ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Jose Abreu, $16M - tender
- Avisail Garcia, $8M – non-tender
- Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M - tender
- Carlos Rodon, $3.7M - tender
- Matt Davidson, $2.4M - tender
- Leury Garcia, $1.9M - tender
- Danny Farquhar, $1.4M – nontender, resign MILB deal
CLUB OPTIONS
- Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout – Pick up
- James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout – Buy out
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018) Peace!
- Hector Santiago (made $2 million in 2018 — added) Bye!
FREE AGENTS
Yasmani Grandal (4 years, $72 million) - One of the most underrated catchers in baseball (3rdhighest fwar since 2015). Grandal has a career 117 wRC+ and is one of the better defending catchers in baseball. He is consistently one of the best framers in baseball, which will greatly aid our young pitching.
Yusei Kukichi (5 years, $75 million) – I have no clue what Kukichi’s market will be. This is just a random guess. Kukichi is a 27 year old LHP from Japan with a career 2.82 era in more than 150 starts. He throws a fastball that has been clocked a 98 but sits more 92-94. His slider is considered a plus pitch. He also mixes in a curve and changeup. He also has a deceptive delivery. He is projected to be #3 starter, with upside for more. I originally had us signing Keuchel for 4 years, $84 million but decided to mix it up a little bit.
Clay Bucholz (1 year, $9 million) – Bucholz had a career resurgence in 2018 with the dbacks. Sign him as a filler to the back of the rotation. If he continues to pitch well, flip him at the deadline.
TRADES
Jose Abreu to the Rockies for Ian Desmond, Colton Welker and Ramiel Tapia – Abreu enters his last year of his contract (arbitration) and will probably be paid around $13 million again. Desmond is still owed $53 million on his contract. The White Sox will absorb about $40 of that contract with Abreu departing and get former top 100 prospect Raimel Tapia and current top 100 3rd base prospect Colton Welker. Tapia becomes the White Sox starting Centerfielder, Welker will start in AA with a possible September call. Desmond will hold it down in Right/Left field until Eloy takes over in left.
Wellington Castillo to the Brewers for 2 lottery ticket players:With Grandal on board, there’s no need for a back up making $7.5 million dollars. Trade him to the catcher needy Brewers to shed salary.
Gavin Sheets, Spencer Adams and Kodi Medieros to the Cardinals for Jose Martinez: With Abreu gone, the White Sox need a cost controlled slugger. Jose Martinez is 30 years old with a career 130 wRC+, he is controlled until 2022. His value has been limited due to him playing in the OF in St. Louis. A permanent move to first base will increase his value and he can even DH.
SUMMARY
Mid April lineup:
2b Moncada
C Grandal
1B Martinez
LF Jimenez
DH Palka
SS Anderson
3B Sanchez (Welker at end of yet)
RF Desmond
CF Tapia
Rotation:
1.Rodon
- Lopez
- Kukichi
- Giolito
- Bucholz (Cease at end of year)
The White Sox need to add legit MLB players this year that will be part of next play off team. The 1-5 of this lineup is pretty good. Anderson and Tapia have some untapped potential, could make for a pretty exciting lineup. Rotation-wise, it would be interesting TV. Giolito needs to figure it out and find consistency in his mechanics. If Lopez continues to pitch like he did at the end of the year – Rodon, Lopez and Kukichi- could make for a solid 1-3. Not to mention Cease being up at some point.
