PREAMBLE
It's time to start spending money. Though I would like them to make some big splashes, I will settle for some medium-sized moves. I don't see any reason for a team from Chicago to have a payroll as low as the Sox have. They have not spent in 3 years- time to use some of those savings now. I went past the $90M threshold- mine is just above $110M
COACHING STAFF
- Hitting coach: No favorite
- Pitching coach: No favorite
I don't know enough about coaches to make an intelligent choice.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Mike Tauchman: Tender
- Steven Wilson: Tender
- Derek Hill: Non-tender
Tauchman still a useful platoon bat and Wilson is a decent option at $1.5M.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Luis Robert Jr.: Exercise $20 million contract
- Martín Perez: Buy out for $1.5 million
Let's see what Luis can do with some bats around him. Perez can be resigned for much less.
FREE AGENTS
1. Josh Naylor- 4 years $88M. Probably an overpay, but they need to overpay to get him. Plus he loves hitting on the Southside.
2. Harrison Bader- 2 years $24M. Solid outfield bat who can play center if Robert is hurt/traded. I pencil him in a corner spot.
3. Martin Perez- 1 year $5M. He wants to come back, the Sox need some veteran starters.
4. Adrian Houser- 2 years, $18M. Not sure about his value, but he was very effective in Chicago.
5. Rob Refsnyder- 1 year, $3M. Mashes lefties. Good complement to Tauchman.
6. Luke Weaver- 2 years, $18M. A solid late inning option. Could be the closer.
TRADES
1. Andrew Benintendi to any team that wants him for $5M per year for the next 2 years. Sox will pay $22M of his remaining contract. Addition by subtraction. This frees up the DH spot. Some team can use a professional hitter for $5M per year for 2 years.
SUMMARY
The payroll ends up somewhere just north of $110M.
Not sure about the lineup, but these are the 13 offensive players:
Bader LF
Robert CF
Tauchman/Refsnyder RF
Vargas 3B
Colson SS
Meidroth 2B
Naylor 1B
Teel/ Quero C
Baldwin/Mead/Sosa Bench/DH
The middle of the order will feature Naylor, Robert, Montgomery, Bader and Teel. That's some decent pop.
Rotation:
Shane Smith
Martin
Houser
Perez
Burke/Cannon/Hagen Smith/Thorpe
The first 4 should be set, with several options for the 5th spot. Hopefully Hagen, Schultz and Thorpe can contribute by the All-Star break.
Bullpen:
Luke Weaver
Vasil
Grant Taylor
Leasure
Wikelman Gonzalez
Wilson
The last 2 spots would go to whoever earns them from among the many pitchers they have in the system.
The Sox are no longer the dregs of the AL Central- I think the Twins have that spot. Let's see what this roster can do.
