PREAMBLE
When attempting to catch Jim Margalus’s eye, I know I need to either write about a little known indie rock band that only plays once every 7 years on top of a water tower in Poughkeepsie during the summer solstice OR use a Simpsons reference. I chose the easier path.
But in reality, this stems from Rick Hahn’s inactivity at the trade deadline coupled with his post-season statements. I really believe they might not do much at all. In 2018, I went through a similar exercise of the Sox doing nothing and I gotta admit, that was MUCH worse than this.
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
- 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
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Tim Anderson: $12.5M ($1M buyout) – Pick Up (this is below market price for TA7, but not as much as people may think)
- Josh Harrison: $5.625M ($1.5M buyout – Decline (plenty of internal options)
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) — EXERCISED (way to tack on the $3M unnecessarily White Sox!)
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- José Abreu (Made $18M in 2021) – Let go
- Johnny Cueto ($4.2M) – Let go
- Vince Velasquez ($3M) – Let go
- Elvis Andrus ($14.25M) – Let go
MANAGER
Pedro Grifol – I knew it all along. Definitely not writing this after it was made widely known and having already listened to the Sox Machine podcast about it.
FREE AGENTS
List three free-agent targets you’d pursue during the offseason, with a reasonable contract. A good example of a bad idea:
No. 1: Anibal Sanchez (minor league deal). Seems like a nice old guy to try to help give some depth to the rotation. It’s surely not there now. Even though he’s 39, he’s still a mediocre guy that might sign to a minors deal for a team with a chance.
No. 2: Mike Minor (minor league deal). I assume he’s getting bought out of his contract and I assume he’s not getting a major league deal at 35 and probably bad. But again, the Sox need some pitchers of some sort. And if they’re doing next to nothing, it looks like this.
No. 3: Billy Hamilton (minor league deal). This has a bit do with liking what he did defensively with the team in 2021, but also that the new rules favor base stealers. Even aging ones. So there is some additional utility in Billy in 2023.
TRADES
Propose trades that you think sound reasonable for both sides, and the rationale behind them. A good example of a bad idea:
No. 1: Trade Yolbert Sanchez for Erick Fedde Think this year’s Vince Velasquez. Biggest problem here is that Fedde has no minor league options left. So he pretty much would need to win a roster spot out of camp.
SUMMARY
Looking at the starting lineup, you nearly get the feeling that this would be fine. But much like the This Is Fine dog, you’re in a burning building. The first injury that happens and the wheels start to fall off real quick. The one thing that does give me some encouragement in doing this exercise of doing nothing, is that this team could limp to contention through the first half of the year. The problem is that I don’t have much faith in Rick Hahn to patch any holes at the trade deadline.
Oh yeah, I am pretty sure I’m under budget.
Position Players:
C Yasmani Grandal
1B Andrew Vaughn
2B Lenyn Sosa
SS Tim Anderson
3B Yoan Moncada
RF Oscar Colas
CF Luis Robert
LF AJ Pollock
DH Eloy Jimenez
C Seby Zavala
Util Leury Garcia
Util Romy Gonzalez
OF Gavin Sheets
Pitchers
SP Dylan Cease
SP Lance Lynn
SP Lucas Giolito
SP Michael Kopech
SP Erick Fedde or bust!
CL Liam Hendriks
RP Reynaldo Lopez
RP Kendall Graveman
RP Garrett Crochet
RP Jose Ruiz
RP Joe Kelly
RP Aaron Bummer
RP Jake Diekman
AAAA Guys
Davis Martin
Jake Burger
Jimmy Lambert
Carlos Perez
Adam Haseley
