PREAMBLE
TOTAL PAYROLL = 179,523,333 (Includes options and buyouts)
I construct this plan with the idea that this team won’t contend in 2024. This pan should be viewed as stage 1 for the 2025 plan where contending might be possible with the arrival of some key prospects in the minors that won’t be ready in 2024.
In 2023, there was a thing I got tired of watching (other than Grifol that is). While I looked at successful teams, I noticed, perhaps with an exception to the Phillies, a very flexible roster filled with young athletic players that could, at least, run and catch the ball. They were complemented with the right amount of veterans. The 2023 White Sox were the complete opposite of that. The roster was filled with slow runners. Bad fielders. No power. No OBP. Sketchy physical condition to say the least.
My plan intends to right that. The White Sox needs to get leaner. Flexible. With players that can take a base, run, and field. Power would be nice but that comes with a premium ($).
First move: Gavin Sheets to be DFAed.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Write “tender,” “non-tender” or “rework/extend” after each player and their projected 2024 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.
- Dylan Cease: $8.8M - Tender
- Andrew Vaughn: $3.7M - Tender
- Michael Kopech: $3.6M - Tender
- Touki Toussaint: $1.7M - Tender
- Trayce Thompson: $1.7M – Goodbye
- Garrett Crochet: $900K - Tender
- Clint Frazier: $900K – Goodbye
- Matt Foster: $740K – Goodbye
I almost declined Michael Kopech, but 3.6M is not really a lot of money, so he stays. I am not sure what would be the use of him. I think his best option is to become a overpowering high leverage reliever. I think the rest are no brainers.
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Tim Anderson: $14M ($1M buyout) - Decline
- Liam Hendriks: $15M ($15M buyout, paid $1.5M annually over next 10 years) – Decline
Tim Anderson for 14M would be a good gamble in different circumstances, but not in 2024. This team isn’t going to contend. There is absolutely no reason to pay for players that won’t be part of the next contending window. Tim Anderson’s groub-ball rate is above 60% (this is not a typo). He led the Majors comfortably. That GB% is just unplayable when you are in the other side of 30, and getting slower. Getz must direct the scarce resources into getting players that will actually help during the next contention window. I feel bad for declining Hendriks option, but he will get his money in 10 years. Time value of money favors the White Sox, and Getz needs to extract the most value ($) he can. Having a premium reliever in 2024 is pointless.
MUTUAL OPTIONS
Write “exercised” or “takes buyout.”
- Mike Clevinger: $12M mutual option ($4 million buyout) – Let him go
Exercising the option seems to be the logical move, but Clevinger will be a year older, and I doubt he will be effective next year when his K% is under 8%. FIP indicates bad times are ahead.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- Yasmani Grandal (Made $18.25M in 2023) - Goodbye
- Elvis Andrus ($3M) – Resign with a 4 M 1-year deal
- Bryan Shaw ($720K) – Resign with a 1.5M 1-year
- José Ureña ($720K) – Goodbye
The White Sox has a bunch of rookie infielders, and Elvis Andrus appears to be a good mentor. He plays SS and 2B competently. I think he has valuable experience to bring to the fold, and I am confident he will be more valuable than Tim Anderson for a fraction of the price. Bryan Shaw show that he can be a dependable reliever. Sometimes ugly, but he is always ready to take whatever innings load they throw at him. The 2024 White Sox will need pitchers like Shaw. I thought about retaining Ureña, but the guy is 32. No upside. Some health issues. Pass.
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: Cody Bellinger (7 years, $182,000,000). Starting at 20 million in 2024, and with increments of 2,000,000 each year. AAV of 26 million. Enough is enough. The White Sox need to fix RF once and for all. We have no outfielders in the minors. This blackhole can only be fixed with money. Bellinger fills many needs: left hand power, on base percentage, good running, and decent glove in all outfield positions. Former MVP hampered by a shoulder injury that appears to be healed. I might be light here. I expect the competition for Bellinger is gonna be crowded.
