PREAMBLE
The White Sox have every incentive to spend to boost attendance in anticipation of a stadium move, and TV audience in anticipation of renegotiated broadcast deals. They also want to build on the Japanese audience they gained from signing Munetaka Murakami. They have the ability to spend given that most of their success last season came from cost-controlled young stars. Last year, their payroll ranked near the bottom, and they have practically no obligations in 2028. Given all these incentives, the Sox should feel comfortable spending at least $160m to give the team the best opportunity to compete in 2027.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Miguel Vargas: Tender
- Brenton Doyle: Tender
- Joey Bart: Non-tender
- Huascar Brazobán: Non-tender
- Jordan Leasure: Non-tender
- Chris Murphy: Non-tender
Miguel Vargas is an obvious stud and a clear extension candidate. Doyle was targeted because they think his swing can be fixed in the offseason; $3.6M for a 4th OF with upside is about the rate on the free agent market, and allows the Sox to send Braden Montgomery to AAA to start the season.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- None
Not retaining any free agents
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Seiya Suzuki (4 years, $108 million). White Sox need outfield help and another reliable righty bat in the lineup. Good plate discipline. Extends White Sox penetration in Japanese market.
No. 2: Kaima Taira (3 years, $52 million). Can either be stretched out into a starter or take over as a plus reliever if Taylor/Smith make the transition. Again, helps situate the White Sox as Japan's AL team.
No. 3: Kris Bubic (2 years, $24 million). Solid #2 starter that stabilizes the rotation.
No. 4: George Springer (1 year, $10 million). DH platoon with Benintendi.
No. 5: Gary Sanchez (1 year, $4.5 million). Can give Kyle Teel days off and lets Quero start the season in AAA.
TRADES
No major trades
SUMMARY
Roster assumes Edgar Quero, Braden Montgomery, Shane Smith, Tanner McDougal all start the season in the minors. A six-man rotation lets the Sox continue to experiment with openers/long relief and takes pressure off of their young pitching prospects, and I see one of Taira/Taylor/Smith establishing themselves as a true starter over the course of the season.
Lineup
C - Kyle Teel
1B - Munetaka Murakami
2B - Chase Meidroth
3B - Miguel Vargas
LF - Sam Antonacci
CF - Tristan Peters
RF - Seiya Suzuki
DH - George Springer
Bench
C - Gary Sanchez
UTIL - Brooks Baldwin
UTIL - Brenton Doyle
UTIL - Andrew Benintendi
Rotation
SP1 - Kaima Taira
SP2 - Kris Bubic
SP3 - Sean Burke
SP4 - Davis Martin
SP5 - Luis Castillo
SP6 - Noah Schultz
Bullpen
CL - Grant Taylor
RP - Hagen Smith
RP - Jordan Hicks
RP - Bryan Hudson
RP - Mike Vasil
RP - Anthony Kay
RP - David Sandlin
