Rock_beats_papr’s Off-Season Plan

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Write “tender” or “non-tender” after each player. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.

  • Jose Abreu, $16M – tender and extend. Jose showed he can still be productive around the bizarre injuries that plagued him this year. Eventually he will need to transition to DH, but that will be in year 2 of his new 3-year deal for a guaranteed $50M (16M, 20M, 14M) with a 12M mutual option 4th
  • Avisail Garcia, $8M – non-tender. $8M for a 28-year-old above average (if only slightly) corner outfielder in this day and age is no that far off base. But Avi’s tenure has been frustrating and the best that could be hoped for is a 2017 like season which would make it difficult to resign him. Let him test free agency and if there are no other takers, bring him back at a front loaded 4 year $27M deal. It would make him more attractive at the deadline if he does return to his one great season form.
  • Yolmer Sanchez, $4.7M – tender. Need to keep the fun-loving fan favorite around, but just not as the everyday 3rd Still need to find him at bats as the 1st off the bench super utility guy.
  • Carlos Rodon, $3.7M – tender. Yes, please. If possible extend to a record club deal of 6 years $110M.
  • Matt Davidson, $2.4M –tender and stretch out. Palka showed enough to supplant Davidson as the White Sox 2019 DH, but Davidson should still spell Abreu at 1st from time to time, be late inning pinch hitter and your garbage time bullpen arm.
  • Leury Garcia, $1.9M – tender. 4th outfielder material at a team friendly price.
  • Danny Farquhar, $1.4M – non-tender.

CLUB OPTIONS

Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.

  • Nate Jones, $4.65 million/$1.25M buyout – pick up.
  • James Shields, $16 million/$2M buyout – decline.
  • (I cheated as I did not write this until after the deadline)

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

Try to retain, or let go?

  • Miguel Gonzalez (made $4.75 million in 2018) – let go.
  • Hector Santiago (made $2 million in 2018 — added) – let go.

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: Josh Donaldson (four years, $38 million, opt out after two seasons).  Josh Donaldson may want to chase more money elsewhere or try to find a team he thinks is destined for the post season in 2019. If not, he will be a great bridge at third for a year (before Colton Wekler steps in) at which point he shifts to first base. He still has power in the tank and will be an upgrade over Yolmer, which is absolutely not meant to disrespect Sanchez, it is just my opinion.

No. 2: Joakim Soria (two years, $15M) – Worked so nice, we’ll try it twice. Soria is handed the closer role again and is there to help guide the young relivers. If he pitches well and the Sox are again out of contention, he can be moved at the deadline, maybe even in back to the Brewers. It’s like deja vu all over again.

No. 3: Gio Gonzales (2 years, $32M with third year team option at $10M) – Guess who’s back? This time he will actually get to wear a White Sox jersey in the big leagues. After all those trades, Gio comes back to a team that does not need him to be an ace, but a pivotal number two behind Rodon in 2019 and a back end of the rotation piece in 2020 (and maybe 2021) with hope that any number of young guns surpass him at the top of the rotation.

TRADES

Propose trades that you think sound reasonable for both sides, and the rationale behind them. A good example of a bad idea:

No. 1: Trade Wellington Castillo and Carson Fulmer to ATL for Drew Lugbauerand and cash considerations. This is more of a salary dump/freeing up 40 man roster spots.  The Braves can use another veteran to spell Tyler Flowers and help the still young rotation. I think Wellington is better than many of the free agents out there and his contract with the club option is going to be attractive. Carson will have a chance to be Atlanta’s long man, though he may be as he was here, AAA depth. Sox get back the 30th prospect in a deep system that may be able to stick at catcher and one of every owner’s favorite player – Cash Considerations. White Sox would then start the season with Omar Narvaez and Seby Zavala as the major league catchers.

No. 2: Trade Nate Jones, Laz Rivera and International Pool Money to NYY for Clint Frazier and a low prospect lottery ticket player. Clint Frazier is blocked in New York but immediately becomes the starting CF for next year (assuming his rehab goes well). Nate Jones will be missed in the bullpen, but there are so many young arms in the Sox system that need opportunities and if Rick Hahn is not comfortable without a proven back end bullpen arm see my free agent resigning of Joakim Soria.

No. 3: Trade Adam Engel, Alec Hansen and one mid-range prospect to COL for Colton Wekler. Engel is only listed first as he is the MLB player moved in the deal, but I am sure the Rockies would be more interested in Alec Hansen. Engel will be their fourth outfielder/late inning defensive sub or pinch runner and Alec will slot into the Rockies rotation immediately. With Nolan Arrenado still in town, the Rockies may be willing to part with Colton. He likely would not crack the Sox in 2019, but he should be manning the hot corner for the White Sox in 2020.

SUMMARY

Lineup:

  1. Anderson – SS
  2. Eloy -LF
  3. Donaldson – 3B
  4. Abreu -1B
  5. Palka– DH
  6. Garcia – RF
  7. Moncada – 2B
  8. Fraizer – CF
  9. Narvaez– C

That is a much better lineup than was usually trotted out in 2018.

Bench:

  • Davidson-DH/INF
  • Yolmer – INF
  • Zavala – C
  • Leury or Cordell or any number of the fringe 4th outfielders in the system
  • Rondon – INF

Lead by Yolmer and with the potential for a break out fourth outfielder, the bench will be more than serviceable.

Rotation:

  1. Rodon
  2. Gonzalez
  3. Lopez
  4. Giolito
  5. Covey (until Dunning or Cease are ready)

If everyone stays healthy and Lopez and Giolito continue to ascend, this can be a very formidable rotation.

Bullpen:

  • Soria
  • Minaya
  • Vieira
  • Burr
  • Fry
  • Hamilton

There is no true long reliever in the bunch, but Minaya can do it – this is where Davidson’s versatility comes in. This is a good bunch, but young and it will be interesting to see how Manager Rick Renteria handles them.

If the Indians start to sell off, the AL Central is up for grabs. I do not anticipate a playoff berth, but the team may be strong enough in a weak division to pull it off.

 

Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
SouthSideDruthers

Welker and Frazier are good targets but I think the Sox would need to part with a lot more.