PREAMBLE
I'm done with waiting on more losing. At the same time though, I do recognize that it would be prudent to be frugal until more pieces are in place. If things go sideways, all my FA pickups plus Diaz should have value at the deadline. If things go well only Littell is committed beyond 2026. I traded to get real future OF options while also plugging a couple of current holes. I'm over a little bit on the payroll but if there's really no money then why are we picking up Robert's option?
COACHING STAFF
- Hitting coach: [Left blank]
- Pitching coach: [Left blank]
Don't know, Don't care.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Mike Tauchman: Non-tender
- Steven Wilson: Non-tender
- Derek Hill: Non-tender
I will offer Tauchman a lower contract instead.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Luis Robert Jr.: Exercise $20 million contract
- Martín Perez: Buy out for $1.5 million
Picking up Robert's option is what I'm using as my excuse for going over budget.
FREE AGENTS
Zack Littell - 3yr/$36-40M
For this position I was looking between Littell, Brandon Woodruff, and Zac Gallen but I didn't think I could get Woodruff for 2yr/$24M and Gallen would be more. I would certainly do 2 and a option yr for Littell. Littell get outs, lots of outs and throws lots of strikes. He might be our 1 in 2026 but by 2028 he would hopefully be our 4. I would probably take Woodruff at 2yr/$24M even though he's been hurt a lot lately.
Tyler Mahle - 1yr+Opt/$12M
For this position I was looking between Mahle, Martin Perez, and Jose Quintana. I have no issue settling for Perez or Q but Mahle is the much better target. Mahle, like Littell, gets lots of outs and throws lots of strikes. $5M with $7M opt and $1.5M buyout.
Shawn Armstrong - 1yr+Opt/$12M
Other options for this spot are Jakob Junis and Alex Vesia. Armstrong quietly had a great year for Texas with an out% of 78.2%. He can do everything from opener to closer. $5M with $7M opt and $1.5M buyout.
Jalen Beeks - 1yr/$2.5M
Other LRP were Danny Coulombe and Sean Newcomb. I wanted Beeks last year so I'm taking him again.
Austin Hays - 1yr/$6M
Not only does Hays platoon with Tauchman in RF he could also be the primary in LF if needed.
Mike Tauchman - 1yr/$3M
I personally would just tender Tauchman but I have to do something douchey that saves Jerry money.
TRADES
3-Team Trade Alert!!
White Sox Get: Yandy Diaz, Jake Mangum, Ryan Ward, and Mike Sirota.
Rays Get: Korey Lee, Tanner McDougal, and Zachary Root.
Dodgers Get: Wikelman Gonzalez, Shane McClanahan, and Nick McLain.
I do wonder if including McLain is necessary but it felt a little light, maybe an Ely Brown or Bergolla would also work.
Diaz plays 1B next year with a chance to flip at the deadline. Ward has big power and plays LF/1B in 2026. He eventually takes over DH from Benintendi. Mangum plays all 3 OF positions and is a switch hitter who can platoon with Ward. Sirota is the key for the Sox as he becomes Robert's heir appearent in CF in hopefully 2027. The Sox taking on Diaz's salary is a plus for the Rays. If the Rays feel it's light then the Dodgers could add something to the Rays side. I think the Dodgers would have no problem doing Root and Sirota for McClanahan so this trade is better for them.
Trade to Rockies Kyle Lodise, Lenyn Sosa, and Aldrin Batista for Jared Thomas and Fidel Ulloa.
This trade is actually a pick 2 of from Kyle Lodise, Jeral Perez, Sean Burke, or Lenyn Sosa plus Aldrin Batista. With a new GM it's hard to say which way they would want to go so I gave a mix of prospects and established to choose from. Thomas is looking like a future plus player who matches well with Sirota and B Monty for the 2027 Sox OF. I included Ulloa but he's not necessary from my perspective. In an alternate universe I could see a deal with Quero going west, but I'm not in that universe...yet.
SUMMARY
Lineup:
1B Yandy Diaz - $12,000,000
2B Curtis Mead - $820,000
3B Miguel Vargas - $820,000
SS Colson Montgomery - $820,000
C Kyle Teel - $820,000
LF Ryan Ward - $820,000
CF Luis Robert - $20,000,000
RF Mike Tauchman $3,000,000
DH Andrew Benintendi - $17,100,000
Bench:
INF Chase Meidroth - $820,000
OF Austin Hays - $6,000,000
C Edgar Quero - $820,000
UTE Brooks Baldwin - $820,000
OF2 Jake Mangum - $820,000
Staff:
SP1 Zac Littell - $12,000,000
SP2 Shane Smith - $820,000
SP3 Tyler Mahle - $5,000,000
SP4 Davis Martin - $820,000
SP5 Yoendrys Gomez - $820,000
RP1 Shawn Armstrong - $5,000,000
RP2 Jalen Beeks - $2,500,000
RP3 Jordan Leasure - $820,000
RP4 Mike Vasil - $820,000
RP5 Bryan Hudson - $820,000
RP6 Tyler Gilbert - $1,000,000
RP7 Peyton Pallette - $820,000
SP6 Jonathan Cannon
RP8 Sean Burke
Total Payroll - $96,720,000
Roster Notes:
I list Mead as the starter but it's really whoever wins the spot between him and Meidroth. I'm going with the extra position player to start with Baldwin as the option boy if a pitcher is needed. Mangum also has options available. I list Gomez as SP5 with Taylor a starter in AAA but it could easily be Taylor as SP5 at which point I'd probably put Gomez in the BP. I have Burke in AAA to start but that's because he's a trade candidate, if he's with the org he could be SP5 or RP7. Likewise, Sosa is also a trade candidate who could stick around, he'd take Baldwins spot on the bench. RP7 could be a Rule 5 pick if we get one worth keeping. Basically, I'm saying that Pallette should consider an Extended Stay facility vs renting.
Summary:
I'm not delusional and thinking we are ready to take on the Ohtani clan but I do think there's enough here that if a few things go our way it could get interesting. 7 guys have the potential to hit 20 HR and 2 of those could hit 30 HR. I like how the bench turned out, it's got nice balance with the 3 switch hitters with good contact and decent power with Hays and Baldwin. I don't think this is too far off from the 2025 Reds and there is still young pitching that could come up if needed.
I trade for Jared Thomas now because I suspect he's going to get bumped up into the top 100 early and at that point he gets much more expensive if he's even available at all. 2 possible minor league FA I'm looking to sign are Yonathan Perlaza and Matt Koperniak to give us needed depth in the AAA OF.
It's hard to go cheaper without knowing the non-tenders, 40-man casualties, minor league FA, and rule 5 picks but I don't think there's a ton of money to save unless you can trade Benintendi and/or not pickup Robert's option.
Mostly, this plan includes outfield options and depth for 2026 and beyond.
Now bring on the draft lottery!!......
