PREAMBLE
This is the worst organization in baseball. On the plus side, even the White Sox seem to see this as well — and some people who get paid by JR seem to be showing some urgency to climb out of the basement. As for philosophy, I'm weary of the Sox's efforts to focus on a player's floor. It's OK to acquire hitters with at least two of these three characteristics: power/speed/plate discipline. If they're not being offered in trade talks for Crochet and Robert, then you don't trade them.
MANAGER
The White Sox are asking their GM to do more with less, so the GM needs to find a manager who can do the same. Grab a guy who understands how the Guardians or Rays get things done. I'm seeing Albernaz in today's stories. Go with him.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Andrew Vaughn: $6.4M (non-tender; check out his Baseball Savant page, he's regressing)
- Nicky Lopez: $5.1M (non-tender)
- Garrett Crochet: $2.9M (tender)
- Gavin Sheets: $2.6M (non-tender; he's in Savant's 98th percentile in Launch Angle Squared Up...and he still finished with a .660 OPS)
- Enyel De Los Santos: $1.7M (non-tender)
- Jimmy Lambert: $1.2M (non-tender)
- Justin Anderson: $1.1M (oddly, I'll tender him. He's pitching 65-70 games in long relief. Use him up.)
- Steven Wilson: $1M (tender; he had good peripherals in San Diego)
- Matt Foster: $900K (non-tender...already have two RH relievers in the fold)
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Yoán Moncada: $25M ($5M buyout) (decline)
- 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) (let go; his good year was in 2019...and the peripherals weren't as good as his official ERA)
- Mike Clevinger ($3M) (uh, no)
- Chris Flexen ($1.75) (try to retain if they can agree on a price without going to arbitration. Could be "valuable" as an innings-eater.)
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: SS Ha-Seong Kim (5 years, $63 million). Brilliant fielder, excellent runner, has some pop, just turned 29. Maybe I'm underestimating his payday, but how many teams don't have anybody else to play SS?
If necessary, overbid a little to get Kim and then fill out other spots with minimal dollars. Austin Slater? Jace Peterson? Austin Hedges? Carson Kelly? Is it worth a little longer deal to get Elmhurst-born Danny Jansen behind the dish? Maybe these are the years he stays healthy! (Note: snick)
TRADES
No. 1: It seems obvious Crochet will not be here for the next contending team, so it's important to sell high. One four-tool outfielder, one three/four-tool middle infielder and one high-risk, high-reward thrower, please. I expect the Dodgers, Orioles and Mariners to be in the mix. Would the Red Sox give up Kristian Campbell to get Crochet? Perhaps there's a deal with the Cubs that benefits both sides of town?
SUMMARY
I know I'm supposed to be mad that the payroll will decrease this year, but it should decrease. There's no use trying to sign a few 32- or 33-year-old free agents who either won't be around for the next contending team -- or won't be much of a contributor by then.
Sign Kim. Play the kids. Pitch the kids. Hope Luis Robert gets off to a hot start and then sell high.
MAGA has Project 2025. We should have Project 2027. Nobody older than 30 should get an at-bat -- with the possible exception of the backup catcher. Nobody older than 30 should throw a pitch -- with the exception of a Justin Anderson who's here to throw every day if necessary.
In a perfect world, enough buds start to blossom (Burke? Cannon? Quero? Thorpe? Ramos? Montgomery?) that Getz can make legitimate arguments to lobby for pricier acquisitions next offseason with the idea that the franchise gets on a relatively even footing in 2026 and then competes in 2027.
