PREAMBLE
Establish where you see the White Sox at this point, and your mindset/philosophy/strategy in putting together the roster for the upcoming season.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Write “tender” or “non-tender” after each player. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.
- Jose Abreu, $16M- Tender
- Avisail Garcia, $8M- Non-Tender
- Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M- Tender
- Carlos Rodon, $3.7M- Tender
- Matt Davidson, $2.4M- Non-Tender
- Leury Garcia, $1.9M- Tender
- Danny Farquhar, $1.4M- Non-Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.
- Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout
- James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout
We already saw what happened here
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, or let go?
- Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018)- Let go
- Hector Santiago (made $2 million in 2018 — added)- let go
We aren't going to want dudes to merely "eat innings" with Manny Machado
FREE AGENTS
List three free-agent targets you’d pursue during the offseason, with a reasonable contract. A good example of a bad idea:
No. 1: Manny Machado (10 years, $330M, Opt outs in years 4 and 6)
No. 2: Yasmani Grandal (4 years, $60M)
No. 3: Andrew McCutchen (3 years, $50M)
No. 4: Gio Gonzalez (2 years, $25M)
Ok so the big fish was obvious from the title, but if I am commiting $33M to Machado in year 1 I am going to add around him a little. The WS contention doesn't start until Kopech/Madrigal/Robert/Cease arrive, but we aren't going to pick top 5 with Machado in a weak AL Central either, I am atleast making an effort in 2019 and setting up for a big 2020. So first we sign Manny to a mega deal and let him headline the rebuild. Next, we add a top tier Catcher who will be behind the dish for the next 4 years of contending, with guys like Omar and Seby available as backups (Zach Collins is a 1B). After that I splurge on two more deals (Thanks Jerry) I get a legitamate LF'er in Andrew McCutchen who we can count on (A.k.a Not Avi) and a real SP to add to the rotation that will sorely miss Kopech. I am still not paying for relivers for a team that has 0% chance of WS contention at season's outset. If we are in the race in July we can easily trade for RP help.
TRADES
Propose trades that you think sound reasonable for both sides, and the rationale behind them. A good example of a bad idea:
No. 1: Trade Luis Gonzalez to Seattle for Dee Gordon
I am not doing Adam Engel until Basabe or Robert is ready. Dee Gordon's contract is meh so we don't give up much here, Gonzalez is a real CF prospect but also a college player tearing up A+. We aren't trading away Basabe or Robert here we can afford this move. Gordon wasn't really much better than Engel last year but I will take him 10 times out of 10 moving forward. He, Timmy and Yoan on the basepaths will be fun.
No. 2: Trade Wellington Castillo away in a salary dump. No return
SUMMARY
- Yoan Moncada 2B
- Jose Abreu 1B
- Manny Machado 3B
- Eloy Jiminez RF
- Andrew McCutchen LF
- Daniel Palka DH
- Tim Anderson SS
- Yasmani Grandal C
- Dee Gordon CF
Bench: Yolmer Sanchez UTIL, Omar Narvaez C, Leurey Garcia UTIL, Nicky Delmonico OF
- Carlos Rodon
- Reynaldo Lopez
- Gio Gonzalez
- Lucas Giolito
- Spencer Adams/Dylan Covey/Jordan Stephens
LHP: Aaron Bummer
LHP: Jace Fry
RHP: Nate Jones
RHP: Ian Hamilton
RHP: Ryan Burr
RHP: Jose Ruiz
CP: Zack Burdi
First things first; yes I am adding a lot of payroll. The 2019 White Sox payroll is just south of $130M. That is a massive increase no doubt. I think it could work though becuase 1) Jerry seems inclined to spend and 2) With these signings I believe most of the final touches to our championship roster will come internally, meaning our Budget won't increase this dramatically ever again. Eventually Dee Gordon gets replaced with LouBob or Basabe and becomes an expensive bench guy we can maybe move, Cease/Dunning/Kopech replace Covey/Gonzalez/Giolito and the bullpen stays cheap with guys like Tyler Johnson coming up. Then we use Nick Madrigal, our 3rd pick in 2019, Blake Rutherford or whatever else we have surplus to trade for a cost controlled stud P or maybe a LF to replace Cutch. Either way, I think Yaz/Machado cover two of our biggest holes and make sense as large financial commitments. While I don't think this roster competes with Cleveland for the AL Central, I do think this team can hang around .500, make things interesting again, and set up momentum to roll into 2020 with when we should get a Kopech return and have Eloy/Yoan/Cease established. That lineup in 2020 (with the small possibility Gordon is already gone for LouBob or Basabe) is absolutely World Series Quality and would bring a serious amount of respect to the White Sox in the FA Market, if they felt inclined to go after a big name RP or SP (Chris Sale anyone?).
