PREAMBLE
I think 2019 will be another lost season for the White Sox. I think they will use the Kopech injury as a cop-out to do nothing. I have put on this what I think should be done not only from an on-field, but also off-field, perspective.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Jose Abreu, $16M - Tender
- Avisail Garcia, $8M – Non-Tender (Been up since 2013 and 1 good year, mistake made by Rick Hahn not trading after 2017 season).
- Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M - Tender
- Carlos Rodon, $3.7M - Tender
- Matt Davidson, $2.4M - Tender
- Leury Garcia, $1.9M – Non-Tender (Minor League deal if possible)
- Danny Farquhar, $1.4M – Non-Tender (Minor League Deal if possible)
CLUB OPTIONS
- Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout - Decline
- James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout – Decline (Attempt to sign to 1-year deal to cover Kopech or until Cease arrives)
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018) - Goodbye
- Hector Santiago (made $2 million in 2018 — added) - Goodbye
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Bryce Harper – 12 years for $400 Million. Opt-outs at 3, 6, and 9 years. Front loaded first three years, 35 – 40 mil per year. The White Sox have become irrelevant and will soon need to negotiate a new TV contract. They need to be aggressive and get one of the top tier free agents. IT IS IMPERATIVE because they have become irrelevant. Harper will help get eyeballs on TV and butts in the seats. The 3 year opt-out allows the team to have him when needed most while letting him leave while still in “prime” to make more money. The hope is by then the farm system is sustaining. This would also send a message to Free Agents that the White Sox are open for business, something that needs to be done.
No. 2: Mike Moustakis – 2 years $8 - $10 mil per year with 3rd year option. This deal should only be made if Harper is signed. Signing a 3rd baseman is a secondary action. If you cannot sign Harper then save money to go after Arenado, even though I think the White Sox would have no chance.
No. 3: Nathan Eovaldi – 2 years $7 - $8 mil per year with 3rd year option. This would be a back end starter who may be able to climb the ladder in the rotation, and can also come out of bullpen if needed, see WS games 1 & 2.
I think Machado will be a Yankee. I want no part of Donaldson as the focal point of White Sox free agency. I think his leg issues will be aggravated in the cold weather of Chicago, KC, Minnesota, and Detroit in late March / early April.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Jose Abreu to the NY Yankees for Estevan Florio and Domingo Acevado. While I would like to get Clint Frazier the medical issues he is having cause me to back off. Abreu will be a free agent after this coming season and if the team has not resigned him yet they may not be willing to do so. The Yankees need a slugging first baseman. Abreu gives the Yankees the pop they need at 1st base.
SUMMARY
The roster I am laying out has two key areas of weakness (3rd and CF) addressed through free agency.
25 man roster
1b – Matt Davidson
2b – Yoan Moncada
SS – Tim Anderson
3B – Mike Moustakis
LF – Eloy Jimenez
CF – Bryce Harper
RF – Daniel Palka
C – Wellington Castillo / Omar Narvaez
P – Carlos Rodon
P – Reynaldo Lopez
P – Nathan Eovaldi
P – Lucas Giolito
P – James Shields
RP – Zack Burdi
RP – Jace Fry
RP – Aaron Bummer
RP – Ryan Burr
RP – Caleb Frare
RP – Ian Hamilton
RP – Matt Davidson (Doing double duty)
B – Yolmer Sanchez
B – Jose Rondon
B – Nicky Delmonico
B – Adam Engel
B – Charlie Tilson
