ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Write “tender” or “non-tender” after each player. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.
- Jose Abreu, $16M – tender and extend. Jose is the leader of the old-guard and I still stick to the idea that he can serve as an excellent mentor. Once the window is fully open in the 2020s, he can serve as a DH or platoon with a power-hitting left hander (Collins?).
- Avisail Garcia, $8M – tender. The devil you know is better than the one you don't. I don't see any problem with sticking him in right and hoping he returns to something close to his 2017 form. If he starts looking like it, a mid-season extension could be on the table.
- Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M – tender. The ultimate utility player who I have a soft spot for since he kept this season fun with his antics.
- Carlos Rodon, $3.7M – tender. Clear yes. See if he will bite on a Quintana or Sale like extension somewhere in the area of 5 years and $50-60 million.
- Matt Davidson, $2.4M – non-tender.
- Leury Garcia, $1.9M – non-tender.
- Danny Farquhar, $1.4M – non-tender but sign to a minor league deal. This is more about goodwill than anything, but sometimes that helps potential free agents view the club as loyal.
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.
- Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout – pick up.
- James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout – decline.
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
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: AJ Pollock (3 years, $36 million). I like Pollock as a stop-gap until Robert or Basabe are ready. Basabe may never play center, but I think next year the Sox make this determination due to his big arm. Pollock has sneaky pop and I think an OBP anywhere between .310 and .320 is serviceable enough to relegate Engel to late-inning defensive replacement.
No. 2: DJ LeMahieu (two years, $24M) – In the same sense that Pollock is a stopgap for prospects, I think that LeMahieu is an excellent stopgap for Madrigal. With a decent average and average pop for a second baseman, I think this is a prudent signing for a guy who can take over in the 2 hole in the batting order.
No. 3: Gio Gonzalez (2 years, $28M with third year team option at $12M) – I like him as an innings eater, and I think a lefty to slot in at the #4 spot behind Kopech (once he's healthy), Rodon and Lopez would give the Sox an above average rotation and he could be an excellent #5 whenever Cease is ready.
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 Wellington Castillo and Alec Hansen to the Braves for William Contreras. The Braves have an excellent defensive catcher in Tyler Flowers (RIP) but I think they can pair Castillo's bat with him for some better production out of that position. They also can develop Hansen either as a powerful bullpen arm for the nearer-future or try to rework him as a starter for the long-term. Castillo's salary comes off the payroll and Contreras gives us a better defensive catching prospect if Zavala or Collins don't stick behind the plate long-term.
SUMMARY
Lineup:
- Anderson – SS
- LeMahieu - 2B
- Eloy – LF
- Abreu – 1B
- Palka – DH
- Pollock – CF
- Moncada – 2B
- Garcia – RF
- Narvaez/Zavala – C
I think the 1-6 looks much, much better and the 8 spot will improve dramatically once the first outfield prospect is ready.
Bench:
- Engel – OF
- Yolmer – UT
- Zavala/Narvaez – C
- Casey Gillaspie –1B/DH
- Rondon – INF
I think someone surprises us with a quick progression from AA to AAA and takes over Gillaspie's spot by July. This could be someone like Collins, Sheets (who I think should start in Birmingham) or even Luis Gonzalez.
Rotation:
- Rodon
- Lopez
- Gonzalez
- Giolito
- Covey or Spencer Adams (until Dunning or Cease are ready)
I am really banking on Giolito eating some innings or really figuring something out. People forget how long Spencer Adams has been in the organization and that he had a very good ERA for a very bad team in Charlotte. I think give him a chance and see if he can figure out if he have what it takes to be crafty in the Majors.
Bullpen:
- Burdi
- Minaya
- Vieira
- Burr
- Fry
- Hamilton
I hope this young group grows together and some sort of sequence starts to develop. I personally think that Hamilton and Fry will close until Burdi proves he's ready and Vieira is on a very short leash. Eventually I hope to replace him with a left-hander, but I don't think Medeiros will be ready until 2020 (maybe a cup of coffee in September to get his feet wet).
