PREAMBLE
Murakami seemed to genuinely enjoy his first season with the Sox, so why not build on that and make Chicago a destination for Japanese players?
With Murakami already here, I'll add Suzuki, Itoh, Imai, Taira and Matsui, while promoting Rikuu Nishida to join the mix. That gives us seven Japanese-born players on the roster. Vargas's head will explode with all the Japanese love going around!
The Sox finally gave us something to build on in 2026, and with relatively little money committed beyond 2027, I decided to take advantage of that flexibility by backloading some contracts. I'm making a few assumptions about player availability, Imai and Matsui opting out of their contracts, but I think these moves make baseball sense beyond simply assembling a Japanese-heavy roster.
I ended up a little over the $130 million target, but after years of watching the Sox bargain hunt and scour the waiver wire for roster additions, I'd like to see them take a more aggressive approach. And if we're finally going to open the checkbook, we might as well have some fun with it.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Miguel Vargas: Tender
- Brenton Doyle: Tender
- Joey Bart: Non-tender
- Huascar Brazobán: Tender
- Jordan Leasure: Non-tender
- Chris Murphy: Non-tender
Vargas is a no-brainer, and we need Doyle for CF.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Erick Fedde
- Jake Rogers
Fedde 2 years, 10M broken out to be 3.5 in 27 and 6.5 in 28.
Rogers 1 year 1.5M
FREE AGENTS
Assumptions: Imai and Mastsui see the opportunity in Chicago opt out of their deals. All contracts are backloaded, and will negotiations for player options for 2029, player and team options for 2030.
Seiya Suzuki 4 years, $108M: 19M (2027) 23M (2028), 31M (2029), 35M (2030)
Hiromi Itoh 4 years, $60M: 12MM 14M, 16M, 18M
Kaima Taira 4 years, $64M: 10M, 16M, 18M, 20M
Tatsuya Imai 3 years, $50M: 8M, 20M, 22M
Yuki Matsui 3 years, $20M: 5M, 15M
Erick Fedde 2 years, $10M: 3.5M, 6.5M
Dylan Carlson 1 year, Dylan Carlson ($1M, plus up to $500K in performance incentives)
TOTAL $306M $58.5M (27) $94.5M (28) $87M (29) $73M (30)
TRADES
Main trades:
Tristan Peters to New York Yankess for Will Warren
Andrew Benintendi and Davis Martin to Washington Nationals for prospects as part of a salary dump. along the lines as Hicks and Sandlin deal. If need be, potentially kick in $2 - $5M for Benni's contract.
Might be some 40-man roster trades to clear up space as well, including Shane Smith as a change of scenery option.
SUMMARY
Having fun and playing wth house money! This Japanese laden lineup includes 7 Japanese born players and becomes the team of choice for players from Japan. Eventually Ohtani will come to his senses and ask for a trade to the Southside where he can be a two-way player for his final couple of seasons. The Sox are such a hit overseas that they get a lucrative TV contract in Japan.
This assumes Washington absorbs Benintendi's entire contract and Boston contributes $4 million toward Hicks. If Carlson earns all his incentives, payroll rises to around $134.85 million.
STARTING LINEUP
C: Kyle Teel ($0.8M)
1B: Munetaka Murakami ($17M) (J)
2B: Chase Meidroth ($0.8M)
SS: Colson Montgomery ($0.8M)
3B: Miguel Vargas ($7M)
LF: Sam Antonacci ($0.8M)
CF: Brenton Doyle ($4M)
RF: Braden Montgomery ($0.8M)
DH: Seiya Suzuki ($19M) (J)
BENCH
C: Jake Rogers ($1M)
UTIL: Rikuu Nishida ($0.8M) (J)
UTIL/OF: Luisangel Acuña ($0.8M)
OF: Dylan Carlson ($1M, plus up to $500K in performance incentives)
STARTING ROTATION
SP: Sean Burke ($0.8M)
SP: Tatsuya Imai ($8M) (J)
SP: Hiromi Itoh ($12M) (J)
SP: Anthony Kay ($5M)
SP: Luis Castillo ($22.75M)
BULLPEN
RP/Closer ]1: Grant Taylor ($0.8M)
RP/Closer 2: Kaima Taira ($10M) (J)
RP: Jordan Hicks ($12M)
RP: (L) Yuki Matsui ($5M) (J)
RP: (L) Bryan Hudson ($0.8M)
RP: (L) Tyler Schweitzer ($0.8M)
RP/SP: Will Warren ($0.8M)
RPSP: Erick Fedde ($3.5M)
Players starting in Charlotte who will be on the roster at some point: Vasil (rehab), Baldwin (rehab), Murray (rehab), H. Smith, Schultz, Sandlin, Thorpe, Tyler Davis, Quero, Bergolla, and Bonemer.
I admit the bench is lacking, but would improve when Baldwin, Murray, Bergolla and Bonemer are ready.
