PREAMBLE
In this plan I am looking to get rid of things we have excess of (relief pitching), be realistic with signings and trades, get younger, get lefty pitching and bats, and get better defensively.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Write “tender,” “non-tender” or “rework/extend” after each player and their projected 2022 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.
- Lucas Giolito: $10.8M- Tender
- Dylan Cease: $5.3M- Tender
- Reynaldo López; $3.3M- Tender and extend: 4/32 million
- Adam Engel: $2.3M- Non-tender
- Michael Kopech: $2.2M- Tender
- Kyle Crick: $1.5M- Non-tender
- José Ruiz: $1M- Tender
- Danny Mendick: $1M- Tender: will start year in Triple-A
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Tim Anderson: $12.5M ($1M buyout)- Pick up and trade
- Josh Harrison: $5.625M ($1.5M buyout)- Decline
PLAYER OPTIONS
Write “exercised” or “takes buyout.” The question here is whether you think Pollock could do better than one year and $8 million on the open market. I’m filling it in with “exercised” unless you can provide a compelling argument against it.
- AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) -Takes buyout: I never thought he looked especially happy here in Chicago, the Dodgers vibes look completely different than ours. He has a great track record and will find a deal elsewhere. Or at least I'm banking on it.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- José Abreu (Made $18M in 2021)- Let go: I'm sorry, Jose. Thank you.
- Johnny Cueto ($4.2M)- Let go: I don't think his level of play will continue into 2023.
- Vince Velasquez ($3M)- Let go
- Elvis Andrus ($14.25M)- Let go
MANAGER
Looks as of now it is between Ozzie or Kevin Long. I would prefer new blood in Kevin Long, but the way the organization works, I will assume Ozzie has already been hired. I am not against Ozzie, but believe there were and are better candidates in Espada, Quatraro, Long, and Washinton. Frank Menechino must go no matter what however.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Brandon Nimmo- 6 years/150 million. Plus speed, glove, lefty bat
No. 2: Dansby Swanson- 7 years/130 million. Great glove, great leader, this team's starting shortstop.
No. 3: Joey Gallo- 1 year/8 million
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Luis Robert and Colson Montgomery to MIA for Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesus Luzardo. I am high on Monty and love Luis, but Luis has failed to stay healthy and while I do believe he will be an all star, Jazz Chisholm was an all star lefty with decent defense, and Luzardo is still young with control until 2027. Katz will fix him.
No. 2: Trade Tim Anderson, Liam Hendriks, Kendall Graveman, Jose Rodriguez, and Lenyn Sosa to LAD for Gavin Lux, Cody Bellinger, Michael Busch (LAD #4) and Ryan Pepiot (LAD #6). We trade our two all stars, a great setup man, and pair of middle infield prospects to Los Angeles for a lefty second baseman with high potential, outfield depth, and a pitching prospect.
No. 3: Trade Jake Burger, Romy Gonzalez, Wes Kath, Seby Zavala and Jared Kelley to TEX for Jonah Heim. Texas could use a DH bat like Burger and also get a potential starter in Kelley, as they need pitching if they would like to compete as they plan to in the future. We get our catcher that provides a solid bat and great defense until 2027, I don't think Texas needs Heim behind Garver, so we give them prospects and a solid backup in Zavala.
SUMMARY
I believe Grandal and Moncada are untradeable, so we have to hope for big bounce back seasons from both of them, which would be hard for them to do.
The 2023 Roster woulSPd look like:
SS Swanson
2B Chisholm Jr.
1B Vaughn
DH Jimenez
CF Nimmo
C Heim
RF Colas
LF Bellinger
3B Moncada
Bench: C Grandal, IF/OF Busch, IF Lux, OF Gallo
SP1 Cease
SP2 Lynn
SP3 Giolito
SP4 Kopech
SP5 Luzardo
Relief pitchers: Ruiz, Crochet, Pepiot, Kelly, Diekman, Lambert, Bummer, Lopez
