A Realistic White Sox Offseason Plan

Introduction

We just made the playoffs for the first time since 2008, only this time we've got a young team ready to do it again! Still, there are a few holes to be filled and a couple of teams to compete against to win the division and have better odds in October 2021. We as Sox fans have suffered through years of the Jeff Keppingers, Gordon Beckhams and Adam LaRoches. The borderline major league players thrust into starting jobs they aren't prepared for... no more! All my moves are in an effort to make the 2021 team better than the 2020 team while keeping our future relatively free to augment the team at a later date. All players acquired are in the "prime" of their career (age 26-34) and have done what I will be asking of them before. So, without further dudes, let's get going!

Manager

AJ Hinch…

White Sox fans: BOO! I HATE HIM! CHEATER! HE SHOULD GET A VASECTOMY!

Look, I understand some of you may not like it, but if he gets us a World Series ring, it's the right decision.

Pitching Coach

I’ll let Hinch pick his guy.

Arbitration-eligible (with projected salaries from MLBTR):

Write "tender" or "non-tender" after each of the following names, and explain any particularly tough choices. Remember that arb-eligible players can be signed to contract extensions, or be traded, before or after tendering a contract.

(all estimates presume a full season and no prorated salaries, as in 2020)

Impending Free Agents

Re-sign, cut loose, or extend a qualifying offer of $18.9 million? (Explain any tough or complicated calls.)

Re-sign - 3 years 27 million (2020 - 7 mil, 2021 - 9 mil, 2022 - 11 mil) OR 1 year 8.5 million.

It's a little high, but he has proven he can close out games and we don't want to lose an important piece of our bullpen. I think he accepts the guaranteed 3 year contract, I'll be working with that.

Cut Loose - Offer 3 years 22 million (2020 - 5.25 mil, 2021 - 7.25 mil, 2022 - 9.5 mil)

He’s not going to take this but it's a legit offer, one that maybe Giolito could convince him to take. Still, he’ll be suiting up for the Phillies, Mets or Yankees next year.

Cut Loose - Bye Dyson. We’ll be in contact on a minor league contract in March.

Team Contract Options

Write "pick up" or "decline," and explain any tough or complicated calls.

Free agents

Using the list of free agents, tell us who you’d sign, keeping in mind our salary cap and good, old-fashioned logic. Include your maximum offer (total years, total salary). Explain your choice at least briefly, even in the case of the most obvious, superstar signs.

RF Jackie Bradley Jr. - 2 years, 20 million; w/ team option (2021 - 8.25 mil, 2022 - 9.25, [team opt; 2.5 mil buyout] 2023 - 10.5 mil)

The White Sox were targeting him in the Chris Sale trade so we know they have interest in him, and Kenny always gets his man. He had a great year in 2020, he's a left handed bat and defensively… forget about it. He can cover in center for Robert if he’s injured or needs a day of rest. Not to mention when both are in the lineup, the combo of Luis Robert in center and Jackie in right will help make up for Eloy’s inefficiencies.

SP Jose Quintana - 1 year 10 million; w/ team option (2021 - 8.5 mil, [team opt; 1.5 mil buyout] 2022 - 10 mil)

The Sox need a reliable starter. Marcus Stroman is not reliable. He also doenst strike out a lot of guys and his peripheral numbers aren't anything to write home about. Long story short I’m not in love with Marcus Stroman and neither should you. Bring Quintana back on a "prove-it" contract and make this reunion happen! That being said, this reunion becomes a little less likely now that Don Cooper is gone but I still think it's probible. We’re not getting Bauer so at the very least with this move it's just 10 million for one year. We’ve spent more on worse for one year. Looking at you Edwin.

1B Mitch Moreland - 1 year 3.5 million (2021 - 3.5 mil)

He’ll be DH for right handers, vs left handers he’ll sit on the bench, Eloy at DH and a defensive master class in the outfield with Engel - Robert - Bradley Jr. By midseason, hopefully Vaughn will be up and taking the bulk of AB’s at DH but Moreland could still be a decent vetern in the clubhouse and a left handed walk/hr guy off the bench. He’s proven he can DH before, he's proven he can come off the bench and take a good AB, he’s not 38 years old and most importantly… his name isn't "Adam" and he’s never played for the Washington Nationals (see Adam Dunn and Adam LaRoche)

EXTENSION ALERT!

