PREAMBLE
The short and sweet of my plan, just like the others, is to improve this current White Sox roster with aspirations of a 2022 World Series title. A lot of my first moves centered on waiting for Cespedes and finding a 2B prospect. After reminding myself that this is a one year plan and not a 5 year plan, I opted to focus more on MLB talent with a touch of prospects. My main goal was to improve the lineup and not let the rotation regress, which I feel I was able to do well enough to compete for a world series and not just a division title.
Please be kind as this is my OPP that I’m posting and it’s probably not the most imaginative plan you’ll read(I had much crazier ideas that I nixed). I’m also aware that the trades I propose are more fantasy than realistic, but I do feel that they are close to acceptable trades.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Lucas Giolito: $7.9M - Tender
- Reynaldo López; $2.8M - Tender
- Evan Marshall: $2.3M – Non-Tender
- Adam Engel: $2.2M - Tender
- Brian Goodwin: $1.7M – Non-Tender
- Jimmy Cordero: $1.2M – non-tender
- Jace Fry: $1M – non-tender
CLUB OPTIONS
- Craig Kimbrel: $16M ($1M buyout) – pick up
- César Hernández: $6M - decline
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Leury García (Made $3.5M in 2021) – I saved this for last. I wanted to keep him but need to wait and see where the budget was at. After all other moves the budget sits at $172 million. It’s only $2 million over budget but Leury will probably be looking for $4 to$ 6 million next year. While loyal Jerry could be convinced to take this contract on, I’m choosing to stick with Mednick as our 26th man.
- Carlos Rodón ($3M) – Let go
- Billy Hamilton ($1M) – Let go
- Ryan Tepera ($950K) – Resign for 3yrs at $10 million
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Marcus Semien (5 years, $113 million).
A reunion sounds good to me. Semien would prefer to play SS again but just won a gold glove at 2B so best to stick there. He’ll likely receive better offers but in the end is convinced that coming back to an organization he knows is the happy ending everyone wants. Well, that, and we’re offering him an opt out after the 2nd year and without going into too much detail, some pretty good incentives. This could be the piece that really brings the offense together and makes it a scary force for the foreseeable future.
No. 2: Manny Pina (1 year, $2 million).
No explanation needed. Sox need a better backup and Pina is one of those options available.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Kimbrel to the Phillies for C Logan O'Hoppe and LHP Erik Miller.
We get a catching prospect and a left handed pitching prospect that both have some promise with proper grooming. Ethan Katz should be able to get the most out of Erik Miller, but the question will be how will our farm system help develop Logan O’Hoppe into the catcher we need. Philladelphia gets bullpen help and the closer they need. Let’s not forget that I’m Rick Hahn, so I’m able to convince the Phillies to take all $16 million of his salary.
No. 2: Trade Dallas Keuchel, $8 million, Zavala, Yermin, and Ruiz for LHP Brett Martin and OF Bubba Thompson.
Rangers have both the need for innings and the available payroll to take on any amount of that contract. I wouldn’t mind keeping Keuchel and seeing if he pitches anywhere close to 2020, but at $18 million, I don’t feel comfortable taking the risk. Along with a veteran that can eat innings, they get a catcher project that they can take on, a bullpen arm, and Yermin is going somewhere that could give him a full season of chances. In return, we get another bullpen arm and a prospect named Bubba. I see this as a win.
No. 3: Trade Jared Kelly, Adolfo, Burger, Sosa and Dalquist to Cincy for Castillo and Winker.
Hey look! Another Rick magic trade! Without resigning Rodon and trading Keuchel, the rotation is now missing a lefty as the remaining 3 (plus Kopech) are all righties. I would prefer to add a lefty to that mix, however, I find it hard to not pull the trigger on this trade for a top of line starter and a right fielder coming off a career year. With this trade, I fill a need in the rotation and in right field by adding 2 cost-controlled players for the next 2 years.
SUMMARY
This project was more stressful than I would have liked. I first started working on it roughly a week ago and spent 3 hours that first day. After those 3 hours all I had to show for it was 10+ tabs open of research. The ideas were both flowing and confronting each other. I didn’t start up on this again for two more days. This time I narrowed in on pitching and 2 hours in, found myself disgruntled with what I had written down.
My problem was trying to think more realistically of what the White Sox are likely to do as opposed to what I would do or like them to do. I looked at the free agents and found myself constantly saying ‘no way do they sign with us’.
After coming to terms with this, I sat down for another attempt and decided to stick with Rodon then turn my attention to the lineup. Well, sticking to the pattern here, I saw the rumors that we were more than likely to not bring Los back. So I threw up my hands and put the laptop away.
I know I know, just pick something and stick with it. This project should not take a week plus. Oh well, it is what it is and here I am, finally done.
What really helped me power through this project finally, was the news that Cincy is seemingly shifting to a seller. 2 cheap and strong options sitting over there in red about to come here and wear black on the way to a World Series. Trading for Castillo and Winker (combined $14.5 million) helped create cap space for bringing Semien back and only sit slightly over budget.
| Lineup | ||
| SS | Anderson | $9,500,000 |
| CF | Robert | $6,000,000 |
| 2B | Semien | $25,000,000 |
| 1B | Abreu | $19,666,668 |
| LF | Eloy | $7,333,333 |
| 3B | Moncada | $13,800,000 |
| RF | Winker | $7,000,000 |
| C | Yaz | $18,250,000 |
| DH | Vaughn | $600,000 |
| $107,150,001 | ||
| Bench | ||
| Mendick | $600,000 | |
| Pina | $2,000,000 | |
| Romy | $600,000 | |
| Sheets | $600,000 | |
| Engel | $2,250,000 | |
| SP | ||
| Giolito | $8,250,000 | |
| Lynn | $18,500,000 | |
| Castillo | $7,500,000 | |
| Cease | $600,000 | |
| Kopech | $600,000 | |
| $35,450,000 | ||
| Bullpen | ||
| Hendriks | $13,333,333 | |
| Tepera | $4,000,000 | |
| Crochet | $600,000 | |
| Bummer | $2,500,000 | |
| Lopez | $2,750,000 | |
| Foster | $600,000 | |
| Martin | $1,000,000 | |
| $24,783,333 |
NOTE: One of my favorite moves that didn’t make it in was trading Kimbrel to the rays for their 2B prospect Xavier Edwards to be our 2B of the future.
DISCLAIMER: Got my roster set with a budget of $172,233,334 and feeling excited about it, when a feeling a dread crept up on me. What could be causing that feeling you may be asking
