PREAMBLE
The White Sox didn't really make as much progress during the rebuild as I would have hoped this past year. I feel like they are at the point where they should continue to try to add young talent while also making smart moves via trade of free agency to find long term solutions to positions where there isn't an obvious internal solution in the pipeline.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Jose Abreu, $16M - Tender (Not sure if I am interested in talking about an extension. If Abreu wasn't a fan favorite I am not sure that anyone would be talking an extension of a 31 year old first baseman with slightly above average performance at the plate.)
- Avisail Garcia, $8M - Non-tender (He has only had one above average year with the White Sox over 2190 plate appearances. Dayan 2.0)
- Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M - Tender (He is not a starter but his versatility is still valuable to a rebuilding team.)
- Carlos Rodon, $3.7M - Tender (No brainer.)
- Matt Davidson, $2.4M - Tender (Davidson's offensive numbers improved from his first full season in the majors in 2017. I think he deserves another year to see if the trend continues.)
- Leury Garcia, $1.9M - Non-tender (His inability to stay on the field was a major factor in this desicion. Combined with the fact that his best offensive season was barely average. He is replaceable.)
- Danny Farquhar, $1.4M - Non-tender (Its a good story but there are other options with less uncertainty.)
CLUB OPTIONS
- Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout - Pick up. (This season would be his last chance to prove he can stay healthy.)
- James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout - Buyout (I know we need innings but Shields is looking pretty close to done.)
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018) Let go.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Bryce Harper (10 years - $350 million w/Opt Out after 4 years). Delmonico is not a solution in the outfield and while we do have some outfield depth in the minors a player of this caliber and age doesn't come along too often in free agency. Additionally he will be in his prime for what should be the White Sox years of contention.
No. 2: Mike Moustakas (1 year - 10 million) The White Sox need to add some help at third base. Moustakas didn't light the world on fire last year and might be interested in another 1 year deal to try and cash in one last time in the next free agency if he has a good year.
No. 2: Tyson Ross (1 year - $8 million) Ross's career has been injury prone but he was able to pitch 150 solid innings. Maybe Coop and the training staff can keep him in one piece so that he can be moved at the deadline when the Sox start bringing up starters from the minors.
No. 3: Joe Kelly (1 years - $6 million) Kelly is a veteran relief arm that can help to stabilize the bullpen as pitchers are called up and sent down.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Jose Abreu, $4 million and INF Jose Rondon to the Twins for Jake Odorizzi. The Twins's first base situation last season was lacking. One year removed from playoff contention, the Twins need an upgrade in that area. I included Jose Rondon as inexpensive infield depth that it appears the Twins can use. Jake Odorizzi is a solid starter who will eat some innings and look better than Shields doing it.
SUMMARY
DH - Daniel Palka
C - Wellington Castillo
1B - Matt Davidson
2B - Yoan Moncada
SS - Tim Anderson
3B - Mike Moustakas
RF - Bryce Harper
CF - Adam Engel
LF - Eloy Jimenez
Bench - Yolmer Sanchez
Bench - Omar Narvaez
Bench - Charlie Tilson
Bench - Kevan Smith
SP - Carlos Rodon
SP - Reynaldo Lopez
SP - Lucas Giolito
SP - Tyson Ross
SP - Jake Odorizzi
RP - Juan Minaya
RP - Jace Fry
RP - Aaron Bummer
RP - Ian Hamilton
RP - Nate Jones
RP - Joe Kelly
RP - Ryan Burr
I went into this exercise with the goal of trying to shore up the starting rotation to account for the volatility of the young pitchers that are on or will be on the roster at some point this season. I also wanted to add a veteran righty to the bullpen. This offseason has some position player talent that is hard to pass up so might as well take a shot. Lastly, third base is a hole that doesn't have an obvious solution in the minors or on the 25 man roster so a stopgap veteran was the call until that solution materializes. I didn't want to give Engel the starting job that there just aren't many good solutions in free agency, the White Sox don't have a lot more to trade from, and the in house solutions are still a year or two away. This team will be better than lasts years team but are still a couple pieces away from being an obvious contender.
The payroll comes out to $105.7 million, which includes the $4 million I am sending to the Twins in the trade.
