PREAMBLE
People are saying that we’re just a one hit wonder. We can’t be historically bad two years in a row… time to prove the haters wrong.
MANAGER
Truthfully I don’t know enough about the candidates to make an educated decision here. Go with the guy that Jerry likes the least.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Andrew Vaughn: $6.4M - tender
- Nicky Lopez: $5.1M - non-tender
- Garrett Crochet: $2.9M - tender
- Gavin Sheets: $2.6M - non-tender
- Enyel De Los Santos: $1.7M - non-tender
- Jimmy Lambert: $1.2M - non-tender
- Justin Anderson: $1.1M - non-tender
- Steven Wilson: $1M - tender
- Matt Foster: $900K - tender
CLUB OPTIONS
- Yoán Moncada: $25M ($5M buyout) - decline I remember when the Sox acquired him and Michael Kopech. I dreamed about Kopech becoming a Verlander-type ace and Yoan becoming a Robinson Cano-type second basemen. I was so young then... so innocent.
- Max Stassi: $7M ($500K buyout) - decline
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- Michael Soroka (Made $3M in 2023) - offer a minor league contract with an invite to spring training as a reliever. He pitched well out of the bullpen but was unable to stay healthy. I’d add incentives based on innings pitched in the majors up to three million.
- Mike Clevinger ($3M) - bye
- Chris Flexen ($1.75) - offer a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. He may be able to get a better shot at a major league contract elsewhere as one area where the Sox are decent is in the starting pitching department.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: SP Andrew DeSclafani - 1 year 3 million
DeSclafani has worked with Bannister before so bringing him in shouldn’t be a huge surprise. It's a bit of a gamble, but if Bannister can get him working like he did back in their San Fran days, DeSclafani could be a decent trade deadline move. He didn’t pitch last year so he shouldn’t be too expensive.
No. 2: RP Lucas Sims - 1 year 3.5 million (2nd year team option - 3.5 million - 500k buyout)
Sims pitched really well before being traded at the deadline last year. He had a 3.57 era and 40 ks in 35 IP with the Reds before imploding in Boston. Not having to worry about the green monster as well as the opportunity to earn the closer role could be decent incentive to sign with the Sox.
No. 3: 2B Amed Rosario - 1 year 6 million
Rosario is just two years removed from a 4.2 WAR season. While I’m not expecting him to repeat that, I do expect him to hold down the shortstop position until Montgomery is ready for the call. After that he can compete for the second base spot with Baldwin. Could be a trade piece at the deadline.
No. 4: RP Caleb Ferguson - 1 year 3 million (incentives up to 5 million)
Lefty relief pitcher who had 67 strikeouts in 54.1 IP last year. Maybe Bannister thinks he can get him back to his Dodger form where he had a 3.43 ERA and 247 ks over 207.1 IP between 2018 and 2023.
No. 5: UTL Garrett Hampson - 1 year 2.5 million
Former Royal and plays good defense all over the diamond. Fits the Sox needs.
No. 6: C Thomas Nido - 1 year 1 million
Nido will likely be looking for his best bet to stick in the majors. He’ll have that with the White Sox. He’s not especially good at anything but can catch a ballgame while allowing Lee to get the lionshare of opportunities behind the plate before prospects get called up.
No. 7: RP Jose Cisnero - 1 year 1 million (incentives up to 2)
He’s had a 6.89 ERA and 5.31 ERA the past couple of seasons, so I doubt he’ll break the bank to sign. He’s got decent stuff, striking out 17 batters in 15.2 IP last year and 70 in 59.1 IP. If Brian Bannister thinks he can help this guy get back to being a decent middle relief pitcher, take a chance on him.
