jacknivesout cut and paste 2023 offseason plan

PREAMBLE

2022 was a downer of a season. The underperforming, underwhelming offense sputtered down the stretch. If it wasn’t for the signings of ageless wonders Cueto and Andrus the second half of the 2022 White Sox season was pretty much unwatchable. Thankfully the 2 years with LaRussa at the helm have come to an end. The Grifol presser added some much needed enthusiasm and was a great way to put a end to the past 2 years. My plan was to keep the momentum going in the right direction. I wanted to make the roster younger, more versatile and better defensively. I would love to sign DeGrom or Judge but we all know those type of signings are a pipedream. I believe I made some realistic trades (using BTV trade simulator) and a couple free agent signings to fill some holes in this roster.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

• Lucas Giolito: $10.8M tender & trade
• 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 non-tender
• Danny Mendick: $1M non-tender

CLUB OPTIONS

• Tim Anderson: $12.5M ($1M buyout) pick up

Tim Anderson is one of the leaders in the clubhouse. He is the face of the franchise. Not only that but he is an integral part of the city of Chicago. He is right now (probably along with Cease the faces of Chicago baseball on both sides of town). So yeah I’m picking up his option. (Option picked up as of 11/6)

• Josh Harrison: $5.625M ($1.5M buyout) I thought the Harrison signing was good one is 2022. He started off slow but provided great defense and timely hitting down the stretch. The Sox probably would have picked this up too if not for the Leury signing last year.

PLAYER OPTIONS

• AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) — EXERCISED

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

• José Abreu (Made $18M in 2021) let go, This is a tough one. It’s been Thomas, Konerko and Abreu. He has been a rock for this club offensively and defensively. I can see Abreu joining the Padres or Marlins. Anyone but the Astros please.
• Johnny Cueto ($4.2M) let go, there is no way Cueto can have another 2022
• Vince Velasquez ($3M) let go
• Elvis Andrus ($14.25M) let go, I can see Elvis joining the Yankees or Twins providing a stopgap until their young shortstops are ready.

MANAGER

FREE AGENTS

No. 1: P Carlos Rodon (5 years, $155 million). The Sox need to bring back Rodon. Hopefully not making a qualifying offer and limiting his market will help the Sox. Maybe Boras and Rodon will be open to a return to Chicago? He bet on himself and had a great season in San Francisco. He looks healthy and he would be back with Katz who unlocked some magic with Rodon in 2021.

No. 1:  OF Andrew Benintendi (4 years, $56 million). Benintendi would be a lefty bat that the Sox desperately need. He provides top of the order offense and great defense. He is a slower Nimmo at about half the cost.

TRADES all trades were run through BTV Trade Simulator

No. 1: Trade P Lucas Giolito and OF AJ Pollock to the Angels for P Jose Suarez, 2B Luis Rengifo, RP Aaron Loup and RP Luke Murphy (9.60/9.60) Giolito would go to Cali with AJ Pollock on one year prove it deals essentially. The White Sox will get 24 year old Jose Suarez who will slot in the rotation. The Sox will take back the Loup contract hoping he has a better year. Switch hitting Rengifo will be the second baseman. Rengifo had pretty good numbers in 2022. He could split time with Sosa or Rodriguez later in the year. Murphy is a relief pitching prospect out of Vanderbilt that’s been in AAA with a 99mph and hard breaking sinker.

No. 2: Trade P Kendall Graveman, P Aaron Bummer and SS Yolbert Sanchez to the Mariners for P Chris Flexen and RP Travis Kuhn (1.50/1.30) I was looking at getting rid of some bullpen $$ by also adding depth. Chris Flexen was squeezed out of the talented Mariners rotation when Castillo was added (I wish the Sox would have given up a package for Castillo. He signed a $100 million bargain of a deal too). Flexen will provide depth in the rotation that the White Sox definitely need. If any of the top 4 go down Flexen can provide innings. Kuhn is another relief pure power 2 pitch right hander.

No. 3: Trade OF Yoelqui Cespedes, RP Jake Diekman, 3B Jake Burger to the A’s for OF Ramon Laureano and RP AJ Puk (7.60/6.60) Laureano will can play every outfield position. He has a rocket arm and provides some pop. AJ Puk is a Crochet esque lefty added to the bullpen. Burger and Cespedes could play right away in Oakland.

SUMMARY, LINEUP, ROSTER

1. Tim Anderson SS (R) ($12.5 million)
2. Andrew Benintendi (L) ($15 million)
3. Luis Robert CF (R) ($9 million)
4. Eloy Jimenez DH/LF (R)$10.3 million)
5. Andrew Vaughn (R) ($720,000)
6. Yoan Moncada 3B (S) ($16 million)
7. Ramon Laurenano RF (R) ($3.5 million)
8. Yasmani Grandal C (S) ($18 million)
9. Luis Rengifo 2B (S) ($720,000)

Bench Garcia IF ($4.5 million), Sheets 1B ($720,000), Seby Zavala C ($720,000), Oscar Colas OF ($720,000) $92.4 million

ROTATION

1. Carlos Rodon (L) ($31 million)
2. Dylan Cease (R) ($2 million)
3. Lance Lynn (R) ($18.5 million)
4. Jose Suarez (L) ($720,000)
5. Michael Kopech (R) ($2 million)
6. Chris Flexen (R) ($6 million)  $60.2 million

ARM BARN

• Liam Hendriks (R) ($14.5 million)
• Reynaldo Lopez (R) ($2 million)
• Joe Kelly (R) ($8 million)
• Aaron Loup (L) ($7.5 milllion)
• AJ Puk (L) ($720,000)
• Jimmy Lambert (R) ($720,000) $33.44 million

*Bullpen arms in Charlotte for depth Luke Murphy, Travis Kuhn and Garrett Crochet*

$186.06 million +$1.5 million Harrison buyout