PREAMBLE
After picking up players listed below that are Arb Eligible and the other minimum guys, It looks like I have $43 MM already accounted for. That leaves me $67 million to play with. Let’s build a team that could compete now, but doesn’t screw the future, or at least not too much. For free agents, I’m just gonna use MLBTradeRumors predictions for value, because I’m too lazy.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Jose Abreu, $16M Tender
Avisail Garcia, $8M Non-Tender
Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M Non-Tender
Carlos Rodon, $3.7M Tender
Matt Davidson, $2.4M Non-Tender
Leury Garcia, $1.9M Non-Tender
Danny Farquhar, $1.4M Non-Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout – Pickup Option
James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout – Decline Option
FREE AGENTS
A.J. Pollock, CF – 4 years $60 MM ($15/Per)
Manny Machado, 3B – 13 years $390 MM ($30/Per)
TRADES
White Sox send Rutherford, Hansen, Adolfo to the Mariners for Mitch Haniger and Alex Colome.
We could bicker about the price equalization of this, but this is 3 legit prospects going to the Mariners in exchange for 4 years of a corner OF and 2 years of a RP. Gives the Sox another serious OF’er and a real Closer.
White Sox send Bernardo Flores and Jimmy Lambert to Royals for Danny Duffy.
Again, could probably bicker about the cost being too low for Duffy, but essentially trade non-essentials for a guy like Duffy. Injury shortened season, on a decent contract (3 years, like $45 remaining). Can be a low 4 ERA guy.
White Sox send Jace Fry and Jordan Stephens to Cubs for Kyle Schwarber.
I truly believe the Cubs have legitimately been trying to sell Schwarber for some time now. Their asking price has possibly come down enough to be willing to take a high leverage reliever and random spot starter. Schwarber can still help the Sox being a bat and getting on base.
White Sox send Danny Mendick and Luis Curbelo to the Mets for Zack Wheeler
It’s just a utility-ish guy and a lottery pick for a 1 year pitcher. Barring any additional major set-backs, Dunning, Cease, and Kopech should be in the rotation in 2020, so a 1 year guy might be nice thing to have.
SUMMARY
New lineup is:
2B Moncada
3B Machado
1B Abreu
RF Haniger
CF Pollock
LF Jimenez
DH Schwarber
SS Anderson
C Narvaez/Castillo
Rotation is:
SP Rodon
SP Duffy
SP Wheeler
SP Lopez
SP Giolito
Bullpen includes:
Avilan, Hamiltan, Burr, Colome, Minaya, Bummer, Jones, etc.
At the end of the day, I would give Cease and Dunning 8 starts in AAA and then start calling them up. Wouldn’t be afraid to start shuffling Giolito down in favor or spot starts for Adams, Guerrero, or that newer version of them.
I think I’m around $110 MM. Sitting with an iffy Rotation, young bullpen, but great lineup. Isn’t that what future playoff teams look like?
