Here we go, Rick Hahn. This is YOUR off season to show Sox fans, Chicago, and the MLB that this franchise is serious about competing for championships. The rebuild is behind us and the Sox are ready to compete for a playoff run! There is no reason for this team with the talent they currently have rostered and the $$ they SHOULD spend, that they cannot compete for a playoff position. This playoff drought needs to end. Next year will be the year that happens for the South Siders!
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M- Tender
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M- Non-Tender.
- James McCann, $4.9M- Tender
- Carlos Rodon, $4.5M- Tender
- Leury García, $4M- Tender
- Evan Marshall, $1.3M- Tender
- Josh Osich, $1M- Non-Tender
- Ryan Goins, $900K- Non-Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
- Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout- I’ll personally help him pack his bags. See ya, Beef.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019)- Bring him back. See below in free agency.
- Iván Nova (made $9,166,167 in 2019)- Let go
- Jon Jay (made $4M in 2019)- Let go
- Hector Santiago (made $2M in 2019 on split contract)- Let go
FREE AGENTS
#1. 1B/DH Jose Abreu- 3 years/$30 million. I think this is a fair deal for the Sox and Jose. His play is going to decline. Pito wants to win with the Sox and Jerry has also made it very clear that he wants to see Jose remain with the club. Great veteran club house presence is needed on this roster and Jose provides that leadership. Just ask Yoan Moncada if you don’t believe me.
#2. C Yasmani Grandal- 5 years/ $90 million. I’m willing to bet a large amount of money (that I don’t have) and say that James McCann will not provide another year where his slash line looks like this .273/.328/.460/.789. McCann can be Giolito’s personal catcher and that is very important. Yasmani is a must for the Sox this off season, though. He is one of the best pitch framers in the game and provides the Sox with a left handed bat that they desperately need!
#3. SP Zack Wheeler 5 years/ $115 million. If the Sox are going to compete they clearly need help in their rotation. Wheeler trails only Syndergaard, Cole, and DeGrom in average fastball velocity at 97.1 mph (he also has a great slider and curve ball). This signing for the White Sox reminds me of the Cubs when they goodbye to their rebuild and signed Jon Lester.
#4. RP Will Harris 3 years/ $30 million. This would be an incredible addition to the Sox bullpen during a contention run. Dependable/reliable veteran bullpen arm.
#5. SP Dallas Keuchel 3 years/$58 million. I think it is important to balance out the rotation and get a LHP in that rotation. You CANNOT count on Carlos Rodon to come back and have his arm balance out the rotation. Keuchel is a guy they should have signed this past off season in my opinion, but this year work as well.
#6. RF Nick Castellanos 5 years/$100 million. He’s 27 years old! Sign him and fill that void out in RF. He was notoriously known as a bad outfielder, but he was surprisingly solid for the Cubs after they acquired him from the Tigers. This sign solidifies our OF (see trade below).
TRADES
Just about every plan is going to acquire Joc Pederson…so let’s join in on the fun.
#1: Trade Micker Adolfo, Alec Hansen and Carson Fulmer to the Dodgers for Joc Pederson. This is the guy the Sox have wanted for a few years now. Joc also provides another left handed bat to the Sox lineup. Joc would come to the Sox and play RF, but has played every OF position during his career. He can play both corner OF spots very well. This trade is why I did not have the Sox attempting to Sox J.D. Martinez. With a move like this and the signing of Nick Castellanos, this moves Eloy into the DH role for the Sox.
SUMMARY
With the above moves happening, I believe the Sox have put themselves in a great position to make a playoff push this coming season! The Opening Day lineup should look something like this:
- Luis Robert CF
- Yoan Moncada 3B
- Jose Abreu 1B
- Eloy Jimenez DH/LF- try to keep him out of the OF as much as possible.
- Yasmani Grandal C
- Tim Anderson SS
- Nicholas Castellanos RF
- Joc Pederson LF
- Nick Madrigal 2B
- Adam Engel
- Leury Garcia
- Danny Mendick
- James McCann
Our starting roation should look something like:
- Zack Wheeler
- Lucas Giolito
- Dallas Keuchel
- Michael Kopech
- Dylan Cease
Our bullpen should look something like:
- Jace Fry
- Aaron Bummer
- Jose Ruiz
- Alex Colome
- Kelvin Herrera- ugh.
- Will Harris
- Evan Marshall
- Reynaldo Lopez
- Carlos Rodon (starts season on IL).
Sox baseball will be here before we know it!
May all of our plans come to fruition and the Sox make the playoffs very, very soon! Yoan Moncada for MVP in 2020. Let’s go Rick Hahn & Co! Do not let us down…again!
