Here is my offseason plan for the White Sox. It's time to start making moves for the future. I went over the $110M mark, but I think this team is ready to start spending.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Jose Abreu, $16M – Tender and extend
Avisail Garcia, $8M – Non-Tender - It’s time to walk away from Avi.
Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M – Tender - Good utility infielder that can help in OF if needed in a pinch.
Carlos Rodon, $3.7M – Tender and extend
Matt Davidson, $2.4M – Tender - Can help at 1B/3B/DH and even a little pitching.
Leury Garcia, $1.9M – Tender - Has to stay healthy but at this number he's worth it.
Danny Farquhar, $1.4M – Non-tender w/ minor league deal ($1M if he makes the team)
CLUB OPTIONS
Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout – Pick up
James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout – Decline
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018) - Let Go
Hector Santiago (made $2 million in 2018 — added) - Let Go
EXTENSION
Jose Abreu: 4 years/$73M (2019-2022): ’19- $17M, ’20- $20M, ’21- $20M, ’22- $16M
Carlos Rodon: 6 years/$58M (w/ $18M option in 2025 : ’19- $3.5M, ’20- $6.5M, ’21- $9M, ’22- $14.5M, ’23- $16.5M ’24- $18M, ’25- $18M team option
FREE AGENTS
Manny Machado: 8 years/$248M- Convince him to play 3B because he’s much more valuable there instead of SS. Have to overspend to get the big dogs here. Opt out after 4 years/$130M. ’19- $34M, ’20- $32M, ’21- $32M, ’22- $32M (opt out), ’23- $30M, ’24- $30M, ’25- $30M, ’26- $28M
Dallas Keuchel: 4 years/$88M- Comes in as the veteran of the rotation that’s pitched in 3 straight playoffs. ’19- $24M, ’20- $24M, ’21- $20M, ’22- $20M
Andrew McCutchen: 2 years/$32M- Brings another vet and adds OBP to a lineup that definitely needs it. ’19- $16M, ’20- $16M
Ervin Santana: 1 year/$8M w/ $3M in incentives- Just a #5 SP coming in to eat innings. Only a 1 year deal so Kopech takes this spot next year and also allowing Dylan Cease to have a spot if he shows he’s ready.
Joe Kelly: 2 years/$9M- Need a back end of the bullpen guy. ’19- $4.5M, ’20- $4.5M
Martin Maldonado: 1 year/ $3M- Back up defensive catcher.
TRADES
Trade C Welington Castillo to the Mets for SS Shervyen Newton and RP Bobby Wahl
ROSTER
LINEUP w/ Jimenez
Andrew McCutchen RF
Yoan Moncada 2B
Manny Machado 3B
Jose Abreu 1B
Eloy Jimenez LF
Daniel Palka/Matt Davidson DH
Tim Anderson SS
Omar Narvaez C
Adam Engel CF
BENCH
C- Martin Maldonado
INF- Yolmer Sanchez
OF- Leury Garcia
DH/1B/3B- Matt Davidson
Starting Pitchers
Carlos Rodon (L)
Dallas Keuchel (L)
Reynaldo Lopez (R)
Lucas Giolito (R)
Ervin Santana (R)
Bullpen
Nate Jones (R)
Joe Kelly (R)
Danny Farquhar (R)
Ian Hamilton (R)
Ryan Burr (R)
Jace Fry (L)
Caleb Frare/Aaron Bummer (L)
TOTAL PAYROLL: $130Mish
The offense has added pop and OBP skills. Adam Engel is going to have to man CF for defensive reasons until either Luis Basabe or Luis Robert are ready to take over. Hopefully they both make their way up and one of them can move to RF when McCutchen is done.
The rotation added two vets in Keuchel and Santana. Keuchel can be a key piece as the rebuild continues while Santana could be a flip option if he pitches well. They both eat up innings that have been vacated by Shields and the injury to Kopech. Cease and Dunning aren’t that far off and if they stay healthy, they could push for starts this year. Meaning Lopez and Giolito are going to have to pitch well to stay in the rotation.
The bullpen is going to be rough with youth. If things are going right, could always add one near the deadline. But getting guys like Hamilton, Burr, J. Ruiz, Frare and maybe some others could be very helpful.
Adding in guys like Cease, Dunning, Basabe, Robert, Madrigal, Collins, Burger, Rutherford, Adolfo, Gonzalez, Zavala, Thompson and T. Johnson as well as others is going to start moving things along in the next 2-3 years.
Hope you enjoy!
