Gang – this team has upgraded hitting, great gloves on the bench, lots of SPs & better bullpen.
Arbitration Eligble
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M – Tender
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M – Non-Tender. I love his glove but I’ve got a plan for that (see below).
- James McCann, $4.9M – Tender
- Carlos Rodon, $4.5M - Tender. Kind of shocked by the amount of folks non-tendering him.
- Leury García, $4M – Non-Tender. Flexibility is nice but others can do that for cheaper.
- Evan Marshall, $1.3M – Tender
- Josh Osich, $1M – Non-Tender
- Ryan Goins, $900K – Non-Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.
- Wellington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout Decline. Bye not buy.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, or let go?
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) Retain 2/$25 for the service. Vaughn will be up 2021 so bit of an overlap especially with JD Martinez.
- Iván Nova (made $9,166,167 in 2019) Let Go
- Jon Jay (made $4M in 2019) Let Go with impunity
- Hector Santiago (made $2M in 2019 on split contract) Let go
FREE AGENTS
Figuring we can’t get close to front end starters on the FA market.
No. 1: Will Smith (3 years $39 million) Need a closer. Wanted different contract than Kimbrel because I want different result.
No 2 Yasmani Grandal (3 years $ 60 million) The best hitter on market who can play in the field. I’m not buying that JD Martinez is better option because he can teach our young hitters. Pay a couple hundred for another coach to do that.
No 3 Kole Calhoun (2 years $ 15 million) Someone who did an offseason plan says he’s a lock to stay in Cincinnati. I believe him so if he’s out Kole Calhoun for basically the same money; same inconsistency hitting but probably a better fielder (Gold Glove finalist)
No 4 Jose Quintana or Wade Miley (1 year $ 5 million) Take a flyer on a flexible arm. See Kimbrel for evidence that guys who fade late aren’t going to get a big contract. Quintana is first choice if Cubs let him fly if not Miley. Having Q back with Sox succeeding is worth 5 WAR just for the trash talking we can do to Cubs fans.
Also extend Moncada, Giolito, Roberts. For 2020 – all salaries will be $ 1m.
TRADES
No. 1: The Sox Trade Herrera, Walker, Zach Collins, for Zach Greinke: This is my big move on pitching side. We’ve got room for his contract (2 years) and are not on his no trade list. Big assumption that Houston for some reason (Cole pursuit, Wheeler pursuit, etc) needs to free up salary. Herrera will become a stud again with Houston development and Fulmer will become serviceable. Figuring him at $ 53m left over next 2 years as Astros got $ 24m from the Diamondbacks in the deadline deal last year. High but comes off in 2 years.
No. 2: The Sox Trade Beard, Rutherford & Sheets for Jorge Solar: Solar only has 2 more years of control so this trade works for both sides. Ex Cub helping White Sox is good for extra WAR.
SUMMARY
Pitching
Rotation possibilities
1 Lucas Giolito
2 Zach Grienke
3 Reynaldo Lopez
4 Michael Kopech
5 Dylan Cease
6 Carlos Rodon
7 Jose Quintana/Wade Miley
Lots of arms, old and young. Cease, Lopez, Kopech, Miley/Quintana can all go to bullpen if needed. Much strong bullpen with Colome closing.
Bullpen
Closer Smith
Setup Aaron Bummer
Set Up Alex Colome
Evan Marshall
Fry
Cordero
Lineup
1 Anderson SS
2 Moncada 3b
3 Abreu 1b
4 Grandal DH
5 Jimenez LF
6 Solar DH
7 Robert CF
8 Calhoun RF
9 Nick Madrigal 2B
Bench
McCann
Yolbert Sanchez
Engel
Adolfo or Basabe
Yolbert is Major League fielder right now. So is Engel :). Late in year Vaughn can come up for pinch hitting.
MATH
A little above $120m ($ 122.1 to be exact) but Abreu, Greinke come off in 2 years and overage is really the Gio, Yoan & LRob extensions. Upgrade at DH, outfield, great gloves on the bench, and 2 aces and tons of potential starters. Also, better bullpen and fielding with Calhoun. Plus tons of folks here that will anger Cub fans (Eloy, Cease, Solar, Q).
