Pete Chapman’s Plan

Arbitration Eligible Players

Alex Colome $10.3M-Tender

Yolmer Sanchez $6.2M Non-Tender

James McCann $4.9M-Tender

Carlos Rodon $4.5M-Tender

Leury Garcia $4.0M-Tender

Evan Marshall $1.3M-Tender

Josh Osich $1M-Non-Tender

Ryan Goins $900K-Non-Tender

All I will add is I know Yolmer is overpaid at this price but the White Sox should talk to him and see if he would be willing to return for cheaper. The plan should not be to automatically give the rains to Madrigal with out a serious backup on the roster. Madrigal and Mendick/Garcia is a terrible plan. Someone who can play 2B and start games is needed for this ball club.

Club Options

Wellington Castillo $8M(500,000buyout)-Buyout

Impending Free Agents Not Named Abreu

Ivan Nova-Let go

Jon Jay-Let go

Hector Santiago-Let go

Free Agents

Zack Wheeler 5 yrs $90M

He has the stuff I am looking for in a pitcher for the Sox if I am not getting Cole or Strasburg. He has the high upside and maybe Coop can find something new if I am being optimistic. I think when he is healthy he can be a 2 or 3 on a good team.

Yasmani Grandal 3 yrs $63M and a mutual option year 4 for $12M

This probably is the 1 position player that fits the White Sox needs more then any other Free Agent available. Lefty power, great OBP, can catch or DH, and is a good framer. I would spend more then this if need be for the guy. I do think he likely isn’t catching everyday over this contract and will need to find at bats at DH and 1B likely.

Jose Abreu 3 yrs $42M with a 4th year club option of $10M and a $2M buyout.

Jose wants to be here. The Sox want him to be here. He is the best 1B on the market and it seems like a fair deal even if he might not be great at the end of the deal. I am a believer he will hit through that contract.

Luis Avilan 1 yr $1.5M

Had a tough year for the Mets in 2019. His numbers were still good against lefties. He had a successful season for the White Sox in 2018 and the previous 2 seasons for the Dodgers. He really should be a LUGY which makes it harder to predict how he will perform with the new rules for relievers. I prefer him over Osich and think he misses bats decently. He would not be a high leverage pitcher for the Sox but would bolster the bullpen against a lefty heavy lineup.

Matt Joyce 1 yr $2.5M

He was a complete platoon player from the left side of the plate that mostly pinch hit for a good Braves team. He was very successful in that limited role. I would basically be asking him to play a similar role for the Sox. He is a corner outfielder but prefers RF. He isn’t great in the field but is passable. Depending on the matchup he could play RF or DH. He is comfortable coming off the bench and pinch hitting which isn’t easy to find and can be very helpful.

Trades

Marco Gonzalez and Kyle Seager for Jonathan Stiever, Steele Walker, and Dylan Covey. 

Marco Gonzalez is a lefty sinkerball pitcher who was a former 1st round pick by the Cardinals and traded for Tyler O’Neil a few years ago. He has performed well the past 2 seasons(his first becoming a full time starter) as a 26 and 27 year old. He doesn’t have plus stuff and has played in a pitcher friendly park the past 2 seasons. He has been consistent and he is an inning eater who throws strikes and doesn’t allow loud contact. He will cost $1M in 2020 and then starts arbitration from 2021-2023. He basically would take the Nova role but he is younger, lefty, and has more upside. I also think there might be a pendulum swing with the balls after last season. Kyle Seager used to be an interesting player but then he signed an extremely large deal which has taken a decent player and turned him into a player no one wants or talks about because he has underperformed on that contract. He really isn’t that bad. He is also the lesser of the Seager brothers (Corey’s Brother was a great players day jersey name). The White Sox are basically taking Seager in this deal so they don’t have to give up bigger prospects. Also the Mariners are making this move because they by far are the last place team in this division and should be rebuilding. They will be paying Seager $19.5M in 20, $18.5 in 21, and I am confused whether it is an option or they have to pay him the $15M in 22 because he was traded. He will become their DH/3B/2B who has some lefty power(good for 20 HRs a year).  I think he could basically do what Moustakas did this past year in flexibility around the diamond. He is a decent fielder and has played some SS/2B over the years sparingly. This move also solidifies Yolmer being gone since I would like Seager to be the backup to Moncada and Madrigal at 3B/2B.

Jorge Soler for Zach Collins, Dane Dunning, and Cabrera Weaver 

Soler had a great season. His best by far since becoming a pro. If I am the Royals I try to extend him this offseason and if he is not interested I am looking to sell him. I think the Royals might want to try to sell high on him since he is only signed for the next 2 years and those are not likely years they will be contending. Right now is probably the best time to sell him since a team will be getting him for 2 years at a fairly cheap price. $4M guaranteed in 2020 or he can opt to go into arbitration. In 2021 he is for sure in arbitration. He is a free agent in 2022. He would fit the need of DH and RF. He isn’t a great fielder and he and Eloy in the outfield could be interesting. Imagine those two bashing HR’s all over GRate though. Also he is a fellow Cuban and I think he would fit in great with this team on several levels. The Sox would have him for his age 28 and 29 season.

Opening day roster:

DH Soler

C Grandal

1B Abreu

2B Seager

3B Moncada

SS Anderson

LF Jimenez

CF Engel

RF Leury Garcia

Bench:

McCann

Joyce

Mendick

Cordell

Real Roster:

DH Seager

C Grandal

1B Abreu

2B Madrigal

3B Moncada

SS Anderson

LF Jimenez

CF Robert

RF Soler

Bench:

McCann

Engel

Garcia

Joyce

Rotation:

Giolito

Wheeler

Gonzalez

Lopez

Cease

(Kopech would replace someone who is struggling or hurt after some time at AAA)

Bullpen:

Colome

Bummer

Herrera

Cordero

Marshall

Fry

Avilan

Fulmer

$128M payroll

I felt like Dollar Dog Night and the 108 crew got me that extra 8M this year. This team would hit a ton of HR’s and that would make me happy.

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