Bojack (of all trades)

PREAMBLE

This plan that I felt compelled to write took me way much time to complete. The 2021 season this core dealt with a ton of adversity (injuries, Yerms rise and crashing back to earth, and a revolving door in rightfield that has been going on for a decade it seems). There are some holes to fill for this team to take the next step. 2B, RF and trading Kimbrel and Keuchel were the most important moves to make.

I think the Sox go one of two directions: 1 Trade for a 2B and sign a rightfielder (Castellanos, Conforto or Marte) or 2: Trade for a RF and sign a 2B (Semien, Taylor, Baez?).

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

• Lucas Giolito: $7.9M TENDER
• Reynaldo López; $2.8M TENDER
• Evan Marshall: $2.3M NON-TENDER
• Adam Engel: $2.2M TENDER/TRADE*
• Brian Goodwin: $1.7M NON-TENDER
• Jimmy Cordero: $1.2M PICK UP ON MINOR DEAL
• Jace Fry: $1M NON-TENDER

CLUB OPTIONS

• Craig Kimbrel: $16M ($1M buyout) PICK UP/ TRADE*
• César Hernández: $6M DECLINE

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

• Leury García (Made $3.5M in 2021) LET GO
• Carlos Rodón ($3M) DECLINING QO
• Billy Hamilton ($1M) LET GO
• Ryan Tepera ($950K) LET GO

FREE AGENTS

No. 1: 2B Marcus Semien 5 years $135 million

Semien would be my number one target in the free agent market. He provides leadership, defense and offense. It would be a good story too. Come back home Marcus.

No. 3. RP Yimi Garcia 2 years $ 6 million

Everyone was impressed with Graveman in the playoffs. I liked Garcia too, plus he would be cheaper and doesn't have the injury history that Graveman has.

No. 3. OF Andrew McCutchen 1 year $7.5 million

Cutch would provide a stop gap for this year in RF. Hopefully some combination of Cespedes, Colas and Adolfo could take that spot in 2023. If McCutchen falters they can trade for an outfielder at the deadline.

TRADES (BTR CERTIFIED)

No. 1. Trade RP Craig Kimbrel and Adam Engel to the Giants for P Blake Rivera. The Giants would be eating the Kimbrel $. Adam Engel fits in perfectly in the Giants team and spacious outfield. Rivera is a pitching prospect who draws comparisons to Kimbrel. A power arm with a power curve. Rivera could turn into a future bullpen arm.

No. 2: 3 Team Blockbuster Trade

White Sox get RP Jordan Romano, P Aaron Ashby, OF Jackie Bradley Jr, P Antoine Kelly and C Reese McGuire

Blue Jay's get RP Josh Hader, 3B Jake Burger, 2B Keston Hiura, P Adrian Houser and P Dallas Keuchel

Brewers get RP Aaron Bummer, 1B Andrew Vaughn, IF Cavan Biggio, 3B Santiago Espinal and OF Randall Grichuk

In this trade all 3 teams get new bullpen arms and essentially swap bad contracts in Bradley Jr, Keuchel and Grichuk.

The White Sox get a young bullpen arm in Romano (taking Kimbrels spot). Bradley Jr could provide great defense with occasional pop. Bradley Jr contract is too much but all 3 teams take on a bad but more useful one year contract.

No. 3: Trade White Sox RP Cole Irvin and RP AJ Puk for P Andrew Dalquist, 3B Bryan Ramos and OF Blake Rutherford.

Irvin would a valuable piece to have (Puk too). Essentially Irvin and Puk are young controlled arms to fill the Bummer slot. Irvin and Ashby have both started and have worked in the bullpen. I would have Reylo, Kopech, Ashby and Irvin share starts to limit Kopechs innings.

2022 White Sox Lineup

1. Tim Anderson SS R ($9.5)
2. Yoan Moncada 3B S ($13)
3. Marcus Semien 2B R ($27 M)
4. Jose Abreu 1B R ($18) R
5. Luis Robert CF R ($6M) R
6. Eloy Jimenez LF R ($7.5) R
7. Yasmani Grandal C ($18) S
8. Gavin Sheets DH/1B ($600K) L
9. Andrew McCutchen RF ($7.5M) R

Bench Romy Gonzalez IF/OF ($600K), Jackie Bradley Jr OF ($10M), Reese McGuire C ($600K). Micker Adolfo OF ($600K)

Rotation

1. Giolito R ($8.5)
2. Lynn R ($18)
3. Cease R ($600K)
4. Kopech R ($600K)
5. Ashby L ($600K)

Bull(y) Barn

• Liam Hendriks R ($18 M)
• Jordan Romano R ($600K)
• Yimi Garcia R ($3M)
• Garrett Crochet L ($600K)
• Cole Irvin L ($600K)
• AJ Puk L ($600K)
• Reynaldo López R ($2.8 M)
• Jose Ruiz R ($600K)