PREAMBLE
In a way, this is one of the more enjoyable times to be an armchair GM. The climb to being a contender in 2024 is an extremely difficult task. I've been fascinated with some of the ideas I've read on here. When the cupboard is so bare, there's so many options for guys that you're hoping to bounce back to give this team any sort of chance. My strategy for this offseason is to try as best as I can to build a team that can be in the hunt for the AL Central title heading into the second half, while at the same time not mortgaging any of the future and maintaining financial flexibility.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Dylan Cease: $8.8M - Tender
- Andrew Vaughn: $3.7M - Tender
- Michael Kopech: $3.6M - Tender
- Touki Toussaint: $1.7M - Tender
- Trayce Thompson: $1.7M - Non-Tender
- Garrett Crochet: $900K - Tender
- Clint Frazier: $900K - Non-Tender
- Matt Foster: $740K - Non-Tender (invite to Spring Training)
CLUB OPTIONS
- Tim Anderson: $14M ($1M buyout) - Buyout
- Liam Hendriks: $15M ($15M buyout, paid $1.5M annually over next 10 years) - Buyout
MUTUAL OPTIONS
- Mike Clevinger: $12M mutual option ($4 million buyout) - Takes Buyout
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Yasmani Grandal (Made $18.25M in 2023) - Let Go
- Elvis Andrus ($3M) - Retain: 1 year/$5 million
- Bryan Shaw ($720K) - Let Go (invite to Spring Training)
- José Ureña ($720K) - Let Go (invite to Spring Training)
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Jorge Soler (three years, $48 million). I'm expecting this to be a popular target for many teams and many plans, especially if you're not brining Eloy Jimenez back. For me, 36 home runs and a 11% walk rate is a no brainer to help provide protection to Luis Robert in the lineup. He will be my full time DH.
No. 2: Jeimer Candelario (two years, $26 million). Jeimer has had an up and down career so far, but had a nice season last year between the Nationals and Cubs. He is an adequate defender with good range at third base and can fill in at first base as well. Providing some left handed power along the way, he is a solid bottom half of the order bat.
No. 3 and No. 4: Jason Heyward (1 year/$5 million) and Randal Grichuk (2 years/$14 million). I'm lumping these two together because they are a package deal for me as my right field platoon. Heyward really found a groove in a platoon role with the Dodgers last year and Grichuk produced a .995 OPS against left handed pitching (.822 for his career). Both are plus right fielders that can fill in at center in a pinch. For $12 million, the White Sox have spent much worse money.
No. 5: Matt Moore (2 years/$9 million). A reliable left handed reliever that actually posted reverse splits last year. However, he was still effective against lefties. With the three batter minimum, you need relievers that you feel comfortable with in any situation. He fits the mold. Don't want to break the bank with bullpen signings, but he is a wise addition.
No. 6: Austin Hedges (1 year, $5 million). Another name that's been tossed around due to his defensive prowess, Hedges provides a veteran backstop that the pitchers can count on. He can't hit, but my focus on the catcher tandem I'm putting forward is good rapport with the staff and stability behind the plate.
No. 7: Jordan Hicks (2 years, $8 million). One of the most electric arms in the game when he arrived on the scene. Now a veteran, Hicks bounced back from some injury trouble last year and produced a solid season between the Cardinals and Blue Jays. Prior closing experience being the main factor, I would be giving him that role to begin the season.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Yoán Moncada to the Washington Nationals for Patrick Corbin and $15 million. An even trade according to Baseball Trade Values, this provides a fresh start for Moncada and gives Washington a guy they can plug in at third base, which they need to fill. For Washington, they can wash their hands clean of one of the worst contracts in baseball. Now why would the White Sox do this? First, it's to be free of the contract and the club option for Moncada after 2024, while also saving money for this season. With the Nationals kicking in $15 million, they will cover $10 million of Corbin's salary this year and the $5 million that is deferred for 2025. Is Corbin good? Well, no. He's been pretty awful since joining the Nationals. However, he will give you over 150 innings (not that you'll enjoy watching them) and he did possess a respectable 45% ground ball rate in 2023. He's a free agent after this season, so he has something to pitch for if he wants to continue being a big leaguer in 2025.
No. 2: Trade Aaron Bummer to the Los Angeles Angels for Max Stassi, Tyler Anderson and Luis Rengifo. Bummer is one of the top "change of scenery" candidates in baseball in my opinion. Maybe his homecoming can go more smoothly than Lucas Giolito's did. The White Sox are taking on two contracts that the Angels would probably like to be freed of. In Anderson, he was not the pitcher the Angels thought they were signing after his 2022 campaign with the Dodgers. In Stassi, he took the year off to deal with family issues at home. Fortunately, their child is coming home after being born three months premature. Considered one of the best catchers in the American League in 2021, it earned him a 3 year contract extension with the Angels. Unfortunately, he regressed in 2022. But with a fresh perspective, and a year away from the grind of the MLB season, I'm gambling on a bounce back to his 2021 form. At the plate that season, he posted a .752 OPS, good for a 103 OPS+. Between him and Hedges, the Sox could possess one of the top defensive catching tandems in baseball. The real prize here is Rengifo, who can play all over the infield (he'll be starting at 2nd for me) and has continued to improve year after year. Still just 26 years old, he more than doubled his walk rate from 2022 while maintaining his power numbers. He hit 17 home runs in 2022 compared to 16 home runs in 2023 with 66 few plate appearances. He is a switch hitter that is entering his second year of arbitration.
No. 3: Trade Eloy Jimenez and Davis Martin to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jose Berrios. This trade slightly favors the Blue Jays according to Baseball Trade Values, but the Blue Jays may value him more (even if his manager doesn't). I would continue to add (within reason) to the White Sox end of the deal to get this done. Berrios is a legitimate top of the rotation guy that has three years of control at a very reasonable number (17.7 million this year, 18.7 million in 2025 and 2026) before he has an option for 2 years/$48 million or an opt out. Should the Sox lose Cease to free agency, they have a top guy to fall back on in 2026 and potentially beyond.
SUMMARY
C - Stassi ($7)
1B - Vaughn ($3.7)
2B - Rengifo ($4.2)
SS - Andrus ($5)
3B - Candelario ($13)
LF - Benintendi ($17.1)
CF - Robert ($12.5)
RF - Heyward ($5)
DH - Soler ($16)
Bench: Grichuk OF ($7), Hedges C ($5), Sosa INF ($0.74) Sheets 1B ($0.74)
SP - Cease ($8.8)
SP - Berrios ($17.72)
SP - Anderson ($13)
SP - Kopech ($3.6)
SP - Corbin ($15)
Bullpen: Banks ($0.74), Crochet ($0.9), Moore ($4.5), Toussaint ($1.7) Garcia ($0.74), Lambert ($0.74), Santos ($0.74), Hicks ($4)
Buyouts: Hendriks ($1.5), Anderson ($1), Garcia ($5.5), Clevinger ($4)
Deferred: Abreu ($1)
Total Payroll: $182.16 Million
My goal was to fill the holes on the roster with veterans and maintain flexibility for 2025 and beyond. With this team, there isn't much on the books past 2025 and it will give Getz and the rest of the front office time to figure out what they have on the current roster, on the farm, and where they need to supplement in free agency. As for the 2024 team, If I really squint I can see a contender for the AL Central. It would take a lot, but if Anderson can get back to anywhere near his Dodgers form, if Kopech can pitch over 150 above average innings and if Corbin can fake his way to a sub 5.00 ERA while getting most games into the 6th or 7th, I think this lineup can hit just enough to make the division a real possibility.
Excited to continue reading everyone's plans. It's been fun so far.