No. 2: Michael Lorenzen (2 years, $24,000,000). A former reliever converted into a reliable starter. Made 25 starts in 2023 averaging 6 innings per start. Nothing extraordinary, but the White Sox need dependable arms in 2024 while better pitchers are up ahead in contending years via free agency or prospects. He could be a valuable reliever in 2025 if need to be.
No. 3: Kevin Kiermeier (1 year, $8,000,000). A premium glove in the outfield. Very serviceable. Runs well, and hits with left hand. At 34, Kiermeier is still an average player. Once again, the White Sox has no outfielders in the minors. Kiermeier adds flexibility and reliability.
No. 4: Victor Caratini (2 years, $14,000,000). A very good defensive catcher this team needs while we wait for Quero. Already in his 30s. Kery Lee cannot be plan A for catching anymore. He might be a back up catcher and that’s being generous. Very generous.
No. 5: Joe Jimenez (2 years, $10,000,000). Still 29 years old with experience closing. Can be wild at times but he can strikeout hitters as well.
No. 6: Jack Flaherty (2 years, $22,000,000). Once a promising starter. Managed to pitch 144 innings in 2023. Still 28. Might a Clevinger project without the off-field baggage.
No. 7: Gio Urshela (1 year, $5,000,000). He can still contribute with some OBP skill. Can play all positions in the infield, and after trading José Rodríguez, the White Sox are light on infielders.
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 Oscar Colas, Tanner Banks and Jose Rodríguez to the Dodgers for Caleb Ferguson. Maybe the Dodgers can fix Colas. The Dodgers could use some infield help. They traded Amed Rosario mid season, and they had a collection of mediocre infielders in 2023 such as Kolten Wong, Miguel Vargas and Yonny Hernández. Caleb Ferguson provides a lefty arm with 2 years of control. White Sox get ready to say goodbye to Aaron Bummer.
SUMMARY
A little bit light on the starting pitching side, but I constructed this team as a bridge to 2025 when bloated contracts such as Eloy’s and Moncada’s will be off the books and the White Sox might have a clearer vision of his pitching needs. This team is not gonna contend, and the bottom of the order might be close to unwatchable on the hitting side. Yet, there is a possibility Lenyn Sosa blossoms into a respectable contributor, and that could be huge.
I tried to think on trades, but the White Sox farm is so thin that it proves to be a major exercise.
| Roster | 26 | |
| Payroll | $ 179,523,333 | |
| STARTING PITCHERS | Cost | |
| Dylan Cease | $ 8,800,000 | |
| Michael Kopech | $ 3,600,000 | |
| Touki Toussaint | $ 1,700,000 | |
| Michael Lorenzen | $ 12,000,000 | |
| Jack Flaherty | $ 11,000,000 | |
| RELIEVERS | ||
| Garrett Crochet | $ 900,000 | |
| Bryan Show | $ 1,500,000 | |
| Caleb Ferguson | $ 2,500,000 | |
| Aaron Bummer | $ 5,500,000 | |
| Jimmy Lambert | $ 770,000 | |
| Gregory Santos | $ 770,000 | |
| Joe Jimenez | $ 5,000,000 | |
| Nastrini/Ramirez/Padilla/Etc | $ 740,000 | |
| POSITION PLAYERS | ||
| Andrew Vaughn | $ 3,700,000 | 1B |
| Eloy Jimenez | $ 13,833,333 | DH |
| Lenyn Sosa | $ 770,000 | 2B |
| Elvis Andrus | $ 4,000,000 | SS |
| Yoan Moncada | $ 24,800,000 | 3B |
| Andrew Benintendi | $ 17,100,000 | LF |
| Luis Robert Jr | $ 12,500,000 | CF |
| Cody Bellinger | $ 20,000,000 | RF |
| Victor Caratini | $ 7,000,000 | C |
| Korey Lee | $ 770,000 | Bench |
| Kevin Kiermeier | $ 8,000,000 | Bench |
| Zach Remillard | $ 770,000 | Bench |
| Gio Urshela | $ 5,000,000 | Bench |
| Option Tim Anderson Cost | $ 1,000,000 | |
| Option Liam Hendriks cost | $ 1,500,000 | For 10 years |
| Clevinger buyout | $ 4,000,000 |
