15M)
3. 1B: Michael Busch ($800K)
4. 2B: Matt McClain ($800K)
5. C: Edgar Quero ($800K)
6. 3B: Bryan Ramos ($800K)
7. SS: Colson Montgomery ($800K)
8. DH: Andrew Vaughn ($6M)
9. RF: Dominic Fletcher ($800K)

Bench:

1. C: Kyle Higashioka ($7M/2yr)
2. UT: Lenyn Sosa ($800K)
3. OF: Zack DeLoach ($800K)
4. OF: Christian Franklin ($800K) (rule 5 – Cubs)

Rotation:

1. RHP: Shane Bieber ($34M/2yr)
2. RHP: Drew Thorpe ($800K)
3. RHP: Sean Burke ($800K)
4. LHP: Ky Bush ($800K)
5. RHP: Davis Martin ($800K)
6. RHP: Mason Adams ($800K)

Bullpen:

1. RHP: Paul Sewald ($16M/2yr)
2. RHP: Prelander Berrora ($800K)
3. RHP: Ron Marinaccio ($800K)
4. RHP: Penn Murfee ($800K)
5. LHP: Fraser Ellard ($8800K)
6. LHP: Trey McGough ($800K)
7. LHP: Jared Shuster ($800K)

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