No. 8: 3B JD Davis - Minor League Contract with invite to spring training
I foresee one or more of the White Sox 1B/LF/3B group getting injured during spring training. JD is likely looking for the team willing to give him the best chance/most opportunities at the major league level and we could offer that.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade SP Garrett Crochet and CF Luis Robert to LAD for 1B/C Dalton Rushing, SS Emil Morales, OF Zyhir Hope and 3B Chase Harlen
I get the hesitation at trading Robert at the low point of his value, and packaging our two best trade pieces in one deal has some risk. Not to mention trading them to the Dodgers after getting prospects from the Dodgers system at the trade deadline. That being said, there are worst teams to exclusively get prospects from than the team that's up 2-0 in the world series. Let's not let fallacious arguments cloud our judgement and instead have a look at the prospects the Sox would be getting in return:
- Rushing - He’s 23 years old and made it up to AAA last season so we could expect him to be called up sometime in 2025. He hit .271 with a .384 OBP across AA and AAA last year with 26 home runs and 21 doubles. He’s played a little bit in the outfield but I feel using him as a C/1B/DH type would limit injuries and pairing him with Quero could work well in keeping two young catchers healthy.
- Morales - He’s 18 and got his feet wet in the Dominican league last season where he hit .342/.478/.691. He’s projected to be able to stick at SS but has the arm strength to move to 3B if Montgomery manages to stay at short long term for the Sox.
- Hope - He’s another teenager (19) and plays the outfield. He projects to stick in center field because of his speed and arm strength. He’s on the shorter side (5’10”) but managed nine home runs and sixteen doubles in two hundred and twenty one at bats last year across rookie ball and A ball.
- Harlen - Sticking with the theme of young guys, Harlen is 18 years old. He was drafted this year in the 3rd round thanks to his good power and arm strength. Scouts are unsure if he’ll be able to stick at third but whatever the case, he’s going to be a project the Sox will have to develop.
No. 2: Trade SP Jonathan Cannon to STL for OF Victor Scott II and SS Yairo Padilla
The Cardinals need young, cost-controlled starting pitching and that is the one thing the Sox happen to have. Cannon made his major league debut last year and pitched surprisingly well. Giving up six years of control over him isn’t nothing, but with how desperate the Sox are for position players, it’s a gamble I believe is worth taking.
- Scott II - a 23 year old center fielder, Scott has plus plus speed as well as well above average fielding ability. His hit tool certainly needs some work after batting just .179 in 145 at bats last year but in a lineup of Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi and Dominic Fletcher, that .179 average won't look so bad! The Sox have given a guy with mediocre tools like Lenyn Sosa a billion chances, why not give Victor Scott the year in center to see if he can’t figure something out. Worst case scenario he’s a fourth outfielder.
- Padilla - is a 17 year old shortstop with decent skills across the board. He hit .287/.391/.404 in 136 ABs in rookie ball. He also stole 22 bags in that time.
CALL UPS:
1B Tim Elko - hit .289 with 18 home runs between AA and AAA last year
2B Rikuu Nishida - hit .304 with a .418 OBP between high A and AA. Also stole 49 bases.
RP Trey McGough - the player the Sox acquired for Eloy. He’s a left handed relief pitcher who reached AAA last season.
Opening Day Lineup:
SS - Amed Rosario
2B - Rikuu Nishida
LF - Andrew Benintendi
1B - Andrew Vaughn
RF - Tim Elko
DH - Miguel Vargas
3B - Bryan Ramos
C - Korey Lee
CF - Victor Scott II
Bench:
IF - Brooks Baldwin
OF - Dominic Fletcher
UTL - Garrett Hampson
C - Thomas Nido
Starting Rotation:
SP - Anthony DeSclafani
SP - Davis Martin
SP - Drew Thorpe
SP - Chris Flexxen
SP - Sean Burke
RP - Trey McGough
RP - Jordan Leasure
RP - Prelander Berroa
RP - Fraser Ellard
RP - Gus Varland
RP - Steven Wilson
RP - Caleb Ferguson
CP - Lucas Sims
CLOSING:
It's unfortunate that many of the prospects I have the Sox acquiring wont make their major league debut for them in 2025. That being said, adding three guys yet to hit their twentieth birthday isn’t a bad thing. The White Sox are at the onset of a lengthy rebuild and we shouldn’t try and jump the gun by acquiring guys like Miguel Vargas. Take the long view and rebuild this team from the ground up.
Prediction: +8 wins – 49-113
