PREAMBLE
Despite what the White Sox have said publicly, this team is not contending in 2024. The Rangers have showed what kind of spending it takes to turn around a 100 loss franchise quickly, and even they weren't serious about competing until two years after their bottoming out. With that being said, the Sox have some intriguing prospects that should be able to meaningfully contribute to the big club in 2025, so my goal for the 2023-2024 off season is to set myself up to take some big free agent swings next year while filling this years roster with bounceback candidates I can flip at the deadline for mlb-ready or near mlb ready prospects.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Dylan Cease: $8.8M- Tender
- Andrew Vaughn: $3.7M- Tender
- Michael Kopech: $3.6M- Tender
- Touki Toussaint: $1.7M- Tender
- This is probably the only eyebrow raiser on this list, but this team needs SP depth badly
- Trayce Thompson: $1.7M- Non-Tender
- Garrett Crochet: $900K- Tender
- Clint Frazier: $900K- Non-Tender
- Matt Foster: $740K- Tender
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Tim Anderson: $14M ($1M buyout) Pick Up
- Please, please don't pencil in Colson as your opening day SS. Tim deserves the chance to win back the hearts and minds of Sox fans, and if he regains his 2019-2021 form he'll be in the playoffs for some other team come October. If he continues his slide, we'll wish him the best as we turn the page for the 2025 campaign.
- Liam Hendriks: $15M ($15M buyout, paid $1.5M annually over next 10 years) Rework
- 2 years, $15M ($2M in 2024, $13M in 2025). Liam gets to rehab from his Tommy John with the team next year and be with and around the young arms in spring training. Maybe he can come back by September, but he's exactly the kind of veteran a young, up-and-coming 2025 team would need in the back end of the bullpen.
MUTUAL OPTIONS
- Mike Clevinger: $12M mutual option ($4 million buyout) Buyout
- The kind of personality this team doesn't need. I don't think it matters, because he'll probably opt out on his end anyway.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Yasmani Grandal (Made $18.25M in 2023) Let Go
- Elvis Andrus ($3M) Retain
- Bryan Shaw ($720K) Let Go
- He's 1000000% coming back in real life, but I'd rather let some young guys pitch.
- José Ureña ($720K) Let Go
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Lucas Giolito (2 years, $26M with a player option after year 1). A very productive (though not elite) starter with the Sox in 2023, the South Side was the only place he found a modicum of success last year. Comes back to where he's comfortable on a prove it deal. If he bounces back, he'll be in another pennant race next year.
No. 2: Eduardo Rodriguez (4 years, $90MM). The biggest splash this offseason sets another record for the largest contract in franchise history. Looking at free agency the next couple years, the pitching market is pretty barren, and this guy seems ok with staying long term in the ALC. Get the lefty starter we haven't had since Rodon and lock him up.
No. 3: Victor Caratini (2 years, $7 MM). Not a super inspiring signing, but a solid bridge and hedge to pair with Quero in 2025.
No. 4: Elvis Andrus (1 year, $3 MM). Sigh. The state of the 2B market is atrocious and I don't want to rush any prospects
No. 5 Kevin Kiermaier (2 years, $15MM). A profound defensive upgrade, and another CF option if Luis goes down.
No. 6 Adam Duvall (1 year, $6MM). A thumper on the bench and can play some OF. Let Colas try and right the ship in AAA
TRADES
No trades this offseason. I don't believe in selling low, and despite what the state-run White Sox media podcast might have you believe, I don't think Yoan and Eloy are the anchors that have dragged this team down. Yoan has a club option after this season, and you can flip Eloy at the deadline (or next offseason) if you need to.
SUMMARY
Arm Barn (all roles up for grabs)
- Liam Hendriks (2) (September add on)
- Garret Crochet (.9)
- Touki Toussaint (1.7)
- Matt Foster (.74)
- Aaron Bummer (5.5)
- Tanner Banks (.77)
- Gregory Santos (.77)
- Jimmy Lambert (.77)
- Declan Cronin (.77)
Starting Rotation
- Dylan Cease (8.8)
- Eduardo Rodriguez (22.5)
- Lucas Giolito (13)
- Michael Kopech (3.2)
- Davis Martin (.77)
Starting Lineup
- Tim Anderson SS (14)
- Andrew Benintendi LF (17.1)
- Luis Robert CF (12.5)
- Eloy Jimenez DH (13.83)
- Andrew Vaughn 1B (3.7)
- Yoan Moncada 3B (24.8)
- Kevin Kiermaier RF (7.5)
- Victor Caratini C (3.5)
- Elvis Andrus 2B (3)
Bench
- Carlos Perez C (.77)
- I saw enough Korey Lee, thank you
- Romy Gonzalez UTIL (.77)
- New-Leury's versatility gets him a roster spot in a retooling year
- Gavin Sheets 1b/OF (.77)
- Last chance for Gavin
- Adam Duvall OF (6)
This brings my total payroll to $180.33MM. This team isn't going anywhere (although in the ALC, you never really know), but my hope is that they play much better defense and control the run game to help develop some pitching. There are a lot of pitchers that could come up from the minors and replace the scrubs we have in the bullpen, or force Kopech and/or Martin to the pen.
