The White Sox future appears bleak. At least for 2019. And I don't really know that the 2020 window is that achievable anymore. White Sox prospects suffered so many setbacks in 2018, and it's really not that likely that they'll just continue on in 2019 with no more setbacks to get right back on track. I see 2021 as the year they could be more likely to start contending-if everything works out and these prospects are actually major leaguers. With these depressing prospects, I realized Fantasy Land is the only place that's happy in White Sox World at the moment. So, that's what I'm going to do for my offseason plan. It's going to be all high hopes and fantasy because it's better than thinking about the alternatives- like the big money free agent being a 30 year old super utility player! So without further ado, here it is, an epic White Sox offseason.
The best thing the White Sox have going for their major league roster is the only two players with guaranteed money going into 2019 are Castillo and Anderson for a total of around $16 million. The White Sox have a lot to spend. Carlos Rodon is a due for a raise but will probably only be around $5 million. Jose Abreu will be around $15 million. (I'm also against extending Abreu.) I'd drop Avi like a bad habit. Yolmer will probably make around what he made last year- maybe $8 million. So after all that you're looking around $40 million dollars. That's a lot to play with. In 2019 the average payroll was $139 million. That's $100 million gap between the White Sox and league average. So that's what we're going to do. Get them to league average.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Jose Abreu: Tender
- Avisail Garcia : Non- Tender
- Yolmer Sanchez: Tender
- Carlos Rodon: Tender
- Matt Davidson: Tender
- Leury Garcia: Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
- Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout: Pick up
- James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout: Decline
OTHERS:
- Hector Santiago: 1 year $5 million
FREE AGENTS
- Bryce Harper, 10 years $400 million with an opt out every three years- Bryce Harper is arguably the best position player to hit free agency since the last two times Alex Rodriguez hit free agency. He's only 26 and has already won an MVP award. Daniel Palka is the most fun left handed hitter the Sox have had since Jim Thome was around. That's sad. Signing Harper would instantly sell a lot of season ticket packages too. You probably have to give him all the opt outs to make it more valuable to him too. (Payroll now at $84 million. $56 million to go!)
- Josh Donaldson 3 years $65 million. Year 1&2 20 million, Year 3 a club option for $25 million with a $12 million buyout. Donaldson is going to be 32 and had an injury plagued 2018 season. After the way the market treated players in their 30's last year I think the White Sox could get him on more of a bargain based deal. (Payroll at $104 million)
- Nathan Eovaldi- 4 years $100 million- Eovaldi is going to be only 29 but will cost less than Kuechel and Corbin. He's only had one really really good year it was his half season with Boston this year. However, despite having a career ERA of 4.16, his career FIP is 3.82. (Payroll $129 million)
- James Shields 1 year $10 million: Shields is your insurance policy if Giolito is awful again. (Payroll $139 million
I know we are now just about at the league average payroll, but with all the excitement over signing Bryce Harper, the White Sox will have sold some season ticket packages and are still going to need a little help in the outfield and bullpen. So Jerry could be talked into adding a couple more big ticket items. They will do this via trade.
Trades:
- Nick Madrigal, Blake Rutherford, Luis Alexander Basabe to the Pittsburgh Pirates for CF Starling Marte (2019 salary $10.3 million, with two club options totaling $33 million for 2020 and 2021, and CP Felipe Vazquez signed through 2023 including two club options for a total of $37 million. This trade adds another All-Star caliber player to the outfield that is now signed through at least 2021 with Jimenez, Marte, and Harper. It also solidifies the back end of the bullpen. This would add about $15 million to the 2019 payroll. Basabe and Rutherford are completely expendable in this trade as the Sox would have no room for them in the outfield.
2019 Opening Day Roster
- C: Narvaez/Castillo
- 1B: Jose Abreu
- 2B: Yoan Moncada
- 3B: Manny Machado
- SS: Tim Anderson
- LF: Eloy Jimenez (I know he'll be in Triple A but this is Fantasy Land)
- CF: Starling Marte
- RF: Bryce Harper
- DH: Davidson/Palka
- UTIL: Yolmer Sanchez
- UTIL: Leury Garcia
- STARTING PITCHERS:
- Nathan Eovaldi
- Carlos Rodon
- Reynaldo Lopez
- Dylan Cease (with them trying to compete they won't play service time games)
- Shields/Giolito: Loser of the competition goes to the bullpen
- BULLPEN:
- CP: Felipe Vazquez
- RP: Nate Jones
- RP: Juan Minaya
- RP: Shields/Giolito
- LP: Jace Fry
- LP:Aaron Bummer
- LP: Hector Santiago
