PREAMBLE
I cannot recall at any point in my life, a season supporting a team so high on expectation and so low on delivery.
My inspiration for my OPP is the infamous pursuit of Harper AND Machado, the AND doing the heavy lifting at the time. But we fell short, were all consoled of course that we had a seat at the table and satisfied with the offseason HAUL of Alex Colome, Ivan Nova, Yonder Alonso, James McCann, Kelvin Herrera and Jon Jay
This time the table will be overturned and smashed
Too long this team has been short of genuine star power. Harper would have been perfect for this franchise. So no more. It's time to welcome Aaron Judge and Trea Turner to the White Sox.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYER
- Lucas Giolito: $10.8M — TENDER
- Dylan Cease: $5.3M — TENDER
- Reynaldo López; $3.3M — TENDER
- Michael Kopech: $2.2M — TENDER
- Danny Mendick: $1M — TENDER
I'm bringing back Gio for a final year as we're saying goodbye to Lance. ReyLo had a very solid year. And I like what we saw of Mendick pre-injury.
- Adam Engel: $2.3M — NON-TENDER
- Kyle Crick: $1.5M — NON-TENDER
- José Ruiz: $1M — NON-TENDER
Bye, bye and bye.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Tim Anderson: $12.5M — PICK UP
- Josh Harrison: $5.625M — DECLINE
I'm factoring Harrison's $1.5m into my $190m budget.
PLAYER OPTIONS
- AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) — TAKES BUYOUT
I don't think AJ ever looked happy in Chicago. Would you if you'd come from the Dodgers? I'm predicting he'll bet on himself, but in reality I need him gone to fit within the budget!
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- José Abreu — LET GO
- Johnny Cueto — LET GO
- Vince Velasquez — LET GO
- Elvis Andrus — LET GO
It pains me to farewell Jose, but it's gotta be done to bring in some new star power, and also put Vaughn in his natural position. The kid has been failed big time by the club.
MANAGER
- Ozzie Guillen
I'm writing this as it appears its down to two. I believe the manger gets too much praise when things are going well and too much stick when things aren't. Just make good decisions Ozzie. It will be a ride for sure.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Aaron Judge (eight years, $320 million). Who says no? Make it ten years if necessary. A franchise altering signing. Make up for Harper. All is forgiven Rick
No. 2: Trea Turner (eight years, $240 million). Heyman said Turner “will consider every team in free agency". This means us. Speed, power, defense.
No. 3: Jose Quintana (one year, $5,000,000). Started in Game 1 of the NLDS and has had a very good season. He is also loved by the fan base. Bring him back.
TRADES
There will be lots of old-friend alerts in 2023 as its time to farewell Tim Anderson, Liam Hendriks and Lance Lynn
No. 1: Trade Tim Anderson and Liam Hendriks to Dodgers for Gavin Lux, Ryan Pepiot and Brusdar Graterol. We meet some of the primary Dodgers needs, move some salary and address 2B, SP and RP. Lux is also lefthanded.
No. 2: Trade Lance Lynn, Yolbert Sanchez, Jose Rodriguez and Yoelqui Cespedes to Cardinals for RHP Tink Hence. Dumping Lance salary to a team with plenty of room, and picking up a Top 100 pitching prospect for depth.
No. 3: Trade Joe Kelly and Jake Diekman to whoever for some minor league flyers and/or some AAA pitching depth. I'm eating $3m of Kelly salary and $2.5m of Diekman.
SUMMARY
So here is my 26 man plus buyouts and cash.
I have Oscar Colas starting in April.
| Grandal, Yasmani | $18,250,000 | C |
| Vaughn, Andrew | $750,000 | 1B |
| Lux, Gavin | $750,000 | 2B |
| Turner, Trea | $30,000,000 | SS |
| Moncada, Yoán | $17,800,000 | 3B |
| Judge, Aaron | $40,000,000 | OF |
| Robert, Luis | $9,500,000 | OF |
| Colas, Oscar | $750,000 | OF |
| Jiménez, Eloy | $10,333,333 | DH |
| Mendick, Danny | $1,100,000 | B |
| Garcia, Leury | $5,000,000 | B |
| Sheets, Gavin | $750,000 | B |
| Zavala, Seby | $750,000 | B |
| Quintana, Jose | $5,000,000 | SP |
| Giolito, Lucas | $10,450,000 | SP |
| Pepiot, Ryan | $750,000 | SP |
| Cease, Dylan | $4,750,000 | SP |
| Kopech, Michael | $1,750,000 | SP |
| Martin, Davis | $750,000 | RP |
| Lambert, Jimmy | $750,000 | RP |
| Graveman, Kendall | $8,000,000 | RP |
| Bummer, Aaron | $3,750,000 | RP |
| López, Reynaldo | $3,600,000 | RP |
| Graterol, Brusdar | $1,000,000 | RP |
| Crochet, Garrett | $750,000 | RP |
| Foster, Matt | $750,000 | RP |
| Harrison, Josh (buyout) | $1,500,000 | |
| Pollock, A.J. (buyout) | $5,000,000 | |
| Kelly, Joe (cash) | $3,000,000 | |
| Diekman, Jake (cash) | $2,500,000 | |
| TOTAL: | $189,783,333 |