SP Lucas Giolito - 4 years 45 million; w/ 2 team options (2021 - 4.5 mil, 2022 - 8.5 mil, 2023 - 14 mil, 2024 - 18 mil, [team opts; 2025 - 20 mil & 2026 - 20 mil])

Aaah yes, the ole Aaron Nola extension. Look, Giolito deserves this and we Sox fans deserve this. It's a bit of a risk, 6 years for a pitcher hasn't always turned out well for the Sox but Giolito is an exceptional starter, a media presence and a guaranteed 45 million dollars would probably be enough to get him to sign on the dotted line. If not… damn, dude must have some really high goals for next year.

Trades

Trades must make sense for both the White Sox and their trading partner. Explain your rationale, at least briefly. There is no minimum or maximum number for trades you may suggest.

C Zack Collins, RP Zack Burdi and OF Luis Gonzalez or 1B Gavin Sheets to the PITTSBURGH PIRATES for C Jacob Stallings

Pour one out for James McCann White Sox fans... he gone. We can’t limp into 2021 with Zack Collins as our backup catcher though. My stereotypical "White Sox" brain says, "Hey why don't we sign Alex Avilia or Tyler Flowers, as a matter of fact why don't we give Dioneer Navarro a call too!" but my 2020 White Sox brain says, "Don't be cheap, get a quality guy." Jacob Stallings has decent at bats and is a good defensive catcher. He had a 0.9 WAR this past season (2.5-3 WAR over 162 games) so he's not a nobody. The guys the Sox would trade would NEED to be added to the 40 man roster and their timelines don't fit the Sox’s. Most importantly Stallings is under contract through 2024 and is a ready major leaguer right now. (ARB - 1.4 mil per MLBTRADERUMORS)

Summary

Lineup:

SS Tim Anderson - R

3B Yoan Moncada - S

C Yasmani Grandal - S

1B Jose Abreu - R

LF Eloy Jimenez - R

DH Mitch Moreland - L

CF Luis Robert - R

RF Jackie Bradley Jr. - L

2B Nick Madrigal - R

Bench:

C Jacob Stallings - R

3B Yolmer Sanchez - S

CF Adam Engel - R

CF Leury Garcia - S

Rotation:

SP Lucas Giolito - R

SP Dallas Keuchel - L

SP Jose Quintana - L

SP Dylan Cease - R

SP Dane Dunning - R

Bullpen:

RP Aaron Bummer - L

RP Garrett Crochet - L

RP Jace Fry - L

RP Codi Heuer - R

RP Matt Foster - R

RP Evan Marshall - R

RP Jimmy Cordero - R

CP Alex Colome - R

I know the rotation is still a weak spot, but personally I believe our offense is strong enough to keep us in most games and in the division until the trade deadline. If one of the Kopech-Cease-Dunning trio doesn't establish themselves as a viable starter there's always the trade deadline. Lance Lynn will come at a much lesser cost this year so there's an early target for you; but i'm sure there will be others. The Lineup is even stronger than last year and the bench pieces can fill in extremely well in case of emergency. The payroll is under 140 million so we’re not breaking Jerry’s wallet. It's not the most exciting offseason plan, I’ll grant you that, but there are few holes that couldn't easily be filled and with the uncertainty of next year I don't think the Sox are going to break the bank on Bauer and Springer as much as I’d like them to. This is just the beginning of the Sox World Series window, let's not break the bank right now and paint ourselves into a corner in 2-3 years. Im guessing the "max budget" projecting forward is somewhere in the 150-175 million area, so making these small moves for guys like Bradley Jr. and Jacob Stallings and signing guys like Eloy, Robert Moncada and Giolito to extensions is probably the best way to maximize the championship window with what will likely be a somewhat limited budget even during our peak.