Hahn has recently stated publicly that the Sox are more likely to add via trade rather than free agency. So although I kept that in mind as I went about making my plan, I definitely splashed some cash as well. I also recognize that this plan is extremely unlikely because it shatters the Sox previous record FA signing. The roster is already nearly at the ceiling of $190M before we even begin, so even without the benefit of Hahn’s spending comments, it would be hard to make any huge additions simply by buying them (No Judge, no Rodon).
I don’t even know where the Sox are in this “window” anymore, or if there ever was a window. The rebuild seems to have been doomed from the beginning. But the OPP is always fun, so I’ve worked with what we have here to try and improve the club for 2023. I focused on adding some high upside guys, albeit some who are damaged goods. I don’t like gambling when I don’t have to, but thanks to this front office, I believe I have to.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Lucas Giolito: $10.8M Tender
- Dylan Cease: $5.3M Tender
- Reynaldo López; $3.3M Tender
- Adam Engel: $2.3M Non-Tender
- Michael Kopech: $2.2M Tender
- Kyle Crick: $1.5M Non Tender
- José Ruiz: $1M NonTender
- Danny Mendick: $1M Non Tender, I could easily be convinced to tender him though.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Tim Anderson: $12.5M ($1M buyout) Pick up
- Josh Harrison: $5.625M ($1.5M buyout Buyout
PLAYER OPTIONS
- AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) — Buyout. Thanks bro, this changed everything!
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- José Abreu (Made $18M in 2021) Let go Good luck buddy. Time for Vaughn at 1B.
- Johnny Cueto ($4.2M) Let go He’s priced himself out
- Vince Velasquez ($3M) Let go
- Elvis Andrus ($14.25M) Let go
MANAGER
Grifol already hired. He wasn’t on my shortlist, but fwiw I’m okay with this hire.
FREE AGENTS
No 1: Dansby Swanson seven years/$140M ($20M AAV) Good hitter with a great glove who is still on the right side of 30. High floor guy, for a change. He provides the power that TA was supposed to be with better defense. But why are they signing Swanson if they already have a SS? Keep reading to find out. Wanted Trea Turner, couldn't afford it.
No 2: Andrew Benintendi four years/$54M some much needed outfield stability gained here at a price that wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. Left sided bat, good OBP, good defense. I would expect him to get back to double digit homers, but not by much. I took the years/money exactly from MLBtraderumors prediction, but I’ve slightly backloaded the deal here to keep me closer to the $190M ceiling. Wanted Nimmo, couldn't afford it.
No. 3: Jose Quintana two years/$20M. Back end depth, could do much worse. There has to be at least one old friend reunion each year and I’m just glad it wasn’t the manager.
No 4: Jackie Bradley Jr. one year/league minimum not married to this idea,btw. any OF depth piece, wouldn’t play much if they can “just stay healthy”. Billy Hamilton could also be fun again. Anyone that has some value and would play for the minimum here. AAAA type player, wouldn’t mind if they still had Luis Gonzalez around, but alas.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Tim Anderson for C Tyler Stephenson (Reds). Not sure how likely this is, but the trade values tool has Anderson’s value easily outweighing Stephenson’s. I’m not so sure. Some risk here since Stephenson missed more than half of last season with thumb surgery and a broken clavicle but he looks like one of the best catchers in the league when healthy at a position that is extremely thin. Sox save some money here to spend on the FA’s above. Grandal is now the backup C, unless you can trade him somehow. I def explored that idea, but couldn't make it work as I am an optimist but not a magician.
No 2: Trade Colson Montgomery, Norge Vera, Jake Burger, Lenyn Sosa, and Yoelqui Cespedes for Jazz Chisholm 2B Miami signing Swanson and acquiring Chisholm allows them to move Montgomery and Sosa. Had to keep throwing in prospects with value (not an easy trick in this org) in order to get this even. Adds a solid 2B with loads of control and lots of upside. Hits from the left side and has good power at the position. He is extremely athletic and above average defensively.
SUMMARY
My 26 man payroll comes in at about $193M and that includes the buyouts of Pollock and Harrison. It would’ve been fun to have back the money promised to Leury and Deikman (and Kelly for that matter) to play with, but our front office kind of screwed itself there. I’m placing a lot of faith in many things going right, which I’d rather not do, but Sox will have to take some gambles due to the previous choices they’ve made. Chisholm and Stephenson’s health, for starters, is an item of concern. I’m also handing Colas the keys in RF and crossing my fingers. The numbers suggest he’s ready, but he just doesn’t have a lot of games at AA or AAA still.
I admittedly (and probably regrettably) did very little with the pitching staff and would have liked to sign another SP (Cueto?) and reliever, but I prioritized the offense because that is what jumped out at me as most troubling. I’m counting on some positive regression for Yoan and Grandal, and I’m really hoping that Giolito figures something out this offseason to make 2022 an aberration. Also, I would let Crochet stretch out in AAA once he returns, to explore using him as a starter in 2024. He doesn’t figure in my 2023 pen at all. Also Sheets is on my 26man, but I'd love to get someone else in that spot as well.
- Benintendi LF L
- Robert CF R
- Chisholm 2B L
- Jimenez DH R
- Stephenson C R
- Colas RF L
- Vaughn 1B R
- Swanson SS R
- Moncada 3B S
Starters
- Cease
- Lynn
- Giolito
- Kopech
- Quintana
- Martin
Bullpen
CL Hendriks
Setup Graveman
3 Bummer
4 Reylo
5 Kelly
6 Diekman
7 Foster
8 Next man up
Payroll
| 2023 | ||
| SS | Swanson | 20 |
| 3B | Moncada | 17.8 |
| C | Stephenson | 0.7 |
| C/1B/DH | Grandal | 18.25 |
| DH | Jimenez | 10.33 |
| CF | Robert | 9.5 |
| 1B | Vaughn | 0.7 |
| 2B | Chisholm | 0.7 |
| Util | Garcia | 5.5 |
| LF | Benintendi | 11.5 |
| 1b/of | Sheets | 0.7 |
| OF | JBJ or other | 0.7 |
| SP | Giolito | 10.8 |
| SP | Quintana | 10 |
| SP | Lynn | 18.5 |
| SP | Cease | 5.3 |
| SP | Kopech | 2.2 |
| BP | Graveman | 8 |
| BP | Kelly | 9 |
| BP | Bummer | 3.75 |
| BP | Hendriks | 14.33 |
| BP | Deikman | 3.5 |
| BP | Martin | 0.7 |
| BP | Lopez | 3.3 |
| BP | Foster | 0.7 |
| Buyout | Pollock | 5 |
| Buyout | Harrison | 1.5 |
| 192.96 |